I could never get the Peerless corundum dome tweeter to sound right. Whatever I did, It was either too dull or too harsh. I tried a gentle downward slope, gentle upwards slope and flat. The only thing I wasn't able to do was notch out the breakup above 20khz because my microphone doesn't go that high. It's put me off hard domes for life.
One thing I find interesting is a lot of the most popular speakers used on hifi forums use cheap tweeters. Snell K = Vifa D19 (crossed around 2.1khz third order so I've been told), Spendor = Seas 22TFF, Royd Audio = Vifa D19. The BBC LS 5/8 used the Audax TWO34 and a lot of people said it was their favourite sound at Scalford hifi show, year after year (Large enthusiasts show).
Read the reviews of the el cheapo Vifa D19 - Peerless by Tymphany D19TD-05 3/4" Poly Dome Tweeter
One thing I find interesting is a lot of the most popular speakers used on hifi forums use cheap tweeters. Snell K = Vifa D19 (crossed around 2.1khz third order so I've been told), Spendor = Seas 22TFF, Royd Audio = Vifa D19. The BBC LS 5/8 used the Audax TWO34 and a lot of people said it was their favourite sound at Scalford hifi show, year after year (Large enthusiasts show).
Read the reviews of the el cheapo Vifa D19 - Peerless by Tymphany D19TD-05 3/4" Poly Dome Tweeter
Last edited:
I have the TWO34 and I can confirm that it sounds pretty good.
But with my midrange with a 75cm2 SD, a 34mm dome seems hardly justifiable.
It is a mere psychological question.
But with my midrange with a 75cm2 SD, a 34mm dome seems hardly justifiable.
It is a mere psychological question.
Morel Cat 308 is soft and seeet.
In your crossover point vifa XT25 (or scanspeak sibling) would be a perfect mate.
Sbacoustics sb29Sdac or sb29Rdac are winners too.
In your crossover point vifa XT25 (or scanspeak sibling) would be a perfect mate.
Sbacoustics sb29Sdac or sb29Rdac are winners too.
No I wouldn't suggest you use it, just trying to say you don't have to spend a fortune to get great sound. Some budget tweeters punch well above their weight.
And like pasta, there are also many brands that will just sell thin air.
That is definitely true for a lot of tweeters.
So, no or extremely small benefits to much cheaper alternatives.
A lot of these benefits are often esthetic.
A fancy milled face plate is nice, acoustically it doesn't do a lot, while being a lot more expensive to make.
There are many well respected brands (objectively) out there, that use something like a Seas H1212, Tymphany DA25BG08 or similar.
A good tweeter is defined by its use in a certain context.
Last edited:
I equate "dull" with "neutral" - sort of an over-damped result.
I wonder about the "harsh" result though..
Ironically the one tweeter I've heard that combines the two qualities simultaneously is the (Peerless)/ScanSpeak D2608/913000. "Incisive/Clear/Bright/Edgy-leading to Harsh" with "dull'ed-out" decay. I tend to hear "dull and bright" (though not harsh) with the fabric SB ring-domes.
Most of these qualities (NOT simply a result of linearity differences and near diffraction/reflection) are typically a result of how the dome edges (and how its material "rings") are damped with the surround.
Last edited:
The SB STAC is similar sounding (though a bit more "airy") if limited in bandwidth by comparison.
Last edited:
You should probably start looking at ribbons.
The most usable is the Viawave SRT7 (with greater extension), though very expensive.
The most usable is the Viawave SRT7 (with greater extension), though very expensive.
@ScottG, nope.
Many years ago I built isodynamic, electrostatic panels and ribbon transducers for myself.
Today I no longer have a good relationship with planars.
Many years ago I built isodynamic, electrostatic panels and ribbon transducers for myself.
Today I no longer have a good relationship with planars.
Aging.... human hearing loss/changes, etc.
If you enjoyed a speaker for years, and now find an issue, it's likely your own hearing loss.
If you enjoyed a speaker for years, and now find an issue, it's likely your own hearing loss.
Yes and the problem with audiometric hearing tests is that they only cover up to 8KHz, and are fairly imprecise. You know, used to detect significant clinical hearing loss, rather than +/-1dB variations up to 20Khz..
One day we'll have direct neuronal implants into our vestibulocochlear nerve, and we won't need speakers or headphones. Eargasm foroever.
One day we'll have direct neuronal implants into our vestibulocochlear nerve, and we won't need speakers or headphones. Eargasm foroever.
I hate to say it, but for people with age 50 and above, everything above 8kHz is going downhill pretty fast anyway.
Meaning that distortion above those frequencies is also not so significant.
Even in general, the 2nd harmonic of 8kHz is 16kHz, third is 24kHz.
Which is hard to hear for many people.
Plus the fact that 2nd order harmonics are less harmful already by itself by nature.
Meaning that distortion above those frequencies is also not so significant.
Even in general, the 2nd harmonic of 8kHz is 16kHz, third is 24kHz.
Which is hard to hear for many people.
Plus the fact that 2nd order harmonics are less harmful already by itself by nature.
Wait a minute. I didn't understand why we are now discussing hearing aging. If you are referring to me, know that I have never had a good relationship with that tweeter and that, my problem with C23/6 it was never in the upper treble, in fact, it was the only range I really liked about that tweeter. Now, after so many years I have decided to change it, and do you know why I am doing it only now? Because for many years I put the speakers aside and started listening exclusively with headphones, which have become my passion.
My ears, compatibly with age, are more than fine, my otolaryngologist repeats to me every time that my ears work much better than the average of the subjects of my age. If anything, my problem is sight, yes, unfortunately for my eyes the situation is much, much less good.
But now let's get back to talking about tweeters now please? Thanks.
My ears, compatibly with age, are more than fine, my otolaryngologist repeats to me every time that my ears work much better than the average of the subjects of my age. If anything, my problem is sight, yes, unfortunately for my eyes the situation is much, much less good.
But now let's get back to talking about tweeters now please? Thanks.
In my case, it was just a general statement, not tailored to anyone specific.
And since hearing aging affects higher frequencies it is important and essential information to know when talking about tweeters.
It's rather silly to waste a lot of time and budget on things that aren't even there to begin with (also a general statement, not specif for just tweeters fyi)
And since hearing aging affects higher frequencies it is important and essential information to know when talking about tweeters.
It's rather silly to waste a lot of time and budget on things that aren't even there to begin with (also a general statement, not specif for just tweeters fyi)
But imagine people not having monney enough for this surgery ! They will be offer the implant against an ad spot every hour 😀 directly heard in the brain!
OK. Get a pair of these, perform a decent crossover job and prove us you will ever need anything better…
I've seen those reviewed on Heissmann Acoustics | Kits | Speaker developments but couldn't find them anywhere, so assumed they were an old model. Can't remember seeing them on Seas website either.