Let's talk Tweeters!


Another thread which talked about specific speaker brands was taken over, so I’d like to start a new one.

Mind you, I do not believe in a "best" type of tweeter, nor do I believe in a best brand of speaker, so lets keep that type of conversation out, and use this instead to focus on learning about choices speaker designers make and what that may mean to the end user.

There is no such thing as a speaker driver without trade offs. Some choices must be forsworn in exchange for another.

In the end, the materials used, magnet and motor structure, and crossover choices as well as the listening room come together to make a great speaker, of which there are many. In addition, we all listen for different things. Imaging, sweetness, warmth, detail, dance-ability and even efficiency so there is no single way to measure a driver and rate it against all others.

Also, please keep ads for your 4th dimensional sound or whatever off this thread. Thanks.
erik_squires
The plasma tweeter has some really interesting characteristics. I've heard it. Meh. 

I'd be happier with a top of the line AMT or Be from a number of vendors. This was at an audio show in a cramped room though, so it's quite likely I never heard it to full potential. 
When we start getting above 10khz, we all hear differently...some not at all or very rolled off. I think that this absolutely impacts our choice of tweeter or design. Be tweeters sound harsh to me and this could be do to some hearing loss. 
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seanheis1:

Have you heard Be tweeters besides the Focals?

Best,

E

I have not. I would like to hear the Fritz/Scanspeak 2 way Be or the Selah Audio 3 way Be. Perhaps Focal is getting their Be tweeters from Dayton. ;-)