[Christof]

Ok I'm a bit anxious about my new speaker design so I've got to ask...

I've live with a Fountek ribbon, Morel dome mid and Seas w18 for about 2 years and I've decided to try another route and go with a 1" Aircirc dome tweeter without the mid and cross directly to a Seas w18.  What can I expect from the Scanspeak Aircirc tweeter?

[PaulHilgeman]

Overall, you will probably have a much better result,  While the dome mid with the ribbon tweeter isn't a bad idea with the W18, this will provide for a far simpler system with probably great results.

Do you have measurement equipment?

I would cross as low as you can, I would shoot for below 2000Hz, 4th order.  The magnesium cones take on a truly transparent character when crossed at or below about 1600Hz, but that might be tough to pull off with that tweeter, though it tested well in some tests, I can't remember if it was John Krutke or Mark K that tested it and it did pretty well.

Anyways good luck, you have chosen good drivers.

-Paul

[MarkM]

Not familiar with that Scan-speak tweeter.  Rick Craig did a 2 way custom design for me this past spring using a 1" 9500 SS tweeter and Accuton 92-7" woofer crossed around 2200hz.

My other speakers are the Selah RC3R, so I know the sound of the ribbons well.

IMHO, what I noticed immediately between the tweeters was the difference in apparent "air" and "detail".  Cymbals seem to have a natural shimmer to them, along with triangles etc. 

The 1" fabric dome seems to have more "body" to the sound and less "air".  Between the two, I lean towards the ribbons but have grown to like the fabric dome.  After all, gotta have variation of the "house" sound.

Accuton makes some nice drivers, but expensive!

To get good dispersion, you may want to consider a good rugged 3/4 dome.  I had the Scan-speak 9500 tweeter on hand for a couple of years and wanted to put them to use.   Wished I hadn't cheaped out and spent for the OW1.   Oh well, another reason for another project. 

[Audioexcels]

Paul said it best.  Unless you plan to use something like the Aurum G1 or G3, I would definitely go for a robust dome, preferrably a titanium metal dome that plays comfortably at 2khz:)...I don't know of any, so a dome like the "budget" but exceptional performing Seas stuff is really tough to beat.  The ribbon is meant for the air it can produce well above 2khz and even with the G3 ribbon, it is stretching things a bit.  On the flip side, a ribbon like the G3 can give you relatively authoritative output down lower and make things a bit less fatiguing than the dome at the same lower level.  I find that unless the dome is very well implemented, it can fatigue at loud levels because the critical hearing area of 2-5khz can be overwhelming by the dome where the ribbon will have much less SPL by comparison and give a much easier, but really sparkling performance.  If you can, try and coax/horn mount the dome into the W18...this will give you a lot less fatiguing sound than a more traditionally mounted dome IMO.

[Christof]

Scan-speak D3004/6600-00 Textile dome, AirCir 1", the design is being done by Rick Craig.

This tweeter has a very low Fs:

1" textile dome with large roll surround
AirCir neodymium magnet system
Aluminum faceplate

Nominal Impedance 4 ohm
Re 3 ohm
Le 0.03mH
Fs 520 Hz
Sensitivity 92.5dB
Power Handling 160W