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Let's talk Tweeters!

Another thread which talked about specific speaker brands was taken over, so I’d like to start a new one.

Mind you, I do not believe in a "best" type of tweeter, nor do I believe in a best brand of speaker, so lets keep that type of conversation out, and use this instead to focus on learning about choices speaker designers make and what that may mean to the end user.

There is no such thing as a speaker driver without trade offs. Some choices must be forsworn in exchange for another.

In the end, the materials used, magnet and motor structure, and crossover choices as well as the listening room come together to make a great speaker, of which there are many. In addition, we all listen for different things. Imaging, sweetness, warmth, detail, dance-ability and even efficiency so there is no single way to measure a driver and rate it against all others.

Also, please keep ads for your 4th dimensional sound or whatever off this thread. Thanks.
erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,063 posts
 
Well, we're far off topic now, but I believe the Snell A models used woofers with added mass to lower the resonant f and gain bass extension. A poured potting compound or something like that.

Also shortened the lifespan of the driver since the suspension wasn't built for it... but hey! That's what upgrades are for.
erik_squires OP
16,063 posts
 
My current "ideal" system is a 6.5" mid-woofer with subwoofer. This let’s me use significant DSP on the lower 2-3 octaves, but I truly only use it for movies.  I would use it all the time but engaging the crossover in the preamp I use (Parasound P7) really diminishes the sound. Not a problem during movies though.

I can’t imagine trying to get those lower octaves in an apartment without a sub and that EQ feature set.

Of course, I also use bass traps and panels from GIK Acoustics.

Best,

E
soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
756 posts
 
Well I am not a fan of any of the afore mentioned tweeters. My favorite is Wilson Benesch's tweeter made in house. For years they never varied from there beloved soft dome tweeter. Then they began experimenting by adding a super tweeter to some of there speakers all the while working to improve their own. The result is a soft dome tweeter that has been re-enforced with carbon fiber. The results are stunning, 
Wilson Benesch (http://www.wilson-benesch.com) today announces that it has been named a CES 2017 Innovation Awards Honoree in the High Performance Home Audio / Video category for its newly launched A.C.T. One Evolution P1 floorstanding loudspeaker.
"just a small ad"

timlub
2,039 posts
 
@erik_squires
  "Well, We're far off topic now" 
I was hearing a discussion of trying to blend ribbons with heavier mass drivers and how speed affected the blend with @asvjerry.  You said that you could blend 15 inch woofers.  I was giving a basic explanation of mass vs motor and driver speed isn't necessarily based on the size of a driver, but the balance of the total design.  That theory hold true on all traditional drivers tweeters to subwoofers. 

erik_squires OP
16,063 posts
 
I agree @timlub

I also only meant to criticize myself for going off topic, since I had originally only meant to talk about tweeters, but so long as we stay away from bashing specific manufacturers and stick to design principles I guess it's all good.

Sorry if that sounded like I was criticizing you at all.

Best,


E
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