NEW Title: Wavecor TW030WA12 (China) vs. Kartesian Twt30_vMS + Horn-30 (France) for a 2-Way
Wavecor TW030WA12 (China) vs. Kartesian Twt30_vMS + Horn-30 (France), both 8 Ω tweeters for a 2-Way and a 1st Order (6dB) crossover possibility, big dommes and high SPL (sensitivity), 2kHz-20kHz, no Ferro. Limit 150/200€ for each tweeter. Low budget ribbon considered like Dayton PT2C-8, others models or high SPL to 20+kHz. CDs/Horn combos (like 18Sound XT120) ONLY for a future project. PS 8 or 16 ohms ONLY please. No 4 ohms tweeters. TIA
(Edit for Kartesian 8 Ω tweeter)
https://audioxpress.com/article/Test-Bench-Wavecor-TW030WA12-30-mm-Cloth-Waveguide-Loaded-Tweeter
https://audioxpress.com/article/test-bench-a-high-end-dome-tweeter-from-kartesian
Wavecor TW030WA12 (China) vs. Kartesian Twt30_vMS + Horn-30 (France), both 8 Ω tweeters for a 2-Way and a 1st Order (6dB) crossover possibility, big dommes and high SPL (sensitivity), 2kHz-20kHz, no Ferro. Limit 150/200€ for each tweeter. Low budget ribbon considered like Dayton PT2C-8, others models or high SPL to 20+kHz. CDs/Horn combos (like 18Sound XT120) ONLY for a future project. PS 8 or 16 ohms ONLY please. No 4 ohms tweeters. TIA
(Edit for Kartesian 8 Ω tweeter)
https://audioxpress.com/article/Test-Bench-Wavecor-TW030WA12-30-mm-Cloth-Waveguide-Loaded-Tweeter
https://audioxpress.com/article/test-bench-a-high-end-dome-tweeter-from-kartesian
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Wavecor TW030 hands down for that use.
Twice the linear xmax, higher power handling, smoother response, okay behaved wg, cleaner impulse and csd etc.
And as you can see from measurements it has a "lot" lower distortion below 2-3k.
1" comp drivers that perform well and are more or less "universally liked", while capable of going low with good performance.
BMS 5530ND
18S ND1090
18S NSD1095N (might be slightly too pricy).
18S ND1TP (might require adjustment of backcap/ dia.).
Faital HF108
I have a build with the 4 ohm version of that Wavecore and it's a really good tweeter. It clearly has far better specs than the Kartesian in every way. My concern here is that you want "high SPL" and I don't know exactly what you mean by that but dome tweeters and budget ribbons are not ever really "High SPL". You would want a compression driver for anything that needs to be loud.
Yes. High SPL on this domain, I know. I mean it's better a "92dB" dome than a "89dB" to work with a variable L-pad. Another version (not yet) of the speakers would be a CD+Horn. And I did my work, and have my rankings lists, but it's to early for that version. About the ribbons I like the GRS RT3.0-8 Ribbon Tweeter that looks good for the price level, is it the same in sound quality!? I appreciate your work in posting about the Wavecor and the good revues and that helps me a lot. I also appreciate the work of you posting on the CDs and waveguides. The problem with ribbons is that you move in the vertical position and it's gone like Danny (GR-Research) says. Best regards, guys.
My first choice was the Sica LP90.28/N92
These tweeters above came after looking at all the drivers what confused me about my first choice. Then I would have a different thread or change the title for a 3 tweeters option type of ranking.😆
It would also be nice to have a speaker whose tweeter baffle you could swap out or just position on top of the speaker for easy swapping (but it doesn't have much protection from dust and fingers).
https://sica.it/prodotto/lp-90-28-n92-tw/
These tweeters above came after looking at all the drivers what confused me about my first choice. Then I would have a different thread or change the title for a 3 tweeters option type of ranking.😆
It would also be nice to have a speaker whose tweeter baffle you could swap out or just position on top of the speaker for easy swapping (but it doesn't have much protection from dust and fingers).
https://sica.it/prodotto/lp-90-28-n92-tw/
https://www.dibirama.it/home-page/tweeter/377-sica-lp90-28-n92-tw-tweeter-1-1-8-ohm-120-wmax.html
You can compare the measurements to the wavecor A14 on the same page for reference.
The wavecor is still the better driver choice.
It will handle the low order xo/loud spl better then the other two.
Its distortion down low raises much slower from 3k down then the other 2 options.
Sensitivity and Maximum SPL are two different things. An 89db sensitivity tweeter can often still get as loud as a 95db sensitivity tweeter, but it takes more power which is easy with a tweeter. The issue is how loud they can get before distortion (or outright damage) sets in. You certainly don't want to cross a dome tweeter below 2.5Khz if you want it to get loud. Your definition of "loud" might be different than mine, but most dome tweeters don't reach what I would call "loud" but I guess it depends on the whole design. If you take your mid-range up to 3.5Khz, then it will be easier to drive the tweeter louder without having distortion set in.
In my experience, GRS products are made cheaply and often have undesirable distortion characteristics, but they're good for a budget driver. Be careful with ribbons if you want a speaker that gets loud.
I think that the vertical dispersion characteristics of ribbons is quite useful for speakers that will point at a couch or be used for nearfield listening. My favorite tweeters are Mundorf ATM's but they're designed to sit at the level of the tweeter.
Yes, I mean sensitivity (SPL 2.8V/1m). Sica is a big dome with 94 dB to 20kHz. I had it in a high regard. So, for this project the contenders of the big DOME project in my list are Wavecor and Sica after the Kartesian is out. I'm going to read Arez link now. For best decisions and final rest of mind in the big DOME tweeters choice. Tank you for your help and experience/knowledge in this vast territory.
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I guess the 8" Audax driver can cross at 2.5kHz/3kHz. My first option was a no filter use for pure sound quality but baffle step is going to ask for a coil, and we shall see for best integration with the chosen tweeter.
Ciare HTB326, 8 ohm, 1.25 inch soft dome, Kapton voice coil former
This tweeter is also on the list, but this is not and there is no perfect tweeter. I would prefer some detailed specifications on the driver design. As I said, no factory is perfect and no one knows how to make a tweeter like ATC, 25mm only. That was a joke 😁😎
Let's think:
• Big power soft dome 25mm>. No materials with a high noticeable breackups in the 30k FREQUENCY range that people notice the ringing.
• No Ferro (It's good ONLY for paper specs and power/heat signature with more W).
• Kapton voice coil former to BE neutral in the gap and magnética field.
This tweeter is also on the list, but this is not and there is no perfect tweeter. I would prefer some detailed specifications on the driver design. As I said, no factory is perfect and no one knows how to make a tweeter like ATC, 25mm only. That was a joke 😁😎
Let's think:
• Big power soft dome 25mm>. No materials with a high noticeable breackups in the 30k FREQUENCY range that people notice the ringing.
• No Ferro (It's good ONLY for paper specs and power/heat signature with more W).
• Kapton voice coil former to BE neutral in the gap and magnética field.
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I like the Wavecor. Some days better that the JBL 2431 other days I like the 2431 better.