CTs phenolic tweeters ?
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HamboneF18
Super Member
Do phenolic ring tweeters sound so good that you need them in your project?
aje123
Well-Known Member
Yes, highly regarded the CTS ones. Thanks
aje123
Well-Known Member
Same year by number on back 1974
Lavane
Lunatic Member
Originally CTS had several versions. And 8 ohm and 4 ohm that I know of, maybe even 16 ohm depending on what the speaker manufacturer wanted? Later they were made in Taiwan. The ones PE sells are either Taiwan or Chinese made.
If I remember right, the magents on the CTS made phenolic ring tweeters in my Imperial 6's and 5's are larger than the clones PE sells.
If I remember right, the magents on the CTS made phenolic ring tweeters in my Imperial 6's and 5's are larger than the clones PE sells.
HamboneF18
Super Member
I remember them in speakers in the 70s. But never in mid or high end speakers. That’s why I asked. Bose loved to use paper cone tweeters.
These look to be decently well made:
Wharfdale used these in the early to mid 60s. Cone breakup and beaming were its issues. Felt surround.
aje123
Well-Known Member
Yes, Peerless cone tweeters are also good. Thanks
HamboneF18
Super Member
Who said anything about Peerless paper cone tweeters? I’m scratching my head on that one.
aje123
Well-Known Member
Some mention that paper cone Tweeters not that good. Certain ones are. Thanks
HamboneF18
Super Member
I just haven’t found a paper cone tweeter that has agreed with me.
Back in ‘91 I bought this pair of Realistic speakers with paper cone tweeters.
It was only a month before I replaced the tweeter, and the 5-1/4” woofer while I was at it. I still play these today. Very good sounding small speakers. Again, I’m glad I chose a butyl rubber surround on the woofer (Peerless).
Back in ‘91 I bought this pair of Realistic speakers with paper cone tweeters.
It was only a month before I replaced the tweeter, and the 5-1/4” woofer while I was at it. I still play these today. Very good sounding small speakers. Again, I’m glad I chose a butyl rubber surround on the woofer (Peerless).
stickman
Super Member
To get back to the original question the small magnet structure would be alnico versus the later and larger ceramic magnets used on the vast majority of CTS manufactured phenolic ring tweeters. I have never seen a CTS phenolic ring tweeter before with that small alnico magnet structure which CTS did use on earlier cone (non-phenolic ring) tweeters.
The only possible operating capacity issue between the two different magnet structure configurations is efficiency if they are both rated at 8 ohms as their volume outputs for a given input level may differ to some degree.
As an aside: CTS offered phenolic ring tweeters in both standard and high power handling versions, with the high power versions having a larger diameter voice coil (and dust cap) and a larger magnet structure. I've always much preferred using the higher power versions in my frankenspeaker projects over the years.
The only possible operating capacity issue between the two different magnet structure configurations is efficiency if they are both rated at 8 ohms as their volume outputs for a given input level may differ to some degree.
As an aside: CTS offered phenolic ring tweeters in both standard and high power handling versions, with the high power versions having a larger diameter voice coil (and dust cap) and a larger magnet structure. I've always much preferred using the higher power versions in my frankenspeaker projects over the years.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
I agree, the tweeters with Alinco magnets should be more efficient, lower wattage, and need less power to drive them. So fiddling with resistor values, or using a Lpad may be needed if used in something other than the original speaker. The one PE sells is kind of a one size fits all version. Another difference I noticed is the original CTS phenolic ring tweeters tend to be good up to 18khz, where the PE reproduction is rated for 15khz. Not much of a difference really though.
1tumbleweed
Kozmik Kowboy
From an ancient memory:
There were originally only two versions of the CTS phenolic ring tweeter - 2T8 and 3T2. IIRC, the first number was the voice coil size and the second was the magnet weight. I may be misremembering (it was close to 60 years ago!), but that's what I recall.
There were originally only two versions of the CTS phenolic ring tweeter - 2T8 and 3T2. IIRC, the first number was the voice coil size and the second was the magnet weight. I may be misremembering (it was close to 60 years ago!), but that's what I recall.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
I know Marantz used both 8 ohm and 4 ohm versions also. 8 ohm in the Imperial 4's through 7's, and 4 ohm in either one or both the 8's and 9's if I remeber right.
maxhifi
Addicted Member
I have a pair of those with the original drivers, and they might be the worst sounding speakers I've ever heard.
