Vintage HiFi Audio Forum

Audio Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: SunnyDaze on November 13, 2010, 02:48:12 AM

Title: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: SunnyDaze on November 13, 2010, 02:48:12 AM
This came to me for a thread idea. Out of all of the speakers you've owned, built, or heard, which of the tweeters have been your favorite? Why?

I will say that the Heil horizontal compression units on Dale's (confused) ESS's absolutely blew me away. I've never heard anything smoother. Perhaps the half dozen or so Kappas in the room made them sound better!  ;D

A close second were the pods that I had an opportunity to hear on a set of 802 Diamonds. They didn't have presence like the Heils. They were not nearly as bright as I had expected them to be, then again, that was my 1st experience hearing any Bowers and Wilkins product.

Mike, I wouldn't mind to hearing the 802's.
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: Falcon on November 13, 2010, 03:15:02 AM
The 802's are no longer with me..
  My favorite tweeters are a toss up between the latest version of the Emit's in my Infinity Deltas, and the dome tweeters in the Snell type B's, which is I believe the same exact tweeter in my N.E.A.R. 50M's, very freaking smooth with that sense of air, and perfect detail while never sounding harsh....
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: thuffman03 on November 13, 2010, 10:11:35 AM
Ribbons!
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: Kingman on November 13, 2010, 10:41:04 AM
Ribbons!
...AMEN!!! Clear, accurate, spacious, like nothing else I've heard.
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: OCCD on November 13, 2010, 11:00:13 AM
I vote for ribbons as well. Flat and smooth.
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: Reverend on November 13, 2010, 11:26:24 AM
Hell yes ribbons!
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on November 13, 2010, 12:26:03 PM
Magnepan ribbon tweeters.  The Vifa D27TG used in the Spicas,  specially with a John Bau designed x-over driving it to its limits (and usually blowing it). Or the Audax HD12 used in the Angelus.    I like NHT dome tweeters in general on the cheap side of the hobby.  Hate horns - specially Klipsch.  The tweeters in the Dunlavy speakers of the early 90s kicked ass - not sure what they were though. 
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: SunnyDaze on November 13, 2010, 12:34:29 PM
The Vifa D27TG used in the Spicas,  specially with a John Bau designed x-over driving it to its limits (and usually blowing it). 

I don't know if it's my own attempt to justify not wanting to upgrade my speakers, but the Vifas in my 9se's sound really good. Actually, I didn't even know Vifa existed until I took the Paradigms apart.
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: Falcon on November 13, 2010, 12:36:55 PM
Ribbons!

Tony Orlando say's,

  Tie a yellow ribbon around an old oak tree.....

That's about all ribbons are good for.  :P :P :P :P
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: confused on November 13, 2010, 08:12:07 PM
Of the tweeters I have had in my collection so far:

1.  KLH Electrostatic in the 9's, a single Janzen d130 I have read
2.  Emit/Heil which also acts as the midrange, amazing performance
3.  Burhoe/EPI inverted dome
4.  Focal titanium inverted dome (may end up higher in my rating, still auditioning) 
5.  Radioshack Linaeum

Sorry to copout on the second, but my mood seems to determine the 1 I like best.  I have not owned any true ribbons, so I do not know where to place them, but I know my buddys with the ribbon tweeter sound pretty nice.
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on November 13, 2010, 08:52:21 PM
Agree with the EMIT (I had an old pair on Infinitys that sounded great) but they are power hogs).  The Linaeunm, yes!!   The LX5s were great speakers for the $$
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: Bill Cain on November 13, 2010, 08:56:20 PM
1) EV T350
2) JBL 2405
3) Yamaha JA4281B

Bill Cain
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: confused on November 13, 2010, 11:29:57 PM
Glad to see someone else likes the LX5!  I like mine so much I even refoamed the woofers.  Mine are 1st or second generation with metal mesh top, and I play them regularly in my bedroom system.
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: Slim-Shaddy on November 14, 2010, 08:17:31 AM
The best highs I ever heard came from the Innersound electrostats that gave me the name "Sparky."
Number 2 goes to the dome tweeter and dome mid combo in my Macs.
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on November 14, 2010, 08:32:50 AM
Ed - I am curious: are the domes in the XR-16 made by Mac?  Do they sound good straight up or with the Mac equalizer in line? (I think I heard those speakers have an optional eq)
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: Slim-Shaddy on November 14, 2010, 09:16:14 AM
I think the tweeters were made by Philips and the mids were made By McIntosh. My speakers were the first ones that were tuned in their anechoic chamber and didn't need the eq.
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: SunnyDaze on November 14, 2010, 11:59:18 AM
Are you talking about the 640's, Ed?
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: Slim-Shaddy on November 14, 2010, 12:18:21 PM
No, I was replying to Pepe's question about the Mcintoshs
Title: Re: What's YOUR favorite tweeter?
Post by: SunnyDaze on November 14, 2010, 12:34:37 PM
Oh. I should probably pay more attention.