thoughts on super tweeters

[CopperWizard]

I have always felt the need for a super tweeter until a started listening to some ADS speakers. For some reason they don't leave me with that need, I can't put my finger on it. I think it might be the clarity a tweeter brings. Kind of akin to the "need" for a subwoofer in certain speakers.

 

[Akustic]

Infinity Emit eh?

That said there were a plethora of vintage speakers that employed super tweeters.

They've come and gone over the years..
Like you I'm amused by the concept of a "SUPER" tweeter ... v.s. a tweeter .. (of which the Emit is an excellent example)

 

[peterp1]

I'd like to "dip my toe in the water" by trying out super tweeters on my 2-channel system, but there don't seem to be many affordable options for home use (and a lot of automotive "super tweeters" are not "super" -- I saw one listed as a "super tweeter" that had a frequency response of 800hz - 18.5khz -- not exactly "super tweeter" territory).

The Aperion Planar-Ribbon Super Tweeters don't look too bad (has crossover and gain adjustments) -- but probably still a bit more than I'd want to spend as an experiment.

 

[jberger]

Eh ... I plug mine in when I want to annoy the dog ... ;-}

I do have a pair of the original Radio Shack Super Tweeters that are nice. Metal horns and built in crossovers to get around any impedance issues. T

hey collected dust for ages, but I did eventually resurrect one for the Eico amp used on my center channel - added some top to a Bose video speaker that needed a bit more punch.

I'm using a pair of these in parallel on the DQ-10s in my shop; they're just a bit too efficient, but they add the 'sizzle' very nicely. In the main room, I have a pair of HPM-1500 circular supertweeters and crossover parallelled in with my Merlin Music System Signature 4s

 

[toddalin]

Here's a thought. (And as the title says, we are looking for "thoughts.")

Even ultrasonic frequencies can manifest themselves at sonic levels as a beat frequency if played simultaneously. If these ultrasonic frequencies cannot be produced, because the tweeter doesn't go that high, these sonic frequencies cannot manifest themselves.

Look at the testing Stereophile does and you will see that when they test a piece of equipment, they put simultaneous 19kHz and 20kHz (neither of which is audible) through it and look at the sum and difference (1kHz).

 

[kach22i]

What is the frequency range of a "supertweer" ??
If it sounds better and the cost is reasonable I'll try about anything ..
But I would question why finer loudspeaker manufacturers don't include them then ..

Good question.

And while I'm in there why don't they supply big rubber feet to attenuate bass energy to springy wood platform "sprung" floors that act like giant resonators and muddy up the sound, but they include spikes for concrete floors?

They could include concrete or sandbox platforms or at least allow into the design a proper allowance so that the tweeter doesn't end up way over your head.

And an idiot proof base so people don't shove super expensive speakers against the front wall and kill soundstage depth.

Not everyone with the money has the knowledge about these things and the product ends up poorly represented out in the field.

I feel the whole topic is akin to selling cars without tires, or at least air in the tires.

 

[sKiZo]

My last car came with nitrogen in the tires.

(just sayin') <G>

PS .. dug up one of the old RatShack super tweeters and put it on the center channel. Cool thing about that is it turns out to be a pretty good balance control, dragging the center image just that little bit this way or that as I move the ST back and forth an inch or two.

 

[RickeyM]

What is the frequency range of a "supertweer" ??
If it sounds better and the cost is reasonable I'll try about anything ..
But I would question why finer loudspeaker manufacturers don't include them then ..

I don't know if you'd consider my Sony SS-CS5's among finer speakers but their super tweeters sound very super! They extend the treble very nicely. I guess that's what you get when the speaker is designed with super tweeters in the mix.