OK, this has gotten a little bit out of hand, but it looks like I'll be evaluating a potful of tweeters for various price points in this project... I suppose later, based on the test results, I could even put up a poll for people to pick their "no holds barred" and "bang for the buck" favorites.
Here's how the contenders are looking, and what I should have on hand... (let's keep in mind I DO have limited resources, guys...)
ScanSpeak Revelator 9900
Proposed as an old fashion favorite, and the favorite of some regardless of price, this classic Scanspeak tweeter has a shallow waveguide built in to the faceplate, which must be planned for in the crossover implementation. It does have more linear Xmax that many of the newer ScanSpeak tweeters, too!
ScanSpeak 7100-02
This newer ScanSpeak model got my curiosity raised because it seems to combine a front plate similar to the 6600 and 6640 with the motor and dome of the 6620. I think the short waveguide in the 6620 is a bit of a problem, personally. The 7100 is an upgrade candidate for the original NatalieP.
ScanSpeak 6620
This is in the group more as a reference, and because I have a pair left over from the original Ardent project. Published data looks good, but I wasn't enamored of the sound, and had some specific issues with measurements. Contrast and compare....
Now were going to move down market price wise....
Transducer Labs N26A
This is one I've measured and bought several pair of, even one set in an unfinished dipole with waveguide design. I think it's an excellent motor and fairly compelling value proposition at US prices. 0.5mm one way Xmax, and a very strong motor.
ScanSpeak Discovery D2608/9130
Let's not forget this was original a Vifa designed and built part- the first pair I bought came that way, and went into the Modula MT XE. So far, I've only used them in waveguide applications, where they work very nicely, but they also have 0.5mm Xmax and fairly solid performance, though rolled off in the low end below 2 kHz- but not due to Xmax limitations. This tweeter does have a minor cult following, and for good reason.
Now, we have a dark horse contender, with a strong recommendation from Mogens...
SB Acoustics SB26STAC
In some ways, this is what I call a typical 4 ohm wideband tweeter with low Fs; it could be dropped into a NatalieP quite easily, for example, or other designs where the RS28 or Vifa XT25 are used, as well as quite a few SS tweeters. Notable specifications are the 0.6mm one way Xmax, the use of a fairly high energy saturated flux gap design, a copper cap on the pole piece for reduced inductivity modulation and lower distortion, bringing a very flat impedance curve in the operating range. Published off axis response looks quite nice, and the claims of a low reflection rear chamber seem to be backed up by the impedance curve behavior. Oh, and probably the best specification of all is the price: under $50, probably even with shipping.
This should be an interesting testing round up- I expect to complete it by Thanksgiving weekend.
Here's how the contenders are looking, and what I should have on hand... (let's keep in mind I DO have limited resources, guys...)
ScanSpeak Revelator 9900
Proposed as an old fashion favorite, and the favorite of some regardless of price, this classic Scanspeak tweeter has a shallow waveguide built in to the faceplate, which must be planned for in the crossover implementation. It does have more linear Xmax that many of the newer ScanSpeak tweeters, too!
ScanSpeak 7100-02
This newer ScanSpeak model got my curiosity raised because it seems to combine a front plate similar to the 6600 and 6640 with the motor and dome of the 6620. I think the short waveguide in the 6620 is a bit of a problem, personally. The 7100 is an upgrade candidate for the original NatalieP.
ScanSpeak 6620
This is in the group more as a reference, and because I have a pair left over from the original Ardent project. Published data looks good, but I wasn't enamored of the sound, and had some specific issues with measurements. Contrast and compare....
Now were going to move down market price wise....
Transducer Labs N26A
This is one I've measured and bought several pair of, even one set in an unfinished dipole with waveguide design. I think it's an excellent motor and fairly compelling value proposition at US prices. 0.5mm one way Xmax, and a very strong motor.
ScanSpeak Discovery D2608/9130
Let's not forget this was original a Vifa designed and built part- the first pair I bought came that way, and went into the Modula MT XE. So far, I've only used them in waveguide applications, where they work very nicely, but they also have 0.5mm Xmax and fairly solid performance, though rolled off in the low end below 2 kHz- but not due to Xmax limitations. This tweeter does have a minor cult following, and for good reason.
Now, we have a dark horse contender, with a strong recommendation from Mogens...
SB Acoustics SB26STAC
In some ways, this is what I call a typical 4 ohm wideband tweeter with low Fs; it could be dropped into a NatalieP quite easily, for example, or other designs where the RS28 or Vifa XT25 are used, as well as quite a few SS tweeters. Notable specifications are the 0.6mm one way Xmax, the use of a fairly high energy saturated flux gap design, a copper cap on the pole piece for reduced inductivity modulation and lower distortion, bringing a very flat impedance curve in the operating range. Published off axis response looks quite nice, and the claims of a low reflection rear chamber seem to be backed up by the impedance curve behavior. Oh, and probably the best specification of all is the price: under $50, probably even with shipping.
This should be an interesting testing round up- I expect to complete it by Thanksgiving weekend.
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