Usher DMD tweeter upgrade: worth it?

I have Be-20 with the original tweeter and last year got the new DMD tweeter installed.

First I have to say that I could not have care less about beryllium tweeter being beryllium/titanium tweeter. I bought the original speakers because I like what I heard and at that price point, I could not find anything locally that I prefer over Be-20. When it came to light that the tweeter is not pure beryllium, that certainly did not make my speakers performed any worse than when I thought it was pure beryllium.

Then I had a chance to hear Usher with new DMD tweeter and I did not hesitate to have the tweeters changed at all. As good as the original tweeters were, the DMD tweeter is smoother, richer sounding without losing any detail. Not that the old tweeter was thin sounding, the new tweeters just improved upon the older tweeters significantly IMHO.

Interesting post...

I have owned 520s, V602s, Tiny Dancers, and now Mini Dancer 2s. I have the BE version and couldn't be happier (the tweeter could be made out of cardboard and I wouldn't care). The BE version sounds heavenly and is one of the most positively reviewed drivers in the last 3 years (by people who could care less about what it's made of, they care about the sound). One local Usher dealer in Phoenix who sold Magicos pointed to the Tiny Dancers sitting next to his V3s and said "that is the best tweeter in my store".

It seems to me the upgrade is a personal preference. It's like asking "do I buy a Ferrari or Bently?". My local dealer was very honest and said the value of the upgrade to the DMD tweeter is very model specific. Certain models there is a big improvement others very little. Even then it's what your ear hears. I have listened to the DMD tweeter in Tiny Dancers and Mini Dancer2s. I feel it is an excellent tweeter on par with some of the best available. If people are hearing it as "bright" or "harsh" they should start looking at the rest of the system or give it time to break in (or leave their obvious issues with Usher at home).

However, I believe Usher has made a big marketing mistake by pricing an upgrade so high. They missed a big oppportunity to reward current customers for their loyalty. They raised the model price on the Mini Dancer 2s by $200 but the upgrade is $700. What kind of message does that send? It tells me they are not looking for a long term relationship with their customers. It's kind of like a cell phone company that offers better deals to new customers than current customers. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth and when you need another phone you shop around instead of automatically going back to your current carrier.

I personally can't justify the $700 difference. Usher's BE tweeter sounds to good to me. I don't want to take a chance and screw up an already great thing (especially for $700).

WELL SAID SUTEETAT, i have a pair of BE-20 which i also upgraded to DMD, my findings are 100% with yours.
I'm a USHER DEALER in Australia. The DMD tweeter, i was told still have BERYLLIUM in it.

betterbelizeit, you might want to do a little bit more research as i believe the crossover for the be-718 was designed by danny richie of gr research thus making it the american version.

I think since I have listened to the new DMD tweeter at wenw audio in Holland, and at a friend who has the new dmd tweeter in his BE20 that it is a big upgrade. The sound just is more open, more spatious, a bit sweeter. I have ordered also a new pair. It has not arrived jet.