Tweeter Material, Silk, Alum, Tit, etc

I have a set of 5 1/4 Infinity Kappa Perfect components. In this set they used Aluminum dome tweeters. They seem a little unatrual. Dont get me wrong it sounds great but in some sense it just doesnt sound quite right. I was wondering a couple of things. I was considering replacing the tweeters. Would that screw up the components crossover system? I have a home audio that has titanium tweeters and MB Quart makes titanium tweeters and was thinking about possibly purchaseing them. Also the Silk Dome tweeters i cant say I've had any experience with. Another consideration was possibly swapping my infinity system for Polk MOMO's that have a silk dome tweeter, with a lower frequency rating. Any inputs?

Question:  where are your tweeters installed?  Relative to your midrange drivers?  I think in many cases this sort of thing is related to installation location.

Isn't there a setting on that crossover that does some EQ?  What is it again?  Do you have your manual?  I seem to remember helping a friend with this same issue.

You should NOT use crossovers with incorrect tweeters.  It may "work," but it will not sound right.

If you are serious about buying new components you should listen to the ones you are considering before buying, if at all possible.

Topic: Tweeter Material, Silk, Alum, Tit, etc

I like the Tit tweeters.

stevdart wrote:

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Topic: Tweeter Material, Silk, Alum, Tit, etc

I like the Tit tweeters.

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Except when it's cold, then the cones become rigid and stick out through the grill.

mikew04 wrote:

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what kind of effect does it have when the tweeters are placed further away from the midrange, like on the a-pillars or such?

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You get huge lobing issues.  This is due to phase issues between the midrange and tweeter around the crossover frequency.

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

As for tweeter selection, my boss actually answered this question in Momentum, an online magazine.  Here's the link: https://forum.soundillusions.net/articles.php?action=viewarticle&artid=3

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

Nismo, I think he was implying to avoid the Polks- at all costs.  I'm glad you haven't heard them, and you should be too.  The only reason my shop picked them up is to use them for marine applications.  I'd say the majority of the time factory speakers sound better.

I almost told a customer once after doing a deck that it would sound better if he upgraded those factory speakers.  Before I could speak, the owner told me about his recent "upgrade" to Polks.  Hahaha.

Ouch, the polks are that bad? I haven't heard a set since the early 90's when I had the MM series, I liked them back then. Then again they weren't the mass market speaker they are today.

Speaking of tweeter materials, we have our new B&W Nautalus 802D speakers in. I love the new manufactured diamond tweeter.

Lobing (also called comb filtering) happens when two speakers are playing the same frequency, but are not near each other.  The further they are from each other, the worse it gets.  Speakers are usually crossed over at close to the same frequency, rolling off at a set pace.  However since they are playing some similar frequencies, lobing can occur.  What happens is that you get dips in the frequency response around those frequencies, that get worse the further off axis you are to that speaker.  So the response from the left speaker might have more lobing than the right speaker.  You may be able to fix this with a really good eq.  However if you move your head just a little bit the response will quickly change.  Plus there is no way to fix it for both listening positions.

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

To use Steven's good technical explanation to make a point:

1)  Problems from distance and axis related installation problems can affect even very expensive speakers;
2)  EQing later is not a good / perfect band-aid.

Thus, get your installation right the first time.

kfr01] wrote:

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p>To use Steven's good technical explanation to make a point:

1)  Problems from distance and axis related installation problems can affect even very expensive speakers;
2)  EQing later is not a good / perfect band-aid.

Thus, get your installation right the first time.

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Very good additions.  I agree that it is better to do it right the first time.

One way around this too is to use super steep and super precise slopes on the speakers, greatly reducing the overlap.  However those types of crossovers are very rare.  Plus it doesn't completely eliminate lobing.  The only way to do that is with a coincident speaker design.  

Although I'm planning on doing it with my car as my digital crossover has 72 dB per octave slopes.  Lobing shouldn't be a problem.

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

haemphyst wrote:

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next time yer in Bakersfield, look me up!....whatchya lookin' fer?

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Got any old Buck Owens and the Buckaroos albums out there?

one other thing to note, you will gain some imaging cues from havine your tweeters up high, as in sail panels, a pillars, dash, but the issues of lobing and phase seem to be harder to correct than simple imaging issues.

You seem commited to your current tweet location, I'd recommend that you at least think about moving them. i have my tweets in my a pillars and it took me nearly ten hours of trial and error to get then aimed phased and attenuated correctly and the passenger seat (ie shotgun) is always complaning about the tweets being too harsh, next time I'll go with kicks. btw I share a great line from somebody on this forum, "Whne you start paying for my audio equipment, I'll  start tuning it to your seat too"

PS

"Those who are willing to sacrifice their basic liberties to assure their security deserve neither."

A phrase coined by that radical liberal Benjamin Franklin.  A wise statement indeed.  And next time I'm down through Bakersfield I'll drop you a line!