I'm finding the T34B tweeter to be more sensitive to various types of series capacitors in passive HP filters. Usually I notice very subtle differences (if any) in capacitor choices in series HP circuits, but the T34B is clearly more resolving and has lower HD.
Oddly, the capacitors I prefer with this tweeter are the cheaper Solen SCRs and secondly the lower end Clarity PP models. I tried some Mundorf Evos, but these sounded very laid back and too soft.
Usually I prefer Mundorf caps in series circuits, especially with high sensitivity metal dome tweeters and compression drivers. I'm not typically obsessed with capacitors in crossovers (as long as they're not electrolytics), but this one has me reconsidering the theory.
I'd like to hear some other choices anyone has made with HP filter components using the T34B.
Oddly, the capacitors I prefer with this tweeter are the cheaper Solen SCRs and secondly the lower end Clarity PP models. I tried some Mundorf Evos, but these sounded very laid back and too soft.
Usually I prefer Mundorf caps in series circuits, especially with high sensitivity metal dome tweeters and compression drivers. I'm not typically obsessed with capacitors in crossovers (as long as they're not electrolytics), but this one has me reconsidering the theory.
I'd like to hear some other choices anyone has made with HP filter components using the T34B.
In my Ellips-A I used Jantzen Alumen ~1.5uF (to realize the pretection of the tweeter, and the part of the acoustic filter as well) and in Ellips-P Jantzen Superior. For 3way 18WU+12MU+T25B I used Alumens.
I liked the trebles from Ellips-P the most, there was resolution, airyness, without being bright. I have to say even mild changes of treble level with those Bliesmas make the difference and it always took me a lot of listening sessions to set it right.
I liked the trebles from Ellips-P the most, there was resolution, airyness, without being bright. I have to say even mild changes of treble level with those Bliesmas make the difference and it always took me a lot of listening sessions to set it right.
While I've not used those mids, I can also vouch for the Jantzen Zcaps in general, preference to the Sup and Silver I've used.
AuriCaps are another good option for midrange areas.
If those are too salty, try these:
https://us.rs-online.com/view/search?keyword=ASC X38 capacitors
If you are careful which voltage and stock options you select, you can get them inexpensively. Michael Percy Audio stocks the 20/40uF X386S values too.
AuriCaps are another good option for midrange areas.
If those are too salty, try these:
https://us.rs-online.com/view/search?keyword=ASC X38 capacitors
If you are careful which voltage and stock options you select, you can get them inexpensively. Michael Percy Audio stocks the 20/40uF X386S values too.
I like Superiors as they are not overly expensive and every time I used them I was pleased with the sound and improvement of the clarity. Of course availability in the most of the shops is a big plus as well.
Thanks guys. I'll give the Jantzens a shot first and see if they work out. The Superiors have a good reputation too. I just usually use standard PP film if its available in the values I need. I've had very good luck with AC motor run capacitors as well. They tend to sound very clean and focused.
Slightly off ropic, for very large values the Mundorf anf Ero electrolytics are decent, but 100V isn't usually enough for a good margin of safety with LP circuits on larger LF drivers. I see little benefit in bypassing with PP film unless its a larger percentage and the xover is higher.
Slightly off ropic, for very large values the Mundorf anf Ero electrolytics are decent, but 100V isn't usually enough for a good margin of safety with LP circuits on larger LF drivers. I see little benefit in bypassing with PP film unless its a larger percentage and the xover is higher.
That's my personal experience too. After I switched to the Satori Textreme tweeter, I noticed more difference in the sound with different capacitors. That's also why I believe if someone were to test the difference between different capacitor, make sure the drivers are capable or good enough to produce the difference. Usually budget drivers cannot tell much of a difference.
Back to the topic of capacitor, I have tested Clarity CMR, CSA and Pur, Jantzens Alumen, Silver and Superior Z-Cap, Mundorf Superior and Evo Aluminum Oil. Out of these, I prefer the Jantzens Alumen Z-Cap on the tweeter circuit and the Clarity CMR sounds really good with the Satori MW16TX woofer.
Back to the topic of capacitor, I have tested Clarity CMR, CSA and Pur, Jantzens Alumen, Silver and Superior Z-Cap, Mundorf Superior and Evo Aluminum Oil. Out of these, I prefer the Jantzens Alumen Z-Cap on the tweeter circuit and the Clarity CMR sounds really good with the Satori MW16TX woofer.
I ordered some Jantzen Zs to try in series with the T34Bs. Hopefully they'll complement the tweeter and fix some of the grainy rough sound I'm hearing around 5k. I'm not expecting miracles, but in the past with highly resolving low HD tweeters I've been surprised by certain combinations of capacitors, especially with larger sized caps. I don't believe that much in bypassing larger value caps with smaller ones, so I prefer to use a decent, low leakage cap to start with. That gets expensive with lower xover frequencies. Sometimes larger ERO or Mundorf Electrolytics bypassed with 30 percent Solen SCR sound better than using a single larger Clarity SA or Solen SCR.
The Solen SCRs are usually very good and sound reasonably inert (maybe a little rough and cold with little 2nd order HD), but the lower xover requiring larger values appears to magnify the weaknesses in them to the point they don't sound as transparent. The smaller size SCRs sound much better, even when paralleled, as do the Clarity SAs.
The Solen SCRs are usually very good and sound reasonably inert (maybe a little rough and cold with little 2nd order HD), but the lower xover requiring larger values appears to magnify the weaknesses in them to the point they don't sound as transparent. The smaller size SCRs sound much better, even when paralleled, as do the Clarity SAs.
profiguy, I assume you use T34B without WG. In that case I cannot advice specifically on bare T34B as I know its sound only with WG. Though I could extrapolate the experiences with other tweeters where I also had mild issues with ~5kHz area being somewhat rought. I recall 6600 and Focal TC90, and for them I added RLC to suppress area around 5kHz by ~1-2dB and it helped a lot. It might be useful also in your case if Superiors or other caps do not mitigate the issue.