Ribbon testing & power specs

[Marzen]

I ordered the DAYTON PT2B-8 PLANAR TWEETER to play with. Two questions come to mind before I start connecting it up.
1) If using a digital filter as a xo, do I still need to use a cap for protection during testing?
2) Although rated at 80 watts RMS/115 watts max; I see some ribbons rated at 20 watts. Is that the ceiling for the total speaker wattage or is the ribbon able to handle more power when used with a higher order xo?

Thanks,
Ward

[ThomasW]

I ordered the DAYTON PT2B-8 PLANAR TWEETER to play with. Two questions come to mind before I start connecting it up.
1) If using a digital filter as a xo, do I still need to use a cap for protection during testing?

Good idea.

2) Although rated at 80 watts RMS/115 watts max; I see some ribbons rated at 20 watts. Is that the ceiling for the total speaker wattage or is the ribbon able to handle more power when used with a higher order xo?

These will handle more power than the small true ribbons, but show them 80 watts and you'll see smoke.

If you want to take a pair to the limit, I'll send you a couple you can test to destruction. I got them long ago and wasn't interested in using them given the relatively poor SQ.

[Mazeroth]

Thomas, if Marzen doesn't take you up on that offer I'd be more than happy to. I'll pay shipping and throw you a couple bucks your way. I just got Soundeasy and have been doing some measuring and would love some planars to play with.

[ThomasW]

Christian,

These aren't much different than the Fosters I sent you a while back. The form factor is larger, but other than that they're functionally identical

[Marzen]

Good idea.
These will handle more power than the small true ribbons, but show them 80 watts and you'll see smoke.

Hmm, that's somewhat disapointing...perhaps I should go no more than 80% (64 watts) of rated RMS? Glad I picked up some polyswitches & ckt brkr's to play with as well. Good to know there's a visual indicator at failure :rant:

If you want to take a pair to the limit, I'll send you a couple you can test to destruction. I got them long ago and wasn't interested in using them given the relatively poor SQ.

Thanks for the generous offer. I'll take you up on that & PM you later.

[Mazeroth]

Christian,

These aren't much different than the Fosters I sent you a while back. The form factor is larger, but other than that they're functionally identical

Thanks again for sending them Fosters. When I said "play" with the planars I meant to measure them and try them out in a 2-way project. Those Fosters require a much higher crossover, from my understanding, and would only be viable in a 3+ way. I'd like to keep it simple...for now :P