Tweeter technology/materials

[reelizmpro]

Years ago I accidentally pulled apart one of my Hifonic's Ti domed, Ferro fluid cooled, Neodymium mag'd, 8 Ohm tweeters. After putting it back together it's never been quite as loud as the other. Been like this for several years and while they've served me well, I decided it was time to change out that 1 tweeter or replace the pair. Since they still work, I really don't want to spend too much money.

I'm wondering if there are better, inexpensive (around $50) tweeters out there these days.

[Jean]

Always replace them as a pair, and if you want something to just drop right in w/o changing crossover you would want to find their specs and find something very similar (same ohms [in order for the crossover point to not shift], db/meter[so that they' won't be too quiet/loud vs the old ones] and fs[so that they won't distort in the existing crossover point] to start with). Try partsexpress.com / madisound.com

[StereoInstaller1]

Barry, this page shows 4 decent choices. All are equal or better than what you had.

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=45_245_313

The vifa in specific is an elegant sounding unit, and the LPG is uuuuum...strong, shall we say?

[Jean]

The Seas 27TFFNC/G has a slight edge over the vifa in terms of being able to crossover lower. I've heard the home audio version of that tweeter 27TFFC and it's a very good tweeter for under $50 per unit.

[Mless5]

That Vifa is TOO laid back, I don't like it, it was missing a lot of details, while I found 27TFFNC/G to be a bit too harsh to my ears. Personal choice, I sold both.

[StereoInstaller1]

That Vifa is TOO laid back, I don't like it, it was missing a lot of details, while I found 27TFFNC/G to be a bit too harsh to my ears. Personal choice, I sold both.

Did you try the LPG? I liked it, but am generally not a fan of metal domes unless really well-damped.

I likes it bright, though. I am gonna bust out some small ribbons on the E34, with soft dome mids in the stock locations. Detail? Gonna know if the bitch singing is wearing undies, dammit! I think I will need to resurrect the three H/K CA260s that are sitting in a box at my shop. I miss those...so sweet, so elegant. Wish they were healthy. I am gonna swap some resistors and caps out before they go back in use.

I wish Peerless still made the little neo tweet that had in the late 80's, the one with the replaceable voice coil. That was an awesome tweet...clean with virtually no sibilance, nice and bright but excellent off-axis performance. I never ran them below 5K myself, but I had heard they were OK at 4K, even at 12db/oct.

plus, when (if, I never did, ever) you pop one, a new VC was about $6!

[Mless5]

I haven't due to their brightness. I don't like metal domes to begin with and I like it smooth and detailed. I run Alpine ring radiators now, xt19, I think they are re-branded Vifas.

[Jean]

Seas and Vifas both make metal and silk domes ;) Xt19 is nice, it has wider angle vs the bigger xt25...same goes for pretty much all tweeters though, the smaller they are the less directional they are.

You could dial out the harshness or brightness with crossover tuning ;)

[StereoInstaller1]

Seas and Vifas both make metal and silk domes ;) Xt19 is nice, it has wider angle vs the bigger xt25...same goes for pretty much all tweeters though, the smaller they are the less directional they are.

You could dial out the harshness or brightness with crossover tuning ;)

Dunno if you ever tried the old MB Quart metal dones with the metal suspension...y'know, the one the IASCA dorks were always raving about...there is not anything short of cotton batting and a nylon stretched over the damn tweet that will calm those nasty things down!

On the other hand, I really do wish either of you could hear my car.

[Jean]

Lol, yeah I've heard about those when I used to be on iasca forums years ago. I am personally a fan of good silk domes, been meaning to try some ribbons though (not in a car).