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The midrange is the most important driver.

OK, I don't need you to believe the topic name. Just wanted to start a friendly discussion.

Among full-range, multi-way speakers there are usually at least 3 drivers:

  • Tweeter
  • Mid-range
  • Woofer
The most exorbitant prices are usually in the tweeter, followed by the woofer, then the mid. More or less. When I read discussions that are about tech-brands, it's almost always about the tweeter. Off the shelf prices in high-end speakers can vary from $40/ea. to $500/ea. with top of the line Be and AMT. Hard diamond tweeters are even more expensive. And yeah, I've paid a lot for tweets in my mains. Still, I think maybe all of us have been convinced that the tweeter is where we should spend our largest dollars.

Maybe it is the quality of the mid that determines everything else. It is where the vocals are, and how well it integrates and extends up and down the range determines everything else. From what tweeters you may use, to the dynamic range.

What do you think?

Best,


E
erik_squires

Showing 2 responses by snapsc

snapsc
686 posts
 
@bdp24  Three comments about the LFT-8b

1.  From you comments, it seems that they have similar placement restrictions to other "panel" speakers in that they sound best 5' out from the wall which is a problem for a lot of people
2.  Eminent Technologies seems to be well under the radar.  Not many people have heard them and there aren't a lot of places to go hear them...so, for a home trial, its probably going to cost a couple hundred dollars to send them back if you don't love them.
3.  If you buy a maggie and then decide in two years to move on, you will probably recoup 75% of your purchase price because of their repuation and strong following.  I suspect that your financial risk is much greater with the E.T. LFT-8b

As to the "midrange" question...whichever  combination of drivers/crossovers/boxes allow the reproduction of the piano, the acoustic guitar and the voice to be done in a way that provide the "your are there live" experience is the right starting point....but I think there has to be a recognition that the way I interpret/process the sound of a piano may be different than others...hence, why different solutions work for different people.
snapsc
686 posts
 
@bdp24  I would also say that I haven't heard cone speakers that were quite as convincing throughout the midrange although recently I heard the KEF R500s driven by the Parasound integrated and they were pretty darn good.

Given that you own planars and stats and that both have reputations for pure midranges....if you only had $2500 to spend and you already had a good sealed sub, which would you buy...the ET's...the Magnepan 1.7i...or something else....and why???
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