Tweeter advice please

[Haselsh1]

Hello everyone, I have a slight issue that some of you may be able to help me with.

At present I have a budget pair of Celestion F28 floorstanders that I am reasonably happy with but for the treble and high frequencies. I am therefore thinking that because I have some ready made cabinets and bass/mid drivers, I may upgrade the tweeters. Can anyone give me some feedback on what I may do to bring this on to fruition…? SEAS, Scanspeak maybe…? If I can get two units that would just slot in so much the better.

I am looking for a distinct improvement in the treble and high frequencies to a nice crystalline purity I am not looking to change just for the sake of a change. The standard units are aluminium dome and I just know I have heard a lot better in the past but two hundred quid for replacement drivers is one thing, fifteen hundred quid for new speakers is another.

Many thanks in anticipation…

[Reid Malenfant]

This is more than likely going to be extremely problematic :(

To get some idea of possible tweeters you might be able to use, you'll need to know all about the ones you have at present.

IE, you'll need to know the tweeters total Q (Qts), resonance frequency (FS), inductance & impedance as well as the crossover circuit feeding the tweeters.

You see, you'll need to match impedance at the very least, driver Qts would be helpful if it matched to as well as FS so that the crossover stands a chance of doing the right thing ;)

If these parameters are out, then there is no way you can guarantee that there won't be all sorts of problems at or near the crossover frequency. For instance, you may well need to change every component feeding the tweeters & you'd have to do this by trial & error.


But if you can find a close match, then in all probability you'll only need to adjust resistors to match the sensitivity :)

[6L6]

Don't change the tweeter, as mentioned, that will make a host of problems.

Instead, just determine which is your series tweeter resistor and reduce it's value a bit. Finding the right value for your taste will give you what you are after.

[nat8808]

I once swapped some Kef T33s directly for some expensive scanspeak 97000s - same mounting pattern - on some old Meridian actives.

Treble was smoother and seemed a little more natural but to be honest wasn't a vast difference.

The T33 and 90000 series have similar impedance plots and resonances. It was in no way a disaster at all.

I think the mismatch between the current design and just plopping in any tweeter (within reason!) will be larger on paper than it will be to the ear IMO.

Call up some place like Wilmslow audio or Falcon acoustics for advice - they're often of the try it an see type (which I subscribe to, rather than make sure it's perfect on paper first school).

[alan47]

Don't change the tweeter, as mentioned, that will make a host of problems.

Instead, just determine which is your series tweeter resistor and reduce it's value a bit. Finding the right value for your taste will give you what you are after.

+1, I have done this on a pair of speakers,and it worked for me,my speakers had much to much treble,and no bass.Sound well balanced now.

[Haselsh1]

With all due respect, my speakers do not have too much treble, I am looking to improve them.

[Haselsh1]

I once swapped some Kef T33s directly for some expensive scanspeak 97000s - same mounting pattern - on some old Meridian actives.

Treble was smoother and seemed a little more natural but to be honest wasn't a vast difference.

The T33 and 90000 series have similar impedance plots and resonances. It was in no way a disaster at all.

I think the mismatch between the current design and just plopping in any tweeter (within reason!) will be larger on paper than it will be to the ear IMO.

Call up some place like Wilmslow audio or Falcon acoustics for advice - they're often of the try it an see type (which I subscribe to, rather than make sure it's perfect on paper first school).

Nat, thanks for that, I may give it a try in the near future. My only thinking really is that a really good pair of tweeters are so likely to be better than a really cheap, Chinese made pair of tweeters. As I've already stated, its not that I have too much treble, its just that I want a better treble. Is that so wrong ?

[prestonchipfryer]

I understand your need to upgrade but, honestly, it would be a pointless exercise with this level of speaker..

Which tweeters would replace the Celestion ones? Who knows?

You'd be better saving your money for a better speaker.

Regards - :)

[alan47]

I hate to say it,but i think you want some better speakers.Might be cheaper in the long run.Good luck.:santa:

[Haselsh1]

I hate to say it,but i think you want some better speakers.Might be cheaper in the long run.Good luck.:santa:

I do appreciate that for most folk, buying a new pair of speakers would be the better option; however, I'd like to know where I could get a substantially better pair of speakers for the cost of a pair of tweeters...? I reckon a fab pair of tweeters would cost around three hundred quid maximum including VAT and delivery but what could I expect a new pair of speakers to cost...? I reckon around one thousand five hundred quid. Come on now...!

I have cabinets, cross overs and four bass/mid drivers. The sound is excellent but the treble is a little coarse. I therefore considered that the easy option was to improve the treble.

[337alant]

Have you tried reversing the polarity of the tweeter first ?

The chances of just changing the tweeter and them working propperly in the same xover are pretty slim realy.
You realy need to know the TS parameters for the original unit and the xover diag with the other drivers.
I know what you mean about metal dome tweeters though I hate them myself
People like Wilmslow Audio, Audio Components could help you though

Alan