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05-20-13: Jjrenman
Johnnyb53, You state that "Spitty sibilants are the first sign the treble isn't right. In addition to an emphasis at that frequency range, it could also be tweeter overshoot or ringing." Agreed but ringing and resonant peak are the same thing.

After I wrote that it occurred to me that we're talking about the same thing. *Just about* all dome tweeters have the "oil can resonance." However, they don't all sound the same owing to different materials (with different resonant peak frequencies), amounts of damping, magnet strength, etc. Dynaudios don't seems to exhibit this problem.

A few months ago I auditioned some speakers with a Heil-type folded ribbon tweeter. As I listened to how natural the sound was, I realized that I was for once hearing treble reproduced without overshoot or ringing.

There are a growing number of speakers that use this tweeter type, including GoldenEar, ADAM Audio, the Martin-Logan Motion Series, and Legacy Audio.

Just about every review I've read of speakers that use this tweeter type mention the detailed yet natural treble reproduction devoid of resonant peaks and overshoot.

Also, I wonder if the oil-canning is mostly a metal dome problem. I've checked the response curves of several Dynaudio speakers and their tweeters seem to be free of any resonant peaks. But then, maybe that's why they get the big bucks. :)

Johnnyb53,

Well said about tweeter types. I've been hearing great things about the GoldenEar speakers but have not yet auditioned them.

Another tweeter type that does not have the resonant problems of a dome are the dual ring radiator types. They are used very successfully in Sonus Faber as well as others.

Jjremnman:

The speakers I heard recently were the GoldenEar Aon 3 standmount speakers at $999/pair. They are a stone cold bargain. Their midrange and bass is as good as their treble, which is saying something. In fact, the Aon 3's bass quality, balance, and extension into the 30's is in the same league as a 41" floorstander with--say--a 10"x12" footprint like my Mirage OMD-15s or Monitor Audio Silver RX-6s.

GoldenEars are well distributed. I strongly recommend you audition their lineup. They hit way above their price points.

I've also heard their flagship Triton Two, but there are things about the Aon 3 that I like better. Sure, the Aon doesn't go as deep or play as loud as the Triton Two, but the smaller cabinet with no parallel surfaces is remarkably quiet and devoid of obvious cabinet colorations. I'm also keeping an eye out for the new Triton Seven, scheduled for June release. It's a passive floorstander with a D'Appolito array augmented by side-firing passive radiators; $1399/pair, no stands required.

One thing I have begun to notice in myself, is that metal dome tweeters are just too harsh for me. Soft dome or ribbon are more to my liking. I've not hear enough of the air motion types to form an opinion yet.

Johnnyb53,

A buddy of mine bought a pair of Martin-Logan Motion series on my recommendation and the retailer had them on sale for 50% off. When I listened to them, I was really impressed by the smooth quality of the highs. As a matter of fact I was a little pissed that my speakers retail for 6K and he spent 500 bucks and they sound better (at least in the highs). Anyway, I went online and discovered the method in which they are manufactured. It's very interesting how they layer and fold over the materials to create the tweeter. And it's logical that the sound produced is smoother than metal domes. When I was in my teens I remember Infinity speakers being very popular due to the ribbon tweeters. Back then they were one piece of ribbon that only handled approximately 2 watts. Hence, people that were turning up their rock were blowing the tweeters. Infinities response was to insert an array of multiple ribbons.