Diamond tweeters.....hype or what?

[Jonny Hotnuts]

I was just wondering if they were worth the giant $$$.
I have never heard any and am dead curious about the SQ....not that I would ever consider dropping 6K on a set a tweeters!


-JH

[NV&H]

Well, other materials are currently being used to achieve piston-like behaviour at that diameter to well above 20khz. So, diamond units aren't doing anything that isn't already being done.

To truly exploit the stiffness and low mass of diamond, a much larger diaphragm should be fashioned. That way, a wider frequency range could be covered without break-up. But that, of course, would REALLY be expensive.

[cotdt]

instead of diamond, you can use zirconium which is almost as stiff. with such materials you can have 1.5" dome tweeters that will act pistonic to well past 20kHz.

[Cloth Ears]

Originally posted by NV&H
Well, other materials are currently being used to achieve piston-like behaviour at that diameter to well above 20khz. So, diamond units aren't doing anything that isn't already being done.

To truly exploit the stiffness and low mass of diamond, a much larger diaphragm should be fashioned. That way, a wider frequency range could be covered without break-up. But that, of course, would REALLY be expensive.

Like the 50mm D50N-6-39 from Accuton - fs of 390Hz, but at $13,500ea, I'm not buying!

[Pan]

Originally posted by cotdt
instead of diamond, you can use zirconium which is almost as stiff. with such materials you can have 1.5" dome tweeters that will act pistonic to well past 20kHz.

Not nearly as hard or light as diamond. Not even close to corondum.

Mohs scale:
Diamond 10
Corondum 9
Zirconium 5

Mohs scale is not linear so the differences are greater than the number above indicates.

And zirconium is almost twice as heavy as corondum and diamond.


/Peter

[Pan]

Originally posted by NV&H
Well, other materials are currently being used to achieve piston-like behaviour at that diameter to well above 20khz. So, diamond units aren't doing anything that isn't already being done.

Diamond domes indeed does something that no other domes do. No other material is as stiff or has as good thermal conductivity and that translates to superior performance.


/Peter

[cotdt]

Originally posted by Pan



Not nearly as hard or light as diamond. Not even close to corondum.

Mohs scale:
Diamond 10
Corondum 9
Zirconium 5

Mohs scale is not linear so the differences are greater than the number above indicates.

And zirconium is almost twice as heavy as corondum and diamond.


/Peter

OK, looks like I misread something in my textbook. But hard ceramics, such as ruby, would make a cheap replacement for diamond.

[Pan]

Yup, ruby/corondum is what T&P/Accuton has been using since mid 90's for their drivers.

Visaton has some tweeters as well using corondum.

I switched from Esotar T330D to Accuton C23 and never looked back.


/Peter

[tinitus]

Dont forget that its not real diamond, but rather cheap artificial stuff which I understand is more of a chemical process and not even very complicated nor expencive in any way, as far as I know...but I suppose lots of experiments does cost serious money

[Pan]

When I cut glass building aquariums and stuff I don't care if the cutter is a one piece of diamond from Southafrica or some artificially manufactured stuff. If it cuts the glass I'm satisfied. Don't care if the cutter is manufactured by a fat stinking old man or a blond virgin either!

If it's a cheap process I suggest you get into the business and give B&W and Accuton a hard time.

;-)


/Peter