2 way speakers tweeter above or below the driver?

[goraman]

I don't know exactly when I started seeing the tweeter below the mid bass driver, My best memory was Mission in the late 80's.
I started with KLH modle 6 tweeter above and tried turning them upside down and the speaker got a little brighter. but the tweeter was more in line with my ears that way.
I have Tekton Lores and they are Tweeter below , Best 2 way I have ever owned.
Did Mission start this? I seem to remember Kef or Waferdale doing this too at one point.
Can anyone elaborate on this? And what do you prefer?

[spendorman]

I don't know exactly when I started seeing the tweeter below the mid bass driver, My best memory was Mission in the late 80's.
I started with KLH modle 6 tweeter above and tried turning them upside down and the speaker got a little brighter. but the tweeter was more in line with my ears that way.
I have Tekton Lores and they are Tweeter below , Best 2 way I have ever owned.
Did Mission start this? I seem to remember Kef or Waferdale doing this too at one point.
Can anyone elaborate on this? And what do you prefer?

B&W DM2 and DM2a, early 70's ish

Really a 2 way with supertweeter

[goraman]

Thanks, I am guessing it has to do with phase and time alignment and 1,701 things I don't really understand but I find a preference for tweeter below but have also loved speakers the other way too.

[spendorman]

Thanks, I am guessing it has to do with phase and time alignment and 1,701 things I don't really understand but I find a preference for tweeter below but have also loved speakers the other way too.

Don't think it really matters, but tweeter should be at ear level when listening. B&W sold special stands that tilted the DM2 / DM2a speakers up a bit so as to help.

I still quite like the DM2 / DM2a.

[goraman]

Don't think it really matters, but tweeter should be at ear level when listening. B&W sold special stands that tilted the DM2 / DM2a speakers up a bit so as to help.

I still quite like the DM2 / DM2a.

I think that was to duplicate the sloping baffle design, the idea is both high and mid frequencies reach your ears at the same time.

[spendorman]

I think that was to duplicate the sloping baffle design, the idea is both high and mid frequencies reach your ears at the same time.

Could be, but if one sits the DM2 on the floor, tweeter is too low. I seem to remember something in the DM2 instructions about positioning, must see if I can find them.

[fatmarley]

I don't know exactly when I started seeing the tweeter below the mid bass driver, My best memory was Mission in the late 80's.
I started with KLH modle 6 tweeter above and tried turning them upside down and the speaker got a little brighter. but the tweeter was more in line with my ears that way.
I have Tekton Lores and they are Tweeter below , Best 2 way I have ever owned.
Did Mission start this? I seem to remember Kef or Waferdale doing this too at one point.
Can anyone elaborate on this? And what do you prefer?

Having the tweeter below the woofer but with the listening axis in line with the midbass, helps achieve better phase alignment throughout the crossover. Other options to do this are an asymmetrical crossover, ladder delay circuit, stepped baffle, sloped baffle or a waveguide.

[paulf-2007]

With tqwt as in Zu, the main driver or mid bass on other speakers is nearer the top so the tweeter has to underneath. Tilt the speaker back if needed to align with your lugholes.