Ribbon midrange pros and cons

Adam Audio has ribbon mids . Don't know if its a pro or con . I own the Tensor Gamma version . It is probably the closest in sound to my King Sound King electrotat speaker I have come across in detail , speed and tone .

PS Audio was working on an AMT midrange, but was unhappy with the sound. At AXPONA, they will be using a Bohlender Graebener Neo10 planer magnetic driver.

There is a lot of inaccuracy bandied about when talking about ribbon transducers. A ribbon is a piece of very thin corrugated foil suspended in a magnetic field. They are not planar magnetic drivers (the AMT is a folded planar magnetic driver, and the Infinity EMITs and EMIMs were planar magnetics). And although 1930s era ribbon microphones did require matching transformers, modern ribbon drivers, i.e. as used in Apogee speakers, have a long enough ribbon that their DC resistance is near 4 ohms and does not require a transformer. I’m uncertain what Magnepan uses, but my guess is long, thin, planar magnetic drivers. (Though the new LRS may use ribbons - but if the conductor is bonded to a membrane, it isn’t a ribbon).

The true test is in the listening.  I own a pair of 3.6 Maggies, that aing when driven by McIntosh MC501s via a tube preamp.

Yes, they open up with sufficient power / current.  There is a reason that many are fans of this configuration.  Ask Elizabeth how her 20.7s sound and image.

Listen to a well set up pair driven properly and you perspective will most likely shift.

If you want the best ribbons, Selah Audio. :)


I've interacted with the designer at Raal, absolutely brilliant guy.

My experience is just, even top notch ribbons have their own sound. If they are what you like, buy them! :)


Best,
E

RAAL ribbons are great and the 70-20 can be crossed over as low as 1800hz in a 2-way. However, compared to a dome with good excursion they lack some dynamic punch in lower mids, so generally they are better off in a 3-way because of this.