• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Philips tweeters

pw5599

pw5599

Well-Known Member
I got to stay off Ebay. Browsing thru the other day and spot someone selling four AD 0160/T8 Philips domes, circa 1975 but still new in the box, never used. Bid on and got them today for $53. They even come with the original Gladstones flyer the owner bought them from in 75 at the sale price of $5.95 each. Regular price was $9.15

I like the tweeters and they were my 1st. Back in 76 I bought, from Gladstones, 2 of them and 2 Philips 12" woofers to build my 1st real speaker set. Still have the woofers and 1 of the tweeters. Many years ago Edgar Winter's Frankenstein blew the other one.
 
Register to hide this ad
Last edited:
I bought a couple of those Goldwood GT-316 Philips clone tweeters. I haven't had a chance to try them out yet because when I got one it measured at 3.7 ohms which is too low for an 8 ohm tweeter. So I am waiting for them to tell me what is going on. The strange thing is that I also got a similar one (3.7 ohms) from a different place. They sent me another one that measured 6.8 ohms. When I get a pair I may try them out in a speaker. The ones in my Speakerlabs sound great.
 
Reminds me that my sister has a pair of Philips 163s in a set of speakers that my dad and I put together for her years ago.
 
kconnor, I had read that the other day and kinda shook my head. Everyone has an opinion on these but I have never heard them called the worst tweeter ever. I usually see things such as smooth, wonderful, great, etc.
I personally have always liked their sound.
 
pw5599 said:
kconnor, I had read that the other day and kinda shook my head. Everyone has an opinion on these but I have never heard them called the worst tweeter ever. I usually see things such as smooth, wonderful, great, etc.
I personally have always liked their sound.
Click to expand...

I think that the title of that article is rhetorical. Get past that and it is a very interesting read. The author seems to like the driver. I think that what he was referring to in the title was the prejudice some have against this ubiquitous tweeter. Despite its rather unsophisticated design compared to some of today’s better tweeters it performs very well.
 
Last edited:
pw5599 said:
kconnor, I had read that the other day and kinda shook my head. Everyone has an opinion on these but I have never heard them called the worst tweeter ever. I usually see things such as smooth, wonderful, great, etc.
I personally have always liked their sound.
Click to expand...

Agreed - they call it the World's Worst Dome Tweeter and then proceed to demonstrate several reasons why it isn't. My guess is that taking an ancient tweeter of unknown history, one with a foam plug behind the dome that's likely lost all elasticity over the years, isn't the best way to judge. I've heard a number of domes that I like less than the Philips 160. Some of the more poorly executed metal domes ring like bells at certain frequencies and make my cat run from the room thanks to their healthy ultrasonic peaks.
 
1tumbleweed said:
Lots of them out there, for sure, but I bet the CTS 2T8 is right up there, too...
Click to expand...

Isn't that a phenolic ring tweeter and not a dome. I'm sure the CTS was used more. But I was talking domes. Back when I was selling stereo's in the 70's. Those Philips domes were every where. Heath used them in their kit speakers.
 
Yes, in fact just before coming back here I read it more thoroughly and I see the rhetorical part now. Their tests show it as a good performer. I think it's just one of those cheap and simple designs that does well, and that is surprising to some.
 
pw5599 said:
Yes, in fact just before coming back here I read it more thoroughly and I see the rhetorical part now. Their tests show it as a good performer. I think it's just one of those cheap and simple designs that does well, and that is surprising to some.
Click to expand...

:tresbon:

I can think of several very basic domes - the Peerless KO10DT and LK10DT siblings, and the Seas 19TFF for another - that are simple yet very, very musical.
 
dome tweeter i.d.

i cant nail down the number on these because it has faded away. dome looks opaque, and notice absence of mounting holes. but they sound great!.
 

Attachments

  • vptb.jpg
    vptb.jpg
    82.7 KB · Views: 68
  • vpbd.jpg
    vpbd.jpg
    85.8 KB · Views: 49
Well, if you go to Ebay and search for "Philips tweeter" you will find quite a few including these...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-Philip...882?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a71fe5692

These particular ones have a fairly low power rating however, which might work in some situations.

These are the ones that are probably most similar to the ones in my Speakerlab 1s...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/pair-Vintag...02?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item336aa2de2e

A bit pricey but I wouldn't mind having them as spares. The ones in the Speakerlabs are actually rated for 100W so they are pretty bulletproof.

There were a few different versions of the Philips tweeter including a mylar one and the cloth domes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom