I gre out of Be Tweeters

Hi @andy

As some one who has made his own speakers and is active in the DIY speaker community (well, in terms of discussions) I want to say I think you are partly right, but partly wrong.
The crossover designer has a lot of latitude in making speakers sound balanced, bright, even control dispersion and lobing, but it is very difficult to "fix" ragged frequency responses and excess energy storage within a driver. You also can’t "fix" distortion, something it seems, in my opinion, some drivers are actually selling.

One other dimension is dynamic range. The ability to change output level while maintaining the frequency response and distortion profile. Can't fix this in the crossover.

At the same time, there are lots of smooth, extended tweeters out there at various price points.

So, I agree you can make a pair or triad of drivers sound bright, or dull or bassy or boomy with the crossover, but I also think drivers can bring a lot of character to the design.

Best,

Erik

The resonances of driver cone/dome itself can produce coloration.
You can't correct it with crossover.

That is by no means the only issue, @alexberger

I agree you can make a pair or triad of drivers sound bright, or dull or bassy or boomy with the crossover, but I also think drivers can bring a lot of character to the design.

I was speaking of drivers that don't have any inherent issues.  Of course, if you have some garbage drivers then there are only so much the xover can fix.

The cone material is only one aspect of the overall driver design and the "character" of the sound. So to simply lump all Be or Diamond or Al or soft domes in a category greatly oversimplifies each design. Also, as others have said, the tweeter is 1 of 2 or more drivers delivering sound to your ears. The crossover, cabinet type and material not to mention the room (and commonly lack of adequate treatment) and equipment all play a role in what finally reaches your ears.That said, IME the vast majority of tweeters (and for that matter speakers) aren't showcased with remotely how they can sound primarily due to the room size and again, lack of adequate treatment. That beaming Titanium or Be tweeter might just be your first reflection point's untreated wall and / or your sub - par source, amp or preamp...