I am looking for a tweeter that sounds better than the OW1. What do you suggest?
(Preferably not ribbons).
(Preferably not ribbons).
There are so many options, and for the most part it's more a matter of different rather than subjectively better. Objectively better is certainly possible, especially in different respects.
Really, what sort of sound are you looking for? Also, what bandwidth/(crossover) and efficiency? Finally, what price?
Dome tweeters:
As a median suggestion, I like the SB STAC for its wide dispersion at high freq.s and its overall "airy/whispy" detailed character above 3 kHz. At it's moderate price it has something a bit "more" than other offerings.
IF I wanted to spend considerably less than I'd go for the HiVi Q1R, which is a good overall tweeter and usable in a great many designs.
IF I wanted to have a bit more "meat" (3d "pop") with imaging and was OK with sacrificing an "airy" upper treble and a bit of detail then I'd look to some of the more expensive Morel tweeters.
IF you want to spend a lot more then look to Beryllium domes from SB & particularly Bliesma for both clarity and smoothness.
Planar tweeters:
Planar: (if you don't need as much lower freq. extension)
BG Neo 3 variants (see Parts Express Planar)
Super-Tweeter: (if you need even less lower freq. extension)
HiVi planars
Planars often provide more detail (than a dome) and can provide greater horizontal dispersion (if they are more narrow horizontally). However pushing most below 3-4 kHz is a bad idea.
AMT's can also be good for higher efficiency and a bit more lower freq. extension than most planars, though these are the larger AMT's like the Dayton AMTPRO-4..
Really, what sort of sound are you looking for? Also, what bandwidth/(crossover) and efficiency? Finally, what price?
Dome tweeters:
As a median suggestion, I like the SB STAC for its wide dispersion at high freq.s and its overall "airy/whispy" detailed character above 3 kHz. At it's moderate price it has something a bit "more" than other offerings.
IF I wanted to spend considerably less than I'd go for the HiVi Q1R, which is a good overall tweeter and usable in a great many designs.
IF I wanted to have a bit more "meat" (3d "pop") with imaging and was OK with sacrificing an "airy" upper treble and a bit of detail then I'd look to some of the more expensive Morel tweeters.
IF you want to spend a lot more then look to Beryllium domes from SB & particularly Bliesma for both clarity and smoothness.
Planar tweeters:
Planar: (if you don't need as much lower freq. extension)
BG Neo 3 variants (see Parts Express Planar)
Super-Tweeter: (if you need even less lower freq. extension)
HiVi planars
Planars often provide more detail (than a dome) and can provide greater horizontal dispersion (if they are more narrow horizontally). However pushing most below 3-4 kHz is a bad idea.
AMT's can also be good for higher efficiency and a bit more lower freq. extension than most planars, though these are the larger AMT's like the Dayton AMTPRO-4..
For a soft dome, I'd go for the Morel MDT30, CAT308.or CAT378. They're just amazing "meat and potatoes" tweeters.
For a titanium dome, first pick is Audax TW025A28. The best sounding hard dome around low $100 price point.
If you want a BE dome, the Bliesma T25B is exceptional.
For a titanium dome, first pick is Audax TW025A28. The best sounding hard dome around low $100 price point.
If you want a BE dome, the Bliesma T25B is exceptional.
FWIW, I have a speaker with an OW1, and have had it in primary use for over 20 years. It's wonderful.
What are you looking for? The OW1 does everything quite well and is excellent value.
Hiquphon OW1 is really quite nice. A friend of mine has a speaker using the OW1.
I haven't tried any from Transducer Labs, but I've heard a lot of good things about them. They are a branch of Ned Lab.
http://nedlab.com/wp/?page_id=3742
I haven't tried any from Transducer Labs, but I've heard a lot of good things about them. They are a branch of Ned Lab.
http://nedlab.com/wp/?page_id=3742
I'm not sure of their status. Solen doesn't list them, and Meniscus has only a limited few left. Not good signs. 🙁
If you like tweeter with great clarity , smooth and airy sounding but do not wish to pay for the price of Beryllium, you can consider the Textreme tweeter from the Satori series, TW29TXN.
Using an Hiquphon OW (1 2 3?) tweeter myself, cannot really complain and when listening to music I am not missing the Esotar tweeter it substituted (while reason says I should probably be missing it, at least on paper). Would be curious to hear a horn tweeter or a ribbon such as Viawave SRT-7 to compare.
Thanks! Some interesting suggestions!
To try to answer some questions like "Really, what sort of sound are you looking for? Also, what bandwidth/(crossover) and efficiency? Finally, what price?":
It will most likely be paired with MW13P-8, MW13TX-8 or 15W8530K01, so efficiency doesn't need to be high. Crossover likely in the 2 - 3KHz area and I may target the in-vogue LR2 with sloped baffle.
Price? - Whatever it takes to get 95% of the way there without being silly 🙂
"What is the issue with OW1"?:
No issue at all. Great tweeter. I have been using a pair of Dennis Murphy's CAOW1s for the last 10 years. I originally built them as a neutral reference to try to find out what was wrong with my Proac R2.5 clones... quite a lot, is what the CAOW1s showed me!!!
The CAOW1s are used with the port blocked and electronically crossed to dual subs (rather special subs that were the analogue precursor to the techology used in the KEF KC62).
I recently decided to improve my kitchen speakers, IPL M4s, and got rather good results. I had to change the out-of-spec MDT39s and substituted a pair of SB's cheapest tweeters: SB26STCN-C000-4 to go with the MW144 bass/mids. After reworking the crossover I was amazed that I was able to get the speakers to sound and measure much better than they ever had. The CAOW1s are better, but there is a hint of something in the modded IPLs that makes me think more is possible.
So, like a novice gambler with a lucky win, I now think I'm a high roller 😀
To try to answer some questions like "Really, what sort of sound are you looking for? Also, what bandwidth/(crossover) and efficiency? Finally, what price?":
It will most likely be paired with MW13P-8, MW13TX-8 or 15W8530K01, so efficiency doesn't need to be high. Crossover likely in the 2 - 3KHz area and I may target the in-vogue LR2 with sloped baffle.
Price? - Whatever it takes to get 95% of the way there without being silly 🙂
"What is the issue with OW1"?:
No issue at all. Great tweeter. I have been using a pair of Dennis Murphy's CAOW1s for the last 10 years. I originally built them as a neutral reference to try to find out what was wrong with my Proac R2.5 clones... quite a lot, is what the CAOW1s showed me!!!
The CAOW1s are used with the port blocked and electronically crossed to dual subs (rather special subs that were the analogue precursor to the techology used in the KEF KC62).
I recently decided to improve my kitchen speakers, IPL M4s, and got rather good results. I had to change the out-of-spec MDT39s and substituted a pair of SB's cheapest tweeters: SB26STCN-C000-4 to go with the MW144 bass/mids. After reworking the crossover I was amazed that I was able to get the speakers to sound and measure much better than they ever had. The CAOW1s are better, but there is a hint of something in the modded IPLs that makes me think more is possible.
So, like a novice gambler with a lucky win, I now think I'm a high roller 😀
I think the best way to upgrade from the CAOW1 is to replace the Seas C15RLY with a better woofer. Paul Carmody created the Carrera (LINK) with the Scan-Speak 8530K00 and OW1. I heard them several years ago at a DIY get together and they were superb. Of course now days you could go all out and go with one of the Purifi drivers. YMMV.
I suspect you are right.
I did start a thread about the BM:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-selection-for-small-box.394590/#post-7238973
Maybe I would have got more responses if I'd titled it "What is better than a CA15RLY"?
In reply to the Purifi topic; I just don't need inches of cone travel and that seems to be the main feature of those drivers.
I keep looking at the Carrera, but I'm somehow seduced by the idea of an LR2 crossover 🤔
Well the Purifi's have really low non-linear distortion as well.. BUT efficiency sucks.
IF I was doing mostly mid. w/ high-pass (and "HiFi" lower efficiency) with that kind of budget I'd look to the Morel TSCM634 - it has a very appealing sound character.
IF you want something different for a tweeter then I'd go with the Sounderlink Neo3 (but it will need correction). If you need a lower crossover and aren't afraid of the cost then the BlieSMa T34B. Both will provide a different sound that has a few distinctive features that are better subjectively than the OW1's.
Crossover-wise I'd look to what Lipinski Sound (and the Elsinore's) do:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/lipinski-sound-l-707-loudspeaker-measurements
Note the step response of both.
https://www.customanalogue.com/elsinore/elsinore_index.htm
https://www.customanalogue.com/elsinore/elsinore_19.htm
IF I was doing mostly mid. w/ high-pass (and "HiFi" lower efficiency) with that kind of budget I'd look to the Morel TSCM634 - it has a very appealing sound character.
IF you want something different for a tweeter then I'd go with the Sounderlink Neo3 (but it will need correction). If you need a lower crossover and aren't afraid of the cost then the BlieSMa T34B. Both will provide a different sound that has a few distinctive features that are better subjectively than the OW1's.
Crossover-wise I'd look to what Lipinski Sound (and the Elsinore's) do:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/lipinski-sound-l-707-loudspeaker-measurements
Note the step response of both.
https://www.customanalogue.com/elsinore/elsinore_index.htm
https://www.customanalogue.com/elsinore/elsinore_19.htm
maybe on dynaudio .... but as are based on scanspeak d2008 but smoother more sweet and less harsh....you cannot find better I loved and use a d2010 from 1990