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Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s

199.46.198.230
Posted on April 2, 2013 at 10:41:50
Dimitry
Audiophile

Posts: 457
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: January 26, 2006
 I am planning to experiment with super tweeters with the 57s.

I can't really afford the nice looking Townshend unit, so I am trying this UK made one that the maker recommends for best integration with the 57s (line below).

Does anyone have any super tweeter experience?

It seems that these are now considered a "normal" addition to a speaker system, similar to a subwoofer. I use a pair of Velodynes with the 57s successfully, so why not a super tweeter?

 

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RE: Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s, posted on April 2, 2013 at 17:07:40
benie
Audiophile

Posts: 1851
Location: Alberta, Canada
Joined: October 24, 2004
 I use a set of Maggie III series ribbons as a super tweeter with my Acoustat X speakers and they have exceeded my expeditions, it has brought my system to another level. Much more open, much more air, the shimmer at the top end gives me goose bumps.

Love them Maggie Ribbons! :O)

I use a separate amp for them and just use a high pass filter and L-pad.
I have them coming in at around 10Kkz and it blends seamlessly.

The ribbons in your link seem to be at a reasonable price and if the didn't work out, you can sell them and possibly get your $$ back.

Let us know if you get them and how they work out.

 

RE: Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s, posted on April 2, 2013 at 20:31:09
Jian
Audiophile

Posts: 605
Location: NYC
Joined: February 17, 2001
 I use 4 Foutek 5 in. True Ribbon Tweeters on front and 2 on back. They are crossovered at 12khz with a L-pad with my Sound Lab Majestic 945. The result is excellent. You have to have a L-pad to match the supertweeters and panel perfectly.


photo listeningroom.jpg

 

RE: Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s, posted on April 3, 2013 at 06:54:50
David Yost
Audiophile

Posts: 967
Location: Atlanta
Joined: May 12, 2006
 Better price here:

 

RE: Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s, posted on April 4, 2013 at 00:51:46
Zombie
Audiophile

Posts: 781
Joined: March 5, 2002
 The filter must be bloody good...

 

RE: Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s, posted on April 4, 2013 at 01:33:49
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5430
Joined: July 6, 2002
 I think you want to use a linear ribbon rather than a round point source tweeter so that you integrate with the quads better. Though the longer 5" ribbons are aimed at higher power and lower frequencies, they would also do well for supertweeter duty. But the shorter ribbons should work just fine for supertweeter, and if you want a line source you can just use more drivers.

Besides the Founteks at Madisound, you can also use Aurum Cantus ribbons you can find at parts express. But the sale at madisound makes for better pricing right now.

 

RE: Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s, posted on April 4, 2013 at 12:20:16
Dimitry
Audiophile

Posts: 457
Location: Massachusetts
Joined: January 26, 2006
 Thanks!

I plan to experiment with the units I purchased and then probably build my own with some of the excellent ribbon drivers available. Once I figure out the sensitivity and the crossover frequency, it should be relatively easy to put together a set of boxes with the driver, capacitor and resistor.

 

RE: Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s, posted on June 21, 2013 at 01:35:03
garyjac
Industry Professional

Posts: 91
Location: Queensland
Joined: November 19, 2005
 Adding ribbons to the original Quad makes life so difficult as to not be worth living. You might cross them over correctly and achieve a good result, but...

Every pair I've heard with 'super-tweeters' in the form of ribbons and such has sounded worse than the original. Fwiw,

Regards,
Gary Jacobson

 

RE: Super Tweeters with Quad ESL-57s, posted on June 21, 2013 at 01:44:20
garyjac
Industry Professional

Posts: 91
Location: Queensland
Joined: November 19, 2005
 Look, I would never tell anyone not to experiment. I would be interested in your results. However, I can tell you that, back in the seventies, Peter Townshend even hired a microwave expert to design a lens to focus the sound of super-tweeters (don't ask me why -- something to do with array shapes). In any case, after 6 months they found they were re-inventing the some properties of the original Quad in any case and making others worse into the bargain.

Regards,
Gary Jacobson

 

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