Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: Tweeter for Vitavox S2. High-sensitively ribbons?
Post Subject: Sounds like a ribbon or small electrostatic panelsPosted by Paul S on: 10/24/2006
I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who is overwhelmed by compression drivers. I tried the A7s way back when they were current and everyone's favorite, and I tried various modifications with like-minded friends; but I came to the conclusion that the only way to do the horn thing would be with theater-type "dedicated" amps driving narrow band horns that did not really load down into their horns. It was just too much for me at the time, and I lost interest in the horns. And now you say that you still have to listen well off axis...
I know one can't be certain in advance, but the way you describe your high frequency wants, it sounds like a perfect fit for either a small ribbon or a small 'stat, or an array of either. A lone ribbon may actually have some horizontal dispersion, but the electrostatic panel really benefits from the array, which eliminates that beam-y quality and that stupid in-and-out thing when you move you head at all. I hate that!
I have to say that the only "problem" I had with the 'stat array was the lowest end of its range, where the Peerless tweeters were about perfect in every way EXCEPT STRENGTH, and even the electrostatic array could not match the perfection of the Peerless at this frequency. I found myself constantly wanting to somehow turn up the Peerless at it's top end rather than brining up the electrostat in order to make the correct level! Just the opposite, I suppose, of what most people might suppose.
Are you thinking of a 1st order crossover starting maybe just a * little bit * lower? I agree that the "right' top end should blend and agree with your best driver, and the "right" ribbon should do this, I think.
But who knows, really? I guess if it were really all that easy we would be done a long time ago!
And I will say again that I'm not in this for DIY; I really would just buy everything if I thought I could wind up with what I wanted that way!
Best regards,
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site