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Topic: Re: Acapella Plasma Tweeter

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Posted by Romy the Cat on 07-11-2004

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All that I will be saying are the subject of my own experience with horns and my personal observations. You shouldn’t agree and most likely you will not. That is fine with me. I have lot of reasons behind what I will be saying and opened for some clarification, however I will leave behind myself the rights do not collaborate on some of my comments if I find it unnecessary. My comments will not be unconditional, although they will sound probably in my typically exclusive mode. If you have brain, own consciousness, creatively, own experience or just a common sense that you would know how approach and interpret what I will be saying. If you do not have them then good luck, and, please, do not send me those idiotic emails informing me that I insulted the speakers of you brother-in-low: get live, some brain and perhaps a deeper familiarity on the subject.

It probably will be ~15 short overviews of what is wrong with horns, each of them will cover a specific area; they will be written with no particular order… just as came to my head.

Let start with transducers…

THE PROBLEMS WITH HORNS: TWEETERS.

Ok, there are no good tweeters in the horns world. Bold statement, isn’t it?

Well, what I need form a tweeter? I need an ability to handle ~15kHz-16kHz, with sensitively of 110dB, with dissipation of ~180 degree, with geometrical size of at least ~ 3x3 feet, preferably not compression type and without any typically-excessive accentuation at HF. 

This tweeter just does not exist.  Let look:

*** handle ~15kHz-16kHz

Most of the good midrange phase-plug armed horns run to 11kHz-14kHz but none of them produce the frequency over 10kHz properly. They just generate acoustic pressure in there with necessary amplitude but thy do not have Sound there or the necessary property within the Dynamic Level  ”B” (Look at my Six-Leveled-Listening Benefits™.. when it will be done ...) Most of the time midranges require a tweeter with a duty in one or in other way to correct what midrange channel do. If a midranges PROPERLY reproduce ~13kHz then it is more then enough for music. Audio people need more, all the way to 20kHz but they need it just to acknowledge a language of audio reproduction, not music; beside most of the systems that I have heard DID NOT reproduce even the ~13kHz PROPERLY, not to mention anything higher. The very best tweeters that I heard were not “SACD ready” and roll somewhere at 16kHz. Using those tweeters at the bottom of the slope was always very effective.

*** with sensitively of 110dB

The threshold sensitivity where a tweeter might perform OK is ~ 111dB. Any more efficient tweeters (or any drivers at this mater) are junk. Even of you pump into a driver 3 Tesla into a gap, with very high coofficiency and use a Chernobyl-approved diaphragms then the compression of Sound in a driver/horn to higher degree will bleach Sound and make it sounds like many times washed t-shirt. Over 111dB-sensitivity drivers have a lot of obnoxious force with compromise of delicacy or discrimination. Generally I would question that the compression drivers are way to go for a tweeter but unfortunately everything else is even worth. The best drivers that I heard were somewhere under 110dB.

*** with dispersion of ~180 degree,

I hate the narrow radiated tweeters. Even if they accidentally perform OK then they have to be piled into the multi-dimensional line arrays or into the hemispheres. However, to use the tweeters in multiple sources this is VERY difficult to accomplish and very finicky to tune correct (particularly in room’s nearfield) Without a wide HF dissipation a sound reproduction is similar to eating of frozen sushi… The narrow dissipation is acceptable for jazz-like music only but who cares about a primitive complexity of jazz reproduction?

*** with geometrical size of ~ 3x3 feet

Did you ever try to reproduces large choruses?  Anyhow, the large size of souse is very helpful and particularly when it combined with wide dissipation. No mater what it should NOT be a small source: no 1” little hole that barks into room with it’s HF. Those narrow source should be calibrate to 0.1dB precession in order to perform properly, but it never happens in real world as the recordings, electricity, and hundred of other parameters wildly fluctuate. A 3x3 feet tweeter might run plus or minus .5dB with no large affect to listing experience. Certainly, it will no be 3x3 source that will be able to do handle HF (please do not mention for me any film panels or electrostatics) In past I have quite interesting result by introducing the large diffusers that tweeter were fired upon. It created an appealing randomanization of HF and the large no conflict cloud of HF in a room but it killed some other important things, including the wide dissipation, eaten sensitivity, screwed transient response and few others…

*** preferable not compression type

Oh!!!!!!!

*** and  without any excessive pronunciation at HF

Any metal diaphragms add the “glitz” and “sparkles” to HF, sort of a HF emphasis and I that it. The audio people consider emphasis as an “evidence of quality” and “presents of air” but I still can’t listen it. Even if you roll-off the “typical audio-tweeters” with minus 6-9dB then the damn “sparkles” are still there but the mid HF have already gone. Among very many reasons of the phenomena (I mean the audio-zombies’ love to HF-emphasized sound) is a fact that a typical high-end audio electronics can’t handle HF properly. What audio people looking is “13 kHz punch” but it is just their reaction (beside the corrupted taste and wrongful expectations) to the amplification that is falling apart at HF and completely loosing the ability to handle the “resonanses” that live at 5kHz-8kHz. If your amp and your mid-range driver can handle the necessary USEFUL RESONANSES at 5kHz-8kHz than it would be totally different expectation from a tweeter’s duty. The properly structured 5kHz-8kHz and a NUTRAL tweeter is a way to go.

Anyhow, finishing the accusation, the Horn World uses many different tweeters and all of them suck to more or less degree. I did not even mention that that horn’s tweeters, no meter how good or bad they are, mostly are NOT used in civilized way. But I will talk about it in the crossover, compensators, alignment section… when get there….

The caT


Posted by KIS on 01-27-2005

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Dear Cat

The best tweeters that I have ever heard is a plasma tweeter. It is not 3 x 3, but man they are 1000 times better than the previous best ribbon tweeters found in expensive Maggies.

Have you seen or heard one?

Cheers

Posted by Romy the Cat on 01-27-2005

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Sure I did. May I ask you: why did you find them attractive?

The Cat

Posted by KIS on 01-27-2005

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Dear Cat

They do not shout or go hard when pushed.

Metallic sounds such as cymbals and percussion instruments are the most life like.

It also brings immediacy to the sound of speakers.

Like you have said in another thread how speakers are the worst link, I believe that people interested in good audio reproduction should start with choosing the best speakers that they can afford in space and money, then work backwards. It seems that many are choosing small powered "best in the world" SET and then trying to find speakers that they can drive. As is, like you mentioned, speakers are the worst link and having to restrict the choice here is absolute madness IMO.


Cheers

Posted by AOK_Farmer on 01-27-2005

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I was captivated by the extraordinary Acapella tweeter at CES this year in their Violon III speaker demo...I think I had heard a version of this tweeter before in a different acapella speaker, and never noticed it as being wonderful...but this year it really shone.

I agree with your description KIS. Cymbals and triangles and strings were stunningly well reproduced. Sound & Music seemed completely uninhibited by them. I was keen to buy a pair and try them as Acapella does sell them to DIY-ers, but they are very expensive ($10k with a discount!).

STeve

Posted by KIS on 01-27-2005

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Dear Steve

The beauty of Plasma Tweeters are that they can reproduce 5k onwards to (I was told) 60kHz. I have a pair of the Coronas which I run in a tri amp set-up with independant remote volume control.

My main speakers are full range Sound Labs Electrostatics, which I run full range.

The Plasma tweeters just add that immediacy and focus that the Sound Labs lacks (it does not sound lacking per say, but when someone hears them with a pair of Plasma tweeters in tandum, then the brain re-adjust to say "Hey! that is what was missing").

I could never listen to music without the Plasma Tweeters any more. Without them, music seems much closer to "reproduced" than "live."

Most other super tweeters that I have heard tends to shout or go hard when pushed. Like you said, the string tones on these buggers never goes hard (always silky).

They are best used with a full range speakers. The highs just adds the immediacy "live feel" to the overall sound. These are what I would call "super tweeters" instead of tweeters.

Cheers

Posted by AOK_Farmer on 01-27-2005
Yep KIS. 

I dont use tweeters at all...just run a pair of Fostex 4" per channel in a sealed box from 250 Hz to where they will go. There is a little upward tilt which Romy rightly complains about to all the gods that will listen.

The solution I found most pleasing is adding a Raven 1.0 crossed at 40 kHz (!!) and 6 dB / oct. It adds exactly what I want.

Steve

Posted by Romy the Cat on 01-27-2005

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Well, I am not a big fan of plasma tweeters.

First, of all they generate a health hazardous gas while they operate. All contemporary plasma drivers have catalytic converters that presumably convert this gas into something neutral. The process of conversion does affect sound. So, should I trust to a hi-fi manufactures that they would sacrifices the sonic effectiveness of thier product, that generates non-detectable, cancer producing gas, in order to preserve the health of thier customers perspective? I do not think so. It is not really regulated field and I have very little trust to hi-fi companies.

Second, I would not say that plasma tweeters sound good - they sound “deferent” and thier sentimentals in thier “differences”. It is nice to sit and to hear how the tweeter works but audio is not about listing the sounds of the drivers. In fact, Steve, I feel that is you was able to notice and separately comment on the performance of the twitters than it is an indicative illustration that the tweeter were not as good as they should be. I personally do not find that plasma tweeters deliver an adequate result and I feel that that their Sound is very muck syntactic and “helped”. The sound they do really do not exists in relay world; at least I never was able to get similar sonic sensation anywhere. It more sounds to me like holding in my hand Teflon. It is pleasant, very different, very-very different but it certainly feels as a totally out of this world material.

Third, plasma tweeter inflicts design problems. Those plasma tweeters meant to be used in a very special optimum for itself way and it might not necessary fit within your design objectives. As the result - you need to design a system that would satisfy the requirements of the tweeters instead of picking a tweeter that would satisfy the requirement of your design objectives.

And the last, probably the most important: the plasma tweeters imposable to integrate with any another drivers, channels or topologies – they juts sound too different. I would not advocate which is better or worst  but I do insist that plasma tweeter and all known to me midranges are none-comparable.

Also, It is very expounding that the KIS, who presumably likes what Sound Labs do to sound, do find the plasma tweeters attractive. I feel the plasma tweeters take the sub-dynamic, deneuralized sound of electrostats to its washy-washy pinnacle…

Juts my opinion,
Romy the Cat


Posted by KIS on 01-27-2005

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Dear Cat

Your facts about Plasma Tweeters are incorrect. It is so far off that it is useless discussing it.

"I feel that that their Sound is very muck syntactic" ..."I feel the plasma tweeters take the sub-dynamic, deneuralized sound of electrostats to its washy-washy pinnacle.."

Well I will not comment on the choice words (above) you have for generalising all electrostatic speakers and plasma tweeters. Since I do use both, I'll let others have a go.

Cheers
                 

Posted by Romy the Cat on 01-28-2005

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 KIS wrote:
Your facts about Plasma Tweeters are incorrect. It is so far off that it is useless discussing it.

"I feel that that their Sound is very muck syntactic" ..."I feel the plasma tweeters take the sub-dynamic, deneuralized sound of electrostats to its washy-washy pinnacle.."

Well I will not comment on the choice words (above) you have for generalising all electrostatic speakers and plasma tweeters. Since I do use both, I'll let others have a go.  

Kis, what facts were incorrect? The only FACTS that I brought were the fact about the gas and they are correct.  The rest are my personal assessment and they can’t be “correct” or “incorrect”.

Yes, I am not a big fan of electrostatic speakers and consequentially the plasma drivers. I do not have a high esteem about electrostatic not become I do not have them (I think I’m well-familiar with all of them starting from the Martin’s Statement and ending with the SoundLabs) but because they all exhibit the well-defined negative qualities that I do not find acceptable. However, I do not think that your position: “I have electrostatic, you do not like them and therefore I let you go” is a constrictive attitude. I did not  (I least I do not) talk about “the ownership” or grading each other system but rather we take about the specific qualities that are typical for a given topology of loudspeakers (yes, generalizing). I have no idea how the fact that “you use both” (electrostatic speakers and plasma tweeters) changes the fact that the electrostats have huge dynamic compression, have sensitively less the 80, require 500W of stupid and mostly improperly implemented power, have totally unacceptable dipole bass and while they play piano they convert the piano into an harp… (I can go on and on….)

It is how I see it and certainly your vision might wary. However, I do not think that we exchange the Internet posts about audio because we need to “justify” what we have in out rooms. I think what we do it not to build a “rationalization of own ego” but rather for an education. I know that you have views about the electrostats, so do I, so we shared them. Somebody else, perhaps you, perhaps me might learn from it and to take some notes… It’s all… Nothing further…

The Cat


Posted by KIS on 01-28-2005

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Dear Puss

There is just not much point discussing anything with you when you take a hard and strong stance on something that is totally a case of personal taste.

Your idea of charging up another person emotionally with off the cuff "stupid" remarks can't be healthy in any form of exchange.

Nuff said.

Adios

Posted by Romy the Cat on 01-28-2005

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 KIS wrote:
There is just not much point discussing anything with you when you take a hard and strong stance on something that is totally a case of personal taste.

Your idea of charging up another person emotionally with off the cuff "stupid" remarks can't be healthy in any form of exchange.
Look, all that I heard form you so far was:

1) The best tweeters that you have ever heard is a plasma tweeter
2) My facts about Plasma Tweeters are incorrect (Were they?)
3) There is just not much point discussing …  that is totally a case of personal taste

Quite recognizable wasn’t it?

Then when I asked a little more specific you informed me that I’m “charging you emotionally”. I have no idea where did you dig THAT but as I told you: this all just an opportunity for education.  For instance I have learned that when people express “incorrect” (from my point of view) opinions about the subjects that I‘m well-familiar and  am disagree then it worth to ask further questions and to see if behind thier “exuberance of ownership” there is anything else...

Furthermore, my friend, the given subject is absolutely NOT a case of a personal taste. However, your easily offensable manner (or a “comfortable mask of fragility”), and your incapacity to provide any constructivism of the subject really turn me off  and I will not explain to you further about the plasma tweeters. In a future be advised that I do not run my mouth spreading the hi-fi myths, but as you correctly pointed I have a “hard and strong stance” behind what I express. I anticipate the same form other people.

Anyhow, let live it as it. This thread is about tweeters and if you not intend to post about the subjects of this site then excuse yourself from further posting.

The Cat


Posted by AOK_Farmer on 01-28-2005

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Romy,

Point taken on the Ozone issue...do the catalytic converters in the units work effectively? I do not know. There are relatively inexpensive measuring devices for it.

I agree completely that they sound different. You can see in my language that I was awed by them. They sound so much different than any other I have heard. I did not feel that the rest of the Acapella speaker was quite acting in concert with them. Are they more musical? I found them interesting enough to consider buying to further explore their strentghs and weaknesses in my own home and with my own music.

And again I agree with you that this tweeter would most likely require a system built around it's needs. And what is the likelyhood of finding a midrange driver to integrate? Again, I was interested in trying for the sake of the knowledge. I would still like to explore it even as my vivid memory of it's *qualities* fades. Understand that I have never found a tweeter that I like, so when i hear something so qualitatively different and so seemingly natural, I was hopeful! You think possibly this is *supernatural*. I would have to listen further with this criticism in mind. I found them beautiful...

By the way...I cross the Raven Tweeters over at 40 kHz for just this reason...I really dont want to hear them...but just have them add some very top hf extension. It is a very pleasant addition.

Steve


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KIS,

I have owned the Martin Logan CLS's so I have some long term experience with electrostatics. To me it seems that the Acapella plasma tweeter (which I have heard for a total of less than 30 minutes!) had a SIMILAR quality of sound and yet a DIFFERENT way of presenting music from the electrostatic and I think I can explain it like this:

Both have a quality of excellent microdynamics at the expense of macrodynamics (I apologize to Romy for using such language as *Atilla the Hun* would use). With the plasma crossed high enough I think there is a point where this macrodynamical limitation does not play a role because the macrodynamics are at lower frequencies. So I think that the electrostatic and the plasma sonically will mate beautifully being *birds of a feather* in this important sound character.

But I have never heard an electrostatic upper midrange that sounded as musical and lifelike to my ear as the acapella tweeter did. There was a feeling of delight, musically, which I had with that tweeter that I didnt have with the Martin Logans. Is it possibly because the tweeter doesnt have to deal with macrodynamics and the electrostatics did?

This is where it all gets interesting however...when you find that a similar "quality of the sound"  doesnt transfer to a similar "quality of musical experience".

Steve

Posted by Romy the Cat on 01-28-2005
Well, Steve,

usually I find this situation of “instantaneous awe” is not necessary a good thing. You did acknowledge the “benefits” of the tweeters in Acapella and this is undeniable evidence that the tweeter did not perform well in context of the given system. Now, how would you further learn if it was a problem of the Acapella or it was a fundamental problem of the plasma transducer without paying those $10K? Get from eBay the earlier versions of plasma drivers and experiment with them (it will cost you around 200$). After you get a feeling what you will be getting out of the plasma tweeter then re-listen those Acapella. Perhaps the Acapella tweeters are better (or not) but you still will recognize some common idiosyncrasies. Now you would be better familiar with the “differences” and that would allow you to interpret the heard result more objectively and impartially. This would permit you to make your own further discoveries and abstractions about the plasma transducers but then you will have the “initial awe” filtered out. I still do not feel that there is any midrange driver that will be able to work with plasma tweeter (with an exception of the electrostats but then you have the same "sound-free Sound" in midrange also) but this is just a pile of steaming me….

Rgs,
The Cat

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Romy,

Now that I am home for a couple weeks after the CES extravaganza I am listening to my system and wondering why I thought I needed a tweeter at all. For me, the problem with experimenting with the e-bay $200 plasma tweeters is the health issue...

If I had gotten the tweeters then most likely I would be back to <200 Hz sealed woofer towers and >5 kHz plasma tweeters and a long search to integrate the two probably involving multiple drivers and endless experimentation. As it is I have been buying a lot of music and the cats are getting plenty of sleep  :-)

Steve

Posted by Romy the Cat on 01-28-2005

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Steve, I would encourage you to “get” the following.

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?postID=432

and to expose to this imperative rule your recent excitement about the plasma tweeters. The fact that you heard something that you enjoyed it is not a correct motivation to peruse this thing. You have FIRST to identify what is wrong with your current high frequency and THEN, when you see something presumably “better”, you have to consider how this “betters” addresses the thing that you have identified as the shortcoming of your current Sound.

Without those steps all bets are off and a peruse turns into a brainless and endless audio paranoia.

Rgs,
The Cat

Posted by AOK_Farmer on 01-29-2005
Of course many of the most important discoveries are made purely by accident...Most of the discoveris I have made in audio have had an element of chance in them. Sometimes you go to Las Vegas to *roll the dice*. :-)

But your point is hard to argue from the point of view of efficiency, both in terms of time and money...And it is true in this case where I was not in need of any tweeter when I went to the CES.

It is like looking through the telescope and seeing the moon and thinking wouldnt it be nice to walk on the moon. There is no need.

At this point I have radically different speakers than I have ever had before and I am very happy with them. I am buying lots of music to explore their capabilities and the shortcomings (as well as my own). Perhaps after further exploration I will be able to discern some need.

Steve

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Hi all

Personally I'd like the tweeter to have the same dispersion as the rest of the speaker, and I really dislike wide dispersion speakers.
Depending on the room, I prefer less than 60 degrees, usually.

cheers , Jan

Posted by Romy the Cat on 01-29-2005

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Slowmotion, I do not know what playback you have but I presume that your are not accustomed to listen a the installations that goes all the way down. Was I correct?

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