What's the best mid-range driver available?

Atc may make the "best" mid/driver..but can't buy it separately and way too expensive speakers. So now they are ruled out our 2 contenders are Skaaning 4 or 5 inch( 80hz-2500hz) and the Seas W12CY or W15CY (80hz-3500hz). And i wonder just HOW much better the Atc's are than the Skaan's and Seas's????? Heck the Raven 3 offers a 1.5Khz up(best xover at 2K) range and so is a much better driver than the Atc as far as presenting a seamless mid/tweet..and we also need to consider the Philips RSQ8P/11 and ESg3 both deliver a upper midrange of 1.5Khz up(best xover at 2K)

Lazarus There is no commercial speaker worth 15 for me. With 15 i could get a superior speaker kit (Skaaning + Raven 3) + superior amp + superior digital (superior = "not your everyday run-of-the-mill stuff") for under 15. Now its true there are 15 and up speakers out there that are'nt worth it. I never consider buying a speaker that weighs more than say 100 lbs. each. The 6 amps sounds too complex for me. And can you give me their weight?

I don't think you follow me. Why should i invest in a superior amp and then have the output channeled into a speaker amp??? You are sending the music through too many pathways... superior amp + superior digital + superior drivers + superior xover = ? (lets keep the money factor within reason..15 is way more than necessary)

Your point is valid. The local audio club heard a $70K system and most walked away dissapointed at the sound, speakers especially. I agree there are speakers out there at $15 to $50K that are worth all those Washingtons. Now as for your amp driven drivers???, i prefer to have my tube amp supplying the power. The circuits in the speaker amps i doubt can out perform the circuits in my tube amps. Oh by the way i'm not looking for BIG sound. Just enough to fill my room with a superior quality. I would love to compare your Atc speakers, with a 3 way Skaaning 10 + Skaaning 4 + Philips RSQ8P/11.

I've heard that San Antonio is a beautiful town. I've always wanted to go there. BTW i've got word that the Seas W12CY midrange will outperform the legendary Skaaning's. This is from a reliable source. As well you may want to know that the super tech ribbon from Philips RSQ8P/11 will be avaliable at the end of May. $840/pr from Koch in Germany. Now i'm open to consider the Atc's in a passive setup. Can you get me a price. If you get a chance take a close look at the Seas Excel woofers. Another driver that you may want to research is the Raven 3 ( $1600/each) Now give me some description of your speakers. The ATC web page gives absolutely no info...strange?? BTW they are British, i tend not to like "british" sound.

Laz I just got word from a DIYer in Denmark. I asked him what's his drivers. Says he started with the best mid , the ATC..so looks like your right. Says they are expensive. As well he had Skaaning build him a woofer to certain specs. For tweet i think he uses Scanspeak. Can you give me some info on this 3 inch mid soft dome. Where to buy? etc.

LAZ which ATC speakers do you have ..the SCM 50's 100's or the 150's. The ATC active speaker may..no IS the best commercial speaker in the world. No doubt in my mind. However you did mention like 15K. That leaves me out. However i'm trying to find out if my designer will work the ATC 3 inch soft dome into the SEas W22 + RT8P. Hope they are not more than say $500 each..i may go $700..thats tops. If they are more than that I'm going with the big philips ribbons $850/pr

One more contender for "best" mid. Accuton 2 and 3 inch dome, probably 2nd to the ATC

so they make the best mid, but do they do as well with the woofer and tweet or do they have someone else. Now i would have doubts that they can do all 3 drivers world class. If the thread said best tweets, then which would show up? Lets not bring up the Accuton Diamond tweeter at $2800 EACH!!!. I guess top tweet may be the Raven 3

Yes the Skaanings are very nice. The Danish DIYer , Mogens Anderson has a 3 way Skaaning + ATC + Scan-Speak. He had Skaan build a 5 inch with specs of his choice. The only thing he would change is the tweet to a Hiqulaphon. Take a look. http://home13.inet.tele.dk/meil/

Yes i found access to the ATC's. Since we're on the subject of "best" midrange, it's good you brought up the Raven 3. This ribbon is one very interesting speaker. If i chose to go single source driver this would be the one. The R-3 does go down to an amazing 500,i had thought it was 1K. Zalatroyn has a kit with the R-3. New York Noise Maker. You can see the xover schematic and a picture. The NYCN has dual Focal 10 inch Kevlar woofers in each cabinet. Quite a load for a tube amp i would guess. They xover at 500, which seems low to me. I would feel 1K would be a better xover point, so as not to stress the R-3. Though the unit does looks like it's built like a tank. The R-3 could offer a seemless image that the ATC + tweeter may not. If i used the R-3's i would go with the new Seas W26. W26 + R-3! What a speaker!!...for under 5K!

New kid on the block...Zellaton, don't know much about the driver right now i'm researching. E-speakers has them on order. I just got a note on Madisound from a DIYer who has all the midranges on his table. He votes on the Zell's...???As soon as i know something i'll post. The Etons got votes as well.