Ribbon tweeters...out of favor these days?

Sinae, I am about to find out more information on the amorphous core Raal as well. I will pass on any information I think you may want. From what I understand you will get more micro and macro details and dynamics from the amorphous core tweeter. I think it also makes the tweeter more sensitive, so better equipped for low watt tube amps.
What speakers are you getting?
Todd

The best way to understand what the Amorphous Core is, and also why it's better, is to know what amorphous metal is.

The ribbon tweeter has a transformer with a steel core. Steel is like saying plastic, there are many kinds of steel. A normal transformer has ferrous steel, the amorphous core transformer has a core made from amorphous steel.

Amorphous steel is the same alloy, but cooled at 1 million degrees per second (seriously) so that it hardens with no crystaline structure. By not having a crystaline structure, it becomes much more efficient with much less energy wasted as heat.

The end result of how it sounds in a RAAL makes perfect sense when thought of in those terms. The AM Core RAAL sounds more efficient, like more of the amplifier current is reaching the ribbon element. It's faster and more dynamic, with more low level detail retreival and an overall more engaging and energetic sound.

Personally I think the AM core is a HUGE upgrade from the standard core. When performance gets to the level of the standard core RAAL, any improvement becomes hard to come by ... the AM core gives you that same RAAL sound, just more of it.

What low power amp would you recommend to power the raal amorphous core directly.. ?? the best in your opinion? tube amp?

I have GoldenEar Triton 1s which use a HVFR (High Velocity Folded Ribbon) Tweeter. According to GET literature (and Sandy verbals) it is the "best" outside of an ionic tweeter used in laboratories. Sandy goes further to state that he envisions other speaker manufacturers eventually using the HVFR in their designs. Their literature compares HVFR to dome. If memory serves, I believe Emotiva also uses an HVFR in one of their studio monitor. Also, for what it's worth, I recently "auditioned" a pair of Alta Statement Towers ($200,000 a pair and I wouldn't be buying it) and it utilizes three ribbon-like tweeters about 3 inches long each.

I unintentionally neglected to point out that I do realize this topic is about "ribbon tweeters" and my response is geared towards "high velocity folded ribbon tweeters". The following is an excerpt of GoldenEar literature about the HVFR tweeter:

"Our extraordinary HVFR tweeter, which generates highpressure
by squeezing the air, rather than pushing and pulling
it like conventional domes or ribbons, achieves an exceptional
impedance match to the air for smooth response extending
beyond 35kHz, without the break-up modes and zingy sounding
distortion common to other tweeter types. Greater control
also results in improved dynamic range."