I,too have been,and still am fascinated with these.I have a speaker that is ruler flat to 25khz,but feel that the Murata has the capability(?)of keeping my speaker competitive with the newer technology in tweets.The ceramic driver/wide dispersion factor seems fabulous.This is purely speculation,by me,and I am truly hesitant to make this move without more than just some good product reviews,as it can also backfire(the Murata comes in at 15khz,which is a bit low,for me).The Townshend Super Tweeter is another alternative(I have heard it with very good results,but the speaker rolled off at 17khz),and does not come in until 20,000khz.It has adjustable gain too,yet I have the sneaky suspician that the Murata is the higher quality design,and a "Diamond Killer",to boot.
I hope you do get some meaningful feedback here!
Best! |
They do not require additional amplification; they are plug and play, having an internal high-pass filter within - you just connect them to the input binding posts of your existing speaker and they will take what they need from the signal. No direct experience to pass on, but it may be less expensive to get your hearing checked before you drop that kind of cash on a tweeter that has a lower range that ends at 15khz. I'd wager that many folks cannot hear that high, in which case I wonder if would make all the difference the reviewer claims. Usually, when integrating a driver into an existing speaker design you also want to make sure the sensitivity is similar to your existing drivers...in this case the driver has a 90db sensitivity. I wonder if, in the range it is reproducting, if this may not be as big an issue since it is being marketted and sold as it is.
I can't help but laugh looking at them as they remind me of those "Deer Whistles" they sell to mount on vehicles to scare away deer so you don't hit them in the road...the kind human's can't hear at all. The debates around those on the car and motorcycle forums may even be similar to what comes up with these things...the emperor's new clothes look a whole lot like his birthday suit!
Marco |
They work. I use Aurum Cantus ribbons with custom foils, but I use an active crossover and a separate amp. I think the issues are speed, dispersion and harmonics. Even if your speakers have response past 20Khz, are they really really fast above 10KhZ, and do they project that spectrum with extremely high energy and dispersion? Most diaphragms just are not fast enough, and you can hear the speed limitations.
The supertweeters add illumination and detail to the imaging.
You may not be aware of it until your turn them off and notice some of the light go out of the stage. Of course, the source matters, vinyl benefits most, but Redbook and digital can also benefit. |
Ribbon tweeters can add air and even timing to your system.I use a Fountek JP2 with a 0.5 mF cap.This is an affordable and effective way of doing this.If your speakers are not sensitive some attenuation might be needed.
JT |
Thanks guys, I gotta see about a trial. I should have mentioned I have the Tyler pd80s (with horns) and feel I could use a little air.
Jax2 has a good point, it would be a bummer if the only one that could hear them is my dog.
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You may not always be able to hear them directly that well but you can hear the effect. Commentators say they can't hear the Townshend supertweeters at all when they put their ear up to them, but when they are turned off, the difference in the total sound field is quite marked. Apparently they work even if you don't have a lot of direct hearing above 10Khz, it is not a "direct hearing" kind of thing, more a matter of how the high frequencies effect the sound field and psychoacoustics.
Have a friend switch them in and out while you listen. If you really can't hear the difference, then its a long run for a short slide, but you should hear the difference. |
o.k. here's another thing.. what happens when you add the Walker high definition links into the picture??
First we have the theory that even if I can't hear way way up there, the supertweeter makes a difference in the sound...
Then we have Walker's filter to filter out all that super high information. any comments??
I would like to own both products but the prices! |
The main task of stand-alone tweeters are somewhat similar to subwoofers but at the different end of sonic range of freequencies.
the cut-off point of supertweeter limits the visible spectrum of the main one thus bringing more defined and flat responce. |
As much as I am fascinated with an add on supertweeter,I cannot get away from the fact that if you have a tweeter coming in about fifteen to twenty khz or higher,the addition essentially doubles the response,above that point.I don't think that's too good,and don't want to add any false sense of air,which may be reinforcement,rather than "info"!Yet I have heard the Townshend(on a speaker limited to 17khz,and mine go out to 25khz,so I'm a bit paranoid about screwing up a really good presentation)and it shocked me as to how effective they were,in a good way.
I initiated a similar question some months ago,and got back very negative comments from an audio industry person who sort of convinced me to give up the thought.
YET,AND YET.......
Best!
Best! |
RE: The Townshends:
Get 'em. Plug'em in to your system. Follow the installation instructions (easy).
They try to take them out!!
Hehehehehe!!!! (Insane laughter) |
Look into fostex you will get a better product and performance for less cash |
