@txavguy --
Aaand it's a common misconception not only on this forum but audiophilia in general - this notion that speakers comprising compression drivers and waveguides/horns to load them will necessarily or certainly be more inclined to sound shrill, harsh, or other adjectives of similar meaning.
One of the reasons I started becoming more interested in waveguides, horns and compression drivers was to avoid the following: direct radiating dome tweeters. I've heard my bad/badly implemented share of them, and they're the one driver principle in particular that's potentially annoyed the hell out of me. A good compression driver mounted to a fitting horn/waveguide, and there are many examples of that, to my ears sounds less like a "tweeter" and more like a natural extension of the lower frequency spectrum. As such it's more naturally "ignited," effortless and has better substance and energy to its presentation.
Direct radiating dome tweeters by comparison generally sound thinner, more overtly (but unnaturally) detailed, and not least more strained. Indeed, if anything it's dome tweeters that has, to my ears, fitted the "bright/harsh" description most closely (by virtue perhaps of being rather malnourished sounding).
In short: I wouldn't worry about speakers using quality and well implemented compression drivers and horns/waveguides, on the contrary.
... Interesting, several systems that have been recommended to me seem to come with concerns about brightness/harsh treble.
Aaand it's a common misconception not only on this forum but audiophilia in general - this notion that speakers comprising compression drivers and waveguides/horns to load them will necessarily or certainly be more inclined to sound shrill, harsh, or other adjectives of similar meaning.
One of the reasons I started becoming more interested in waveguides, horns and compression drivers was to avoid the following: direct radiating dome tweeters. I've heard my bad/badly implemented share of them, and they're the one driver principle in particular that's potentially annoyed the hell out of me. A good compression driver mounted to a fitting horn/waveguide, and there are many examples of that, to my ears sounds less like a "tweeter" and more like a natural extension of the lower frequency spectrum. As such it's more naturally "ignited," effortless and has better substance and energy to its presentation.
Direct radiating dome tweeters by comparison generally sound thinner, more overtly (but unnaturally) detailed, and not least more strained. Indeed, if anything it's dome tweeters that has, to my ears, fitted the "bright/harsh" description most closely (by virtue perhaps of being rather malnourished sounding).
In short: I wouldn't worry about speakers using quality and well implemented compression drivers and horns/waveguides, on the contrary.