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Is the Accuton driver that good?

It seems a lot of new speakers are using the Accuton or similar ceramic drivers (and I notice the diamond variant for tweeters). I've heard them (mainly in Kharmas), but not others. Evolution, Salk, Avalon, and like I said Kharma use them.
Do they have any particular coloration or quality that is making them gain popularity? In the Kharmas, it was pace and timing and a natural sound without overhang, but it was different than regular (non-metallic) cones & domes, which, fwiw, are less detailed but maybe more relaxing.
It's like for me with the Kharmas "this sounds great and real and not bright or hard either" but somehow it is not as relaxing as the Aerials or Von Schweikerts or Quad dynamics(or even Apogees) I have lived with). I can't put my finger on it.

I'm not sure if it was just the Kharmas or the ceramics in general, but I wanted to raise the question.
rgs92
elviukai's avatar
elviukai
135 posts
 
As somebody exactly said- the xover must be built for Accuton, not drivers implemented in xover topolygy. that prevent from using some most interesting (sonicaly) xovers. other than that they are great drivers. i worked more than 2 years with accuton and audiotechnology (both very diferent yet very good drivers) the funny thing is to meke speakers sound neutral a diferencies about 4db is a must for theose brands. audiotechnology is lush, fat and "liquid" sounding and regions 60hz/ 100-200 and 650hz needs to be very carefull with not to overbloom sound. and 2nd discortion not so big as it sounds to ears by the way.

accuton vise versa - need to have slight bump is 50/ 100-300/ 650hz to sound balanced. both brands can sound very good. it more in the designer hands than drivers itself.
andromedaaudio
170 posts
 
I have a lot of expirience with accuton .
You already gave the answer , a paper /composite mid sounds maybe a litle more friendly ,relaxing and less detailed sounding .
But my expiriece is at least with my own designs that the ceramic in the tweeter is the main suspect.
A combo with diamond tweeter is hard to beat , and yes maybe one has to adjust to clean high res. sound.
The accuton with the black ears is a very nice made unit with a powerfull neodymium magnetdrive , this high efficiency model makes the design more appropriate for tube designs .
I found a nice paper composite mid and gonna make a model around it for comparison in the future
devilboy
1,176 posts
 
Most speakers with Accuton drivers don't seem to be efficient enough for a 300B. But hey, I'd love to hear it.
andromedaaudio
170 posts
 
I can design one no problem .
i can design one with 93 real dB s if i have to , mine go perfectly also with the ayon spark 35 watt triode they stay very dynamic .
Mike lavigne has also experimented with real low output designs
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Devilboy.
The Coincident Pure Reference/Extreme use this driver and work very well with low powered SET amplifiers.
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