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Coaxial Ribbon Midrange/tweeter - Can a small midrange ribbon actually do midrange well?

Fellow Members: my apologies if you may have caught a similar discussion under Piega 511 Coax Loudspeakers. That title may not reflect the general interest I am hoping for.  

I am wondering, from a technical standpoint, how the Piega 511/711 Coax loudspeakers use a relatively small coaxial ribbon mid/ tweeter array driver to cover the entire midrange.  I always thought of smaller ribbons as excellent tweeters only.  If it does cover the entire midrange, can it move enough air to make
an impactful presentation for large orchestra or rock music, for example. Reviews praise the speaker’s agility, resolution and accuracy. It sounds like a most worthy competitor in its price range but I want a loudspeaker that can do most genres well.....not just vocals, chamber music and jazz.  Thank you in advance for your input. 
audiobrian
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
4,908 posts
 

@erik, are you forgetting about the Apogee Acoustics full range ribbon loudspeakers?

But let me back up. I asked if you meant to say "ribbon" in your sentence "this is not the first time a planar midrange has been envisioned". I did so because the "this" in the sentence I took to be referring to the speaker the OP is asking about, a loudspeaker with specifically a ribbon midrange, not a generic planar one.

In regards to planar midrange drivers, of course the Piega 511 is not the first speaker to employ them! My God, that goes back to the 1950's. QUAD, KLH, and Dayton-Wright ESL's, Magneplanars in the early-70's, the Infinity IRS and RS-1b, all the ESL's introduced in the 1980's and later, the ET LFT's, and many more.

So Erik, what do you mean by "a planar midrange"? 

erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
How many times must I answer the same question?

Not at all. I meant "planar" in the generic sense, including ribbon, planar magnetic or even ESLs, in that the radiating surface describes a plane instead of a cone.

So, that was what I meant originally, when I used the term "planar" as in "describes a plane" and when I wrote this:

I did so because the "this" in the sentence I took to be referring to the speaker the OP is asking about, a loudspeaker with specifically a ribbon midrange, not a generic planar one.


Except the speaker the OP is referring to does not appear to be a true ribbon.


I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a true ribbon midrange though.

I was thinking about a true ribbon midrange, characterized by extremely low impedance, and a conductor alone forming the moving element.  Often transformer coupled.

Yes, I completely forgot about the Apogee Acoustics models.



Best,
E
audiobrian OP
96 posts
 
Yes, I watched a factory tour video on YouTube explaining ribbon production and cabinet construction at Piega.  The video and emails with Piega indicate the 511/711 coaxial ribbons are actually excellent planar magnetic drivers, aluminum elements printed on a stretched plastic membrane. I plan to audition early 2019. Thanks again. 

audiobrian OP
96 posts
 
Just wanted to give feedback on my audition of Piega 711s.  They are remarkably resolving and transparent, possibly the best I’ve heard; wide sweet spot as well, characteristic of coaxial drivers. However, I felt the speakers were a bit “thin sounding” in the midrange and lower treble. I listen to a good amount of pop and rock & roll music.  When listening to Queen, Freddie’s voice lacked the “meat on the bone” I’m accustomed to.  That said, the Piegas sounded incredibly good with smooth jazz. All drivers and speakers have their own signature and strengths, very true of the Piega coaxial ribbon/planar magnetic.
I think I’d prefer losing a wee bit of resolution in exchange for a more organic/natural presentation..... however I can understand why some would take out their credit cards on the spot and why these loudspeakers were so highly praised in The Absolute Sound!  Thanks again to all respondents.

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