Twin Tweeters? - VAF DC-X G4

[kimbo]

It is unusual to see two tweeters used together in a single enclosure. This doesn't suprise me as I would have thought that the problems associated with comb filtering and other phase difficulties would render the idea useless.

However a pal is interested in assembling the latest VAF DC-X4 speaker 'kits' from VAF Research. I have seen a couple of reviews that give them the big thumbs up. VAF have the two tweeters mounted one right above the other with one angled a little to the left and the other a little to the right in order to improve the off axis response.

http://www.vaf.com.au/

Have any members heard these speakers and if so, what are your impressions?

Anybody heard any other systems with a similar twin tweeter setup?

Cheers, Kimbo

[Bare]

There is a 'new' speaker manufacturer born every single day fortunately there is also a Speaker manufacturer going bankrupt every single day.
Buy from some one with at least a couple of decades of longevity and spare yrself the worst of the Agro :-0

[kimbo]

I'd agree, except VAF have been going almost thirty years and have a pretty good reputation. That is the main reason I am curious about the twin tweeter idea. If it was from an unknown company I'd have dismissed the idea out of hand. But because it is from VAF I'm curious to see it it actually worked.

[Norman Tracy]

Here are a couple of small, obscure, fly by night speaker companies which manage to make the dual/multi tweeter idea work:

http://www.mcintoshlabs.com

See XR ranges and 'Bessel Tweeter Array'

http://www.dynaudio.com

See the Evidence range

I also recall that Focus in Canada is using dual tweets in their top range

[Gibbi]

Polk audio used to (don't know if they still do) make a very large speaker with 3 tweeters stacked. I was just bidding on one in an auction but it went beyond my means. I think it's a great idea for improvements in efficiency, SPL, and distortion. Just need to keep in mind the driver spacing and Xover frequency.

[kimbo]

This is what is so great about this forum……..I’m forever learning stuff and having to reconsider my prejudices. Thanks for the info Norman.

Wow FORTY 3/4" titanium tweeters in the McIntosh – 110 drivers in each box……..I’m gob-smacked!
http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/mcprod/s...&product=XRT2K

Interesting that their Bessel Array has the five tweeters arranged horizontally which I would have thought would give a great vertical dispersion rather than horizontal……but then I don’t really know what makes a ‘Bessel array’ different from just a line of drivers.
http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/mcprod/s...product=XLS360

And with the Dynaudio Evidence….now you mention it I have seen these advertised. Interesting that the two tweeters are spaced well apart. My experience with d’Appolito configuration tells me to place them as close together as possible, but obviously this must not be the case as I can’t imagine Dynaudio getting it wrong.

The main difference with the VAF is that they have them facing left and right rather than at the same point. Anybody out there heard them? (or any other VAF kit for that matter)

Not seen the particular Polk speakers mentioned by Gibbi....anybody got any info on them?

[TurboFC3S]

There's nothing wrong with that VAF design. I've been contemplating a dual tweeter design for awhile now for one simple reason - dynamics. You could always use a high excursion tweeter like a Millenium and get the dynamics, but even then for long periods of high SPL, you're limiting factor will most likely be thermal and not mechanical.

Dual tweeters have the same advantages as dual anything else, lowered distortion, higher dynamics and SPL. You can even get away with a lower crossover point with dual tweeters. The majority of design issues are only for off-axis listening.

The Vifa D26NC is the logical first option, small flange can allow super tight tweeter spacing. Ribbons also can work well stacked top to bottom, since the entire length counts as the radiating area, but then your mids are farther apart. Another nice option would be the Neo Vifa XT19.

The more you learn and delve into speaker design, the more you see just how many possible design goals a system can have ... no speaker can satisfy every possible 'important' parameter, but if you adhere to the enough of them, you'll likely come out with a nice sounding design. Measurement gear is nice to have too

[SilverFox]

Twin tweeters isn't really that new of an idea as I think Bose did it with their 301 Series II bookshelf speakers about 30 years ago.
I've heard more than once that a lot of people consider the Series II of the 301 series to be the best sounding ones of all the 301's.

In those speakers, the tweeters are facing different directions so there may be something to the idea that you don't want them in phase.

Sounds good to me, although I rather like the idea of rather than using two tweeters, to use two ribbon drivers instead. That should put some twinkle in your ears.

[Shigeko]

The second tweeter on the Dynaudio kicks in as the off axis response of the first starts to increase. They say its to decrease floor and celling reflections through the combing effect.

And this is a Bessel Array
http://www.ee.ic.ac.uk/hp/staff/pnay...philips091.pdf

[andrew01]

VAF have a good rep. in AUS .......cant comment on the dual tweeters except to say IMHO the older model DC-X sounds better than the new one..........I'd ring VAF and see if you can still get the older model.............

Andrew