Now that many of our members who regularly post have one of the X series models, I thought a thread dedicated to discussing the AMT & Waveguide driver would be helpful.
My understanding:
--Clayton says that this particular AMT driver is one of the best available (he hinted that there are lots of cheap "knockoffs" out there).
--My understanding is that he crosses over the driver at 1,000 Hz. I'm sure there is a roll off involved to the mid-range driver.
--He employs the waveguide for "controlled directivity".
My research:
--A felt strip is used behind the driver to preserve the open baffle concept. It is critical because mid and low frequencies will come into the rear of the driver causing chaos. Some designers use a hard shell cap instead.
--The AMT design (moving similarly to an accordion) moves 4 times as much air as a dome tweeter.
My experience with my X3s:
--The AMT driver reproduces sound, in my opinion, much more realistically than a dome tweeter. Especially horns, violins and female vocals.
--Clayton's design blends the AMT beautifully with the mid-range driver. In other words, male (mid-range) and female (AMT) vocals sound natural and fully balanced. No noticeable shift between drivers.
--The AMT is a complex mechanical structure. Break-in is essential. The more hours I get on my speakers, the better the AMT driver sounds.
--Brightness can be controlled through both break-in and shifting toe-in. In fact, changing toe-in an inch at a time will produce noticeable results.
Choosing between the M series with a dome tweeter and the X series with the AMT driver & Waveguide can be a daunting decision. What are your thoughts? I was nervous selecting the X3s but now I have no buyer's remorse. Every day I enjoy the sound better.
Marcus