Ribbon question


I seem to recall that ribbon tweeters have some sort of limited life expectancy. Correct? Did this refer to early iterations only? Thanks. 
jpwarren58
Usually they are planars roxy. You know the one 2 for 30.00 special on EBay.. I say that tongue in cheek. I do have some Beston dipoles that were fantastic AFTER they broke in "sibilance" for about 50 hours. I thought they were broke.. Then MAGIC..

Some people reported the neo GLUE failed and caused shorts.. Never happened to me.. 25 or more pairs.. I used them in a hybrid LS lattis dipole column.. Experiment still in progress 12 years later of course..

I got to post that goofy looking speaker.

Actually pretty cool.. 3/4" x 3/4 apitong wood, clamped with steal stands bases. only 5.5 to 8" inches wide and 1" deep, 72" tall. 70 lbs.. BG Neo 8 planars and the Beston planars..

The loudest speakers I think I EVER built, I didn’t test quite a few for max through the years, no need.. But mercy they get UP there.. Muffs an plugs with those.. I still use them as the speakers for the shop burglar alarm.. They will cut you down if your not ready. LOL

Regards

"There is NOTHING like a great ribbon and NOTHING worse when they are CHEAP (normally yellow film in color) planars."

That is true. But those yellow ones aren't really true ribbons, right?
No, planars sometimes delaminate. Magnets 50-100 years. Ribbons will outlast my grandkids. I suppose if they were overdriven.

I have 45 year old Infinity RSIIB. I’ve lost 2 UHF tweeters

I worked on IRS Betas and they were 80s. Two years ago just XO and round driver surrounds, no planar/ribbon issues EVER.. (Serious system)

I built some Strathearn/BG units over 45 years ago, They have been BLASTING nonstop at two location all these years.. XO repairs only.

I should have NEVER sold my set, best I’ve EVER had. Strathearn..

I use BG Neo 3, 8, &10 some are over 20 years old. No failures and good sound too..

I have VMPS RM30s and Elixirs, 18 and 9 years old. Monsoon neo 8s. (BOTH serious monitor/speakers)

The RM30s will leave you quaking in you boots if you turn them up.

The Elixirs, will BLAST the meat off the bone. No Monsoon failures on either unit. RM30s or Elixirs

I did loose two ribbon tweeters. A JVC (UHF tweeter in STIIse) and an AC G3s in and RM30 over a 35 year period.. I was really punching the system and forgot to turn DOWN the LPads on the tweeters.. I KNOW to do it, I just forgot..

There is NOTHING like a great ribbon and NOTHING worse when they are CHEAP (normally yellow film in color) planars..

There are some like Sunfire that are ok considering. LOUD for sure.. The best, far from it..

Regards
The element is very thin and can fracture if driven hard. Keeping the volume reasonable helps.