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Ribbon tweeters...out of favor these days?

Hi,

Just a quick question about ribbon tweeters on tower speakers. Has the technology with metal dome and fabric dome tweeters produced results that obviate the need for or advantage of ribbon tweeters. I know that some manufactures such as VMPS and Legacy still seem to favor ribbons, at least as a super tweeter.

But I have been researching speakers, and it seems most of the mid to upper line brands such as B&W, Thiel, Vandersteen, Eggleston, and others employ some type of dome tweeter.

What are the relative advantages/disavantages of each type for a 50/50 mix of music and home theater?
mtrot
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,490 posts
 
I use raal 140-15d amorphous core ribbon in our new KCS x-2 loudspeaker. I used Ravens in the past but the RAAL a good step up and the amorphous core alows tube amps to run them very well. Ribbons can be great sounding transducer.
mtrot OP
642 posts
 
Thanks for the info on RAAL.

Anybody heard these Selah Audio Visionario towers? They employ a RAAL ribbon, and are not ridiculously expensive for their size and complexity.

http://www.selahaudio.com/id183.html
semi
646 posts
 
Have never heard of (read of) Selah audio, surprise to see how many speakers they offer for such a young company. maybe too many.
c1ferrari
464 posts
 
Mtrot,

Dali implements an "...array of planar dipole ribbon tweeters..." that extend approximately 91" in their flagship loudspeaker, MegaLine III. Actually, it may integrate with a plasma monitor for a home theatre installation...just don't know if I want to run all the tubes for video. Nah, probably not...

I don't think ribbon tweeters are out of favor, just yet :-)
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Great post...i remember Infinity using ribbon tweeters extensively on their reference series from the 80s with good results....however...as others have mentioned...they due have their issues...the main detriment being restricted vertical dispersion...unless you have a 6 ft pair of maggies...for the majority of tower-cone driver applications...tweeter needs to be at ear level for proper intergration....like everything a trade off...some feel their speed and detail are worth it...i like a big, open tweeter sound myself...have fun...
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