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From: mrbill@leland.Stanford.EDU (William Bowen)
Subject: Summary of Tweeter Recommendations
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 93 18:14:21 GMT

A couple of months ago I posted a message requesting tweeter recommendations.
Here is a summary of the responses I received. I apologize for the delay in
posting this, and thanks to all who replied.

Regards,

Bill
mrbill@leland.stanford.edu

The tweeter I wrote to you about earlier is the DTI-01...

I personally would recommend the Focal T120K, or the T120Ti (the first one
is an inverted-soft dome made from a kevlar mesh, whereas the second is 
made from Titanium, although I'm not sure if the Ti is an inverted dome or
a regular dome).  IMHO, Focal makes the best tweeters around, notwithstanding
the drivers made by Accuton, which cost too much.  Both of the Focal drivers
have Fs ~650 Hz, which is about as good as you are going to get (excellent
for low-order crossovers, which isn't a pre-req, considering you're going 
to use an active crossover).  To boot, Madisound has a sale on them, for
$45 a piece, I believe (they're normally about $60).  

Dynaudio also makes some nice tweeters, such as the D28 and the D28AF (the 
D28 is horn loaded, the D28AF is not).  They are highly recommended by many,
but I feel that Focal makes superior tweeters, whereas Dynaudio makes 
superior midrange and base units.  

FYI, the WATTs use a modified Focal T120K.  They are absolutely beautiful 
sounding.  

Also, the T120K has a range of ~1K-25K.  I can't recommend them highly 
enough.

 
... My home-built speakers have ribbon tweeters by Philips.
I really love the clarity of the sound. I can't remember the
part number, but I can check it tonight. The tweeters can handle
4 - 80 kHz, are small enough to be fitted easily, fairly easy to
balance with other drivers and not too expensive (~ $100 each here
in Finland).

Sorry, can't mail the sound ;-)

... Personally, my favorite is the Dynaudio D-28AF.  They recently
replaced it with the D-28 II (?) but I have yet to hear the remake.
D-28 AF's are avail from Madisound at a discount rate.  Of course,
much depends on the rest of the system.  Is it a 2-way, 3-way or 4?

Other excellent tweeters include Focal T120 and T90, Scan-speak and
ETON.  Be prepared to spend $60-$90 per tweeter, however.

... if it's the ultimate tweeter you're after, the best hi-fi (pro, actually)
one I know of is the ET-703, made by Technical Audio Devices, the pro division
of Pioneer.  This is an incredible driver, flat from 1-40kHz, where its first
resonance occurs.  It has extremely low intermodulation distortion, and is very
efficient, at 107dB/W/m.  At 15W continuous power handling, that translates to
roughly 120dB continuous SPL at 1m.  30W peak.

One drawback from my point of view: TAD wants $400 apiece.  That's why, as far
as I know, only two high end companies (Rush Sound and Kind Horn) use them.
Even Wilson uses (much) cheaper tweeters!

One (possible) drawback from your perspective: It's a horn-loaded compression
driver.  Horns have gotten a bad name from poor application, but this driver is
_extremely_ smooth.  Read JGH's short blurb on the Rush Monument II's in the
8/92 _Stereophile_.  This tweeter contributes a lot to the speaker's smoothness
and dynamics.

... I have made several high end speaker systems, and have found that the
DynAudio Esotar and Esotec tweeters are very good.
They are quite smooth with a large frequency sweep, plus can handle
lots of power, but they are quite expensive.
The morel MDT-33 is very good also, with many of the same properties
as the Dynaudios have.
Polydax haven't been to bad, although I only used them in a much cheaper
design.
MB makes a nice tweeter, but you have to play with them to make them sound
excellent. As in hair spray, felt linings, etc...

Two good sounding domes are the ScanSpeak 29xx (various models) and the
Dynaudio D-28af (there's a new model of this out now).  Very nice sound
from both of them with a slight preference for the ScanSpeak.

If you already looked through most speaker parts supplier catalogs
like Madisound, A&S Speaker etc. You may have seen all the name I
will mention already. However, the following are the names I have
been suggested to try (most have not yet been tried).
  
   For money is no object : Dynaudio T-330, Morel MDT-33,
    Accuton (Ceratec) C2-22.
   ("They" told me these are exceptional quality tweeter in term
    of smooth response, transient characteristics, power handling
    and low resonance frequency).

   High quality and a little costly ($60 - $70) :
    Focal T120Ti
    Dynaudio D28/2 (very high power handling)
   (Also .. "They" said these are comparable to the first group if
    properly used)

   High quality, moderately priced ($40-$50) : 
   Morel MDT-30 (fast, high power handling)
    Focal T90Ti (I tried this, it sounds
    good)
   (T90ti needs to be cut at higher frequency while MDT-30 is just
    functionally equivalent to the MDT-33, don't know how different
    they sound) 
    
   Good quality/price ( < $30) :
   Vifa D25AC (at Audio Concept Inc.) or
   D25-AG35 at most other places.
  (This Vifa is highly recommended from
    many netters.)
   Seas H535 (25TAC/D) or H534 (25TAF/D)
   (A reliable friend recommends SEAS to
    me STRONGLY, he said it's wonderful.)
   (Again.."They" said these two tweeters have been used in a few
    hi-end speakers cost $2000+, with some modification of course)

I have no way to try all these products. The above information comes
from many netters and friends.

For around $40 the morel MDT30 28mm soft dome
is wonderful it has very low distortion and has an amplifier smooth
response.. Same goes for the Dynaudio D28/2 this is the newer version
it is very similar to the MDT30 but, will go lower and handle more 
power. Dynaudio has a new unit called the Esotec D260 this one is 
really fantastic ~$85 each. I do not like metal domes...
But, if you can find one of the JBL titanium domes, they are fantastic
only down to 3k or 3.5k.

Focal Tweeters just plain old SUCK SUCK SUCK.
They are hashy and peaky sounding.

The best tweeter I have used is the Accuton C211 it is a concave ceramic
diaphragm unit with flat response to 30K and NO resonant peak they run
about $300 a pair and are only good to 3K,  2.5if you don't abuse them tooooo
much. They do have a new version (larger) which extends to the low 2k...