Titanium, Aluminum, Diamond, Silk. Which is better dome material for tweeters?

[b0mbrman]

What do you guys think?

I've narrowed my speaker search to the JL Audio XR650-CSi's, Cadence Neo's, and the CDT HD 62's.

It seems the biggest differences are in the tweeters--the first two have neodymium (Atomic number 60) tweeters and the third has silk ones.

So in short, in your opinion, what is the best material for tweeters?

And while we're on the topic...check out these tweeters. The membrane is made of pure diamond--only $5,600 a pair

 

[ElFenix]

listen to them and find out. if you're buying speaks that expensive it should be expected that you can take them home and see how they sound in *your* room with *your* components

 

[jteef]

neodymium is the magnetic material, not the dome material

 

[Shockwave]

Some people say metallic domed are a bit harsher then silk. Its essentially a AMD vs Intel deal though.
I myself like silk. I know alot of people who like metal, and alot of people who dont give much weight in cone material

So, there isnt a worse or a better. Each is designed for a certain application, the best thing to do it try to demo them so you can hear them before buying.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: jteef
neodymium is the magnetic material, not the dome material

This is what I was going to say, but for some reason I think we are wrong....

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: jteef
neodymium is the magnetic material, not the dome material

This is what I was going to say, but for some reason I think we are wrong....

He's partially right....Upon further inspection, the JL has an rubber-wrapped Al dome and the Neos have Neodymium Tweeters

Cadence Neos
JL Audio XR650 CSi

[Edit] The Neo tweeters might actually be titanium

 

[jteef]

Originally posted by: jteef
neodymium is the magnetic material, not the dome material

the JL's have aluminum domes, and the CDT's also have neodymium magnets. I don't know anything about the cadence set, but I would be extremely surprised if somebody made a magnetic dome.

Edit: they are titanium

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
listen to them and find out. if you're buying speaks that expensive it should be expected that you can take them home and see how they sound in *your* room with *your* components

I wish there were local stores that sold CDT's and Cadence...

 

[Bobomatic]

Neodymium is the magnetic material inside the driver, the thing that moves the cone, the cone is the thing that actally moves that is made out

of silk, two different parts inside of the speaker, unless I am terribly mistaken.

 

[b0mbrman]

Found something: Materials Technology

Read it if you're really interested

 

[d33pt]

i like silk domes because IMHO they sound smoother than metalic materials like aluminum and titanium. metals are alot brighter...earsplitting highs... just goes down to preference

 

[0roo0roo]

i like silk dome. i have polk silk dome fronts and infinities in the back. all the metal tweets i've tried in my car sound harsh. but those are just the ones i've tried.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i like silk dome. i have polk silk dome fronts and infinities in the back. all the metal tweets i've tried in my car sound harsh. but those are just the ones i've tried.

Which metal ones have you tried?

 

[Evadman]

I am kinda partial to cardboard/paper.

 

[vi edit]

I'm partial to silk as well. I'm more a fan of a softer sounding speaker. I prefer soft over crisp. It's just a warmer feeling sound.

 

[Howard]

I like titanium (or ceramic) with the correct crossover. A lot of cloth tweeters (softdomes) don't reach 20kHz and above. Missing audio = bad.

However, if given the choice, I would go with either ribbon or magneplanar tweeters. The moving mass is ultra-low, so that you can hear every nuance of the music.

 

[glen]

Those JLs are the best sounding car speakers I have heard at any price.
I have used everything, MB Quarts, Bostons, JBLs, Audax, Focal, Dynaudio, etc.......

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

My HT speakers (Phase Technology Teatros) have silk dome tweeters and titanium mid/low. Seems to be a good combination, though God knows I am no specialist in such things. I believe Phase Tech actually originated the soft dome tweeter.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: glen
Those JLs are the best sounding car speakers I have heard at any price.
I have used everything, MB Quarts, Bostons, JBLs, Audax, Focal, Dynaudio, etc.......

I've been told Cadence Neo's are almost identical to them...marginally better in the midbass but marginally worse in the tweeter

 

[BDawg]

None of those compare to a good horn.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: BDawg
None of those compare to a good horn.

ID?