AudioTechnology 15H + ScanSpeak Beryllium = Sequence Two – Monitor BE!

[gornir]

Hi everyone,

I’ve updated the Sequence Two – Monitor design with a ScanSpeak “Beryllium” tweeter version for those who wants a super expensive and exotic hard dome version! :W

Basically it’s the same design, but with minor tweaks made to the cross-over. The ScanSpeak “Beryllium” and the “Textile” AirCirc dome tweeter is essentially the same driver and can be regarded as drop-in replacements for each other in this design.

Sonically the “Beryllium” version has greater transparency, reveals additional micro-details and is a bit more analytic in its character compared to the “Textile” soft dome version.

For further details see:
Sequence Two – Monitor BE
ScanSpeak Textile Dome vs Beryllium Dome!

Regards

/Göran

[Rick Craig]

Nice comparison test for the two tweeters. If you look at the off-axis you'll see some differences that might account for what you're hearing. I've used the both tweeters and I think the Be version is the finest dome I've ever listened to - but it should be for the $$$! Very close sound to the RAAL ribbon.

[Face]

Thanks!

Too bad you didn't do an overlay of their distortion plots too.

[gornir]

Thanks!

Too bad you didn't do an overlay of their distortion plots too.

Sorry, but I don't think it's possible to do in Arta (Steps).

Yes, I could export the data and do some post processing, but it would take some considerably energy to do and I could use that energy elsewhere, like a new design! :B

[gornir]

Nice comparison test for the two tweeters. If you look at the off-axis you'll see some differences that might account for what you're hearing. I've used the both tweeters and I think the Be version is the finest dome I've ever listened to - but it should be for the $$$! Very close sound to the RAAL ribbon.

Thank you,

These two drivers are very interesting to compare, since the only thing that seems to differ between the two is the cone material. Yet, they do sound different from each other and the frequency response are very similar up to about 13kHz where they start do be different.

Despite that the Beryllium version has less energy above 13kHz it sounds a bit brighter and at the same time a bit more transparent than the textile dome version. I don’t think I’ve experienced a tweeter that changes character so much when testing different tweeter padding resistors as the Beryllium tweeter does. Here it’s really worthwhile to test different padding resistors to fine tune the loudspeaker to personal preferences.

When I first tested the Beryllium tweeters right out of the box I was a bit surprised that it didn’t sound better than it did. Then I quit listening to them and let them burn-in for about 24 hours playing music at a fairly high level with a cross-over attached to it. After that first 24 hours they started to sound a lot better.

Many people argue that tweeter burn-in isn’t required, but I do think the Beryllium needs some substantial burn-in time to really shine and perform at its best. What's your experience with the Beryllium tweeter?

Regards

/Göran

[Rick Craig]

Thank you,

These two drivers are very interesting to compare, since the only thing that seems to differ between the two is the cone material. Yet, they do sound different from each other and the frequency response are very similar up to about 13kHz where they start do be different.

Despite that the Beryllium version has less energy above 13kHz it sounds a bit brighter and at the same time a bit more transparent than the textile dome version. I don’t think I’ve experienced a tweeter that changes character so much when testing different tweeter padding resistors as the Beryllium tweeter does. Here it’s really worthwhile to test different padding resistors to fine tune the loudspeaker to personal preferences.

When I first tested the Beryllium tweeters right out of the box I was a bit surprised that it didn’t sound better than it did. Then I quit listening to them and let them burn-in for about 24 hours playing music at a fairly high level with a cross-over attached to it. After that first 24 hours they started to sound a lot better.

Many people argue that tweeter burn-in isn’t required, but I do think the Beryllium needs some substantial burn-in time to really shine and perform at its best. What's your experience with the Beryllium tweeter?

Regards

/Göran

I'm not really a follower of the whole burn-in thing. I think it's a matter of becoming more familiar with the sound. Great tweeter but for a dome way too expensive. The law of diminishing return!

[Carl V]

Rick,how much of an improvement is the 6620 (illuminator)
over the 6600 revelator.?

Still enjoying your speakers...thanks.

[Rick Craig]

Rick,how much of an improvement is the 6620 (illuminator)
over the 6600 revelator.?

Still enjoying your speakers...thanks.

Nice to hear that. I didn't compare them side-by-side but don't think there's much difference between the two.

[JonMarsh]

Rick,how much of an improvement is the 6620 (illuminator)
over the 6600 revelator.?

Still enjoying your speakers...thanks.

I'm not Rick, but having used both drivers, I think the 6600 is a bit more neutral and flatter in FR- the Illuminator puts a bump into the top octave response which some like- with the mini-waveguide effect of it's design, but I'm not enamored of it. YMMV, of course.

[dsrviola]

Raal vs. Scanspeak Be

One person's thoughts on the two: Just to throw a wrench in things for you and because its around the same price as the 140-15d you might want to look at the Scanspeak D30 Beryllium. I agonised over this driver and the 140-15 for a long time and having compared the two in my own system I found it almost impossible to choose. The best way I can describe the differences is to play a very complex piece of music vs. a simple one. The D30 Be sounded cleaner on the complex and the 140-15 had more realism on the simple. The difference were small but and that was only thing I could definitively zero in on. Both are very good drivers. Eventually I stuck with the 140-15 in my system but the reason wasn't because it was superior but rather the two drivers were so alike that I decided it wasn't work the effort to rebuild the tweeter enclosure for the D30 Be.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/197620-super-high-end-3-way-floor-stander-6.html#post2733015