The best tweeter design


Been giving some thought on the best tweeter design and I came up with the following list:

1) Plasma
2) Ribbon
3) Horn-loaded
4) Diamond dome
5) Ring radiator
6) Inverted dome

But since 1-3 are hard to implement or expensive most speakers start at #4, at best.

Thoughts?
cdc
@prof    100% agree about the MBL.  Piano reproduction is especially stunning.   I've heard them only at shows driven by MBL electronics.   How much minimum power is needed to drive the 121 monitors?

The best tweeter is the one that best matches the rest of the system.  I've heard a lot of really clean and fast ribbon tweeters that simply did not sound right with the rest of the system.  Integration is the key.

Also, the right choice has a lot to do with how much of the frequency range the tweeter is expected to cover.  In some applications the tweeter is providing significant output down to 1,000 hz or even lower, in others, the tweeter may be crossed in to provide frequency coverage at MUCH higher frequencies.  I don't know about what specific type is inherently better than others, nor can I really take the measure of the sound of a particular tweeter absent consideration of the sound of the rest of the system.  I've heard good high frequency sound from systems using all kinds of tweeters. 

For most convention box systems, I almost always like the high frequency reproduction of pleated ribbons (AMT-type); they sound clean and seem to integrate well with dynamic woofers in two-way systems.  I've heard regular ribbons work well, but, they can sound disconnected and too different in sound with the rest of the system in most applications using dynamic woofers. 

The exotic plasma tweeters I've heard in very expensive systems were quite impressive--very clean, clear and open sounding.  But, the rest of the system was also quite fast and clear AND VERY EXPENSIVE, so I don't know how they would work in more conventional systems. 

As for more conventional dome types, I don't know if I have noticed any particular types standing out as either consistently good or bad.  If I had to guess, the majority of the systems I liked had fabric domes. 

Great topic!   I have found that often, the best tweeter is the one that most closely matches the rest of the drivers sonically, and perhaps, in material type as well.   Ribbon tweeters definitely have a certain wide dispersion magic.  

To my ear, I have found a lot of tweeters "ring" - especially the earlier beryllium tweeters.   It's that ringing that can cause real problems for someone with sensitive hearing or tinnitus.  

I like a properly designed horn tweeter myself.   I also like the diamond tweeters, but my understanding is that they are "heavy" and cause the speaker to be less efficient. 

I would like to hear the Lansche speakers with the plasma tweeter again. That's an interesting design for sure.
steakster,

re amps and MBL 121s.

I'd had concerns that I would have to use more powerful amps than my Conrad Johnson Premier 12 tube amps (140W side).   But before I bought the MBL 121s I read that reviewer Peter Breuninger had used the tiny 14W classic Eico amp to briefly drive the much larger MBL 116 speakers, so that gave me some hope.  (I also own the Eico amp).
I'd also heard the bigger MBL 101s on tube amps before and they had never sounded better to me.

As it turned out I had nothing to worry about.  My Conrad Johnson tube amps drove the 121s beautifully - they have dense, punchy drive to the sound as well as finesse.    But what amazed me more was the little 14W Eico HF-81 amp on the MBLs!   The Eico's are simply magic in that they produce such a big rich midrange, with tons of "sparkle" and don't sound "slow."  But they do have a bit of an overripe bottom end on most speakers - the sound down there just gets bigger and deeper.

The Eico was an incredible combo with the 121s because it makes them sound lush and gorgeous, though not slow, and it gives the sense of deeper richer bass - the overall sensation is like it made the speaker "bigger" than it is. 

Ya never know until you try....


I"ve heard them all in one form or another.  It's all about implementation.  Plenty of threads on here about best 'mid', tweeter, woofer etc...

I personally feel that the reason speakers sound better now days is due to the better quality materials designers have to use.  The problem is that too many of the designers (my opinion only) don't think past what they know and just make the same mistakes with a better quality material.  Again, it's all about implementation.

The best speaker I've ever heard is the Vandersteen 7 Mk 2.  He has figured out a way to marry the right carbon fiber cloth with an in house made balsa wood core that the carbon fiber sandwiches with.  It's an expensive process, just like using other materials, but he gets the strength to weight ratio down just right and has married these carbon fiber drivers to produce the most coherent speakers "I've ever heard using multiple drivers.  I wonder why so many folks over look such a great design as his drivers are rarely mentioned when talking about 'best drivers'.

Again, there are plenty of outstanding speakers for all ears out there, but for me, Vandersteen has just nailed it with his carbon fiber (he auditioned a lot of different cloths before selecting what he's using) with the balsa wood (CNC machined) core.  Give near perfect pistonic movement that is a must when reproducing sound. JMHO