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ESS speakers, with the Heil AMT tweeters, first came out in the mid-70s. My college roommate bought a pair, and they had much more presence and projection than the AR-6s we had been using prior to that. But I never really saw the Heil system being used elsewhere, and thought it was one of those technologies that time had bypassed.
Until now, it seems. I saw the recent review of the Audiovector R3 Arrete in TAS, and yep, there was the unmistakable contour of an Heil AMT at the top -the speaker was very favorably reviewed by Andrew Quint, who praised, among other qualities, the transparency of the highs. And, I have noticed that the higher-end Wharfedale lines also use them. I did a quick google search, and didn't find others manufacturers, but curious to know if this is a trend, or if AMTs have always been there, and I just didn't know.
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the circuit
sex after 70 is like trying to play pool with a rope
i remember them as having a significant peak at ~ 10kHz (then CPS). that and the flabby bass made me leave the room every time.
it took decades of AMT abstinence to be able to accept them again. maybe the golden ears were part of that, then my friend Paul Squillo was selling custom speakers with a large format amt that crossed over at 500Hz with two 12" eminence woofers that was a revelation for me. the dynamic performance was also a big plus.
it's encouraging to see the AMTs in so many makers products but i would love to see the large format amt come to fore to fully take advantage of not having a crossover in the midrange.
...regards...tr
lent me some Heils. Damn fine if you ask me. Sadly, my Sansui's eventually arrived and I had to return the Heils. As Fremer would say, the difference wasn't subtle. Some criticized the bass as being flabby, nope. It was just, substantial, exactly how I liked it.
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"E Burres Stigano?"
Curious to confirm if my 40 year old (!) impression is correct.....
The hypothesis is - an AMT-class tweeter enhances transparency and presence. All other things being equal, of course.
When things settle down a bit - I want to audition the Audiovector R3 at a local dealer - Audiovision of SF carries them.
...and would say that your memories are correct. It's certainly one of the best tweeter implementations that I've heard.
ELAC 310ce
One for each channel. (link below)
I'd say your impression of the AMT is correct.
I was just getting ready to post the same.
see link
Heil speakers came out in the mid 70s, mainly only as tweeters. This is almost still true with one exception I know of. Check Arionaudio.com. They make almost full range AMT speakers crossed over to dipole woofers at 125 Hz(bookshelf crosses around 300 Hz). Highly recommended. Not cheap but sold direct and super deals.
ESS was granted an exclusive license originally - that patent must be long expired, I am guessing.
Audiovector
Burmeister
ESS (looks like they are still around)
Legacy
Martin-Login
Wharfedale
The MPD tweeter is their own implementation of the Heil technology.
See link.
Four models, from a little dinky one fit only as a supertweet above 5kHz, to the big "pro" one quite similar to the original Heil.
Well before the current proliferation of AMT designs, Aurum Cantus offered their "aero striction" model, and Eton offered a rather pricey dipole version. I'm sure there were a few others.
I have the upgraded music system in my Porsche....Burmeister that uses the Heil speakers. Sounds good in the garage, but as soon as you drive the car the motor noise swamps it.
...but I always read that their downfall was the mid/woofer in spite of the very good AMT tweeter.
I have a pair of DIY speakers that I ran Heil AMTs with for years, then changed to Beyma AMTs (TPL-150) that I still use today. If I needed to go back to the Heils for some reason I wouldn't be too upset, they're pretty good IMO.
AMT variants persist & recently flourish -- something to do with patent expiration perhaps? To my ears, the original AMT was an excellent-sounding tweeter (new versions may be even better). I've not had any opportunity to hear one well blended, though, and that was not accomplished in Heil's own AMT-1. The thought of such beckons (like the thought of a non-beaming unfussy electrostat).
Jeremy
Had the ESS Heil AMT-1s way back when. The tweeter was amazing, but didn't blend well with the woofer. Got to be so annoying that I sold them.
They really never went away. Also my Legacy Focus SE also employs an AMT, Bill D of Legacy a big Heil fan...
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