Apogee Full Range (c. ?)
A full-range ribbon loudspeaker with trapezoidal woofer panels and field-replaceable foil drivers.
Overview
The Apogee Full Range Ribbon Speaker, made by Apogee Acoustics, is a full-range ribbon loudspeaker built for high-fidelity audio reproduction. It has a trapezoidal woofer panel and a steel framework that supports the driver setup. You can configure it for either 1 Ohm or 4 Ohm operation. User reports say it sounds better strapped for 1 Ohm. The manual also notes it can be used in a three-way configuration, which lets it fit into a bigger system.
Specifications
| Impedance | Could be strapped for 1 Ohm or 4 Ohm operation. |
| Crossover | Full -range ribbon speaker with seamless cross- over. |
| Woofer panel shape | Trapezoidal. |
| Framework material | Steel. |
Design
The Apogee Full Range uses full-range ribbon driver technology, with foil midrange and tweeter components (FR-MRTW). It needs no traditional crossover network, because the transition across frequencies is handled by the design. The construction centers on a steel framework, which gives structural support to the tension-sensitive ribbon elements.
Market
The ribbons in the Apogee Full Range were known to be very fragile, and that led to high field service and repair rates. Replacement foil midrange and tweeter units (FR-MRTW) are available as tight-tolerance reproductions of the original parts. They cost $645.00 and include stainless steel bridges. Owners feel strongly about these speakers. Some call them the best they've ever heard, though others found the bass response overly dominant.
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