Ribbon Tweeters for HT use - Blu-ray Forum

^Lestat^ · 10-29-2009, 12:54 AM

My towers are old Pioneer CS-722p with modded xover caps and wires. Recently bought Klipsch RC-62 and planning to get the RF-82 when funds allow and RS-52. Now my dealer offered me a pair of speakers which i have been eyeing there for quite a while. gave the price 30% off from msrp so now it costs as much as the RF-82. Problem is i love those speakers for 2 channel listening but im quite hesitant to use them for HT use since they use ribbon tweeters. Is anyone here using ribbons for HT use as well.

Here is the link to the speaker im planning to get on december.

http://www.aurumcantus.com/aurumcant...ody%20m103.htm

Any advise would be well appreciated TIA

sokrman14 · 10-29-2009, 12:57 AM

I absolutely love Ribbons, I say go for it. I have listened to the Sunfire XT series which utilizes ribbons. For both music and movies they are wonderful. I shouldnt say that if you like something for music, you should like it for movies, but most of the time thats true. Music is harder for a speaker to reproduce sound than a movie, because music has more dynamic sounds. So most people who like a speaker for music, should like it for movies.

Big Daddy · 10-29-2009, 01:58 AM

Speakers do not understand HT or two-channel music. Good speakers produce good sound no matter what type of music/soundtrack you send to them. Ribbon tweeters sound very nice. The problem with two front speakers with ribbon tweeters is to find a matching center channel speaker. Ideally, if you can buy three identical vertical front speakers, you will be in sound heaven.

sokrman14 · 10-29-2009, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Speakers do not understand HT or two-channel music. Good speakers produce good sound no matter what type of music/soundtrack you send to them. Ribbon tweeters sound very nice. The problem with two front speakers with ribbon tweeters is to find a matching center channel speaker. Ideally, if you can buy three identical vertical front speakers, you will be in sound heaven.

Thats basically what I was trying to say, you just said it better. If it sounds good for music, you will like it for movies, because good sound is good sound. It is just difficult to always hear how good speakers can be on a movie in comparison to music

Drew664 · 10-29-2009, 02:05 AM

I will be buying a center channel that uses a ribbon tweeter, which should arrive in November. Doesn't help you at all now, except that I listen to 95% movies in my HT, and this is what I've decided to go with (even without hearing it).

You'll have to rely on some reviews, testimonials, and such a little bit. I have heard that Kiplish horn tweeters can be harsh for listening, but ribbon tweeters don't have a negative connotation associated with them - at least none I could find. You've had the ability to listen to both, and you have your preference. At this point, I'd be thinking about picking up a matching center for those new ribbon towers!

^Lestat^ · 10-29-2009, 03:54 AM

Matching center for those towers are 4 ohms and they are always in pairs. Its just that ribbons are kinda delicate. And these speakers do sound heavenly and is within my budget but it would drive me crazy if i blow those transducers watching movies.

callas01 · 10-29-2009, 06:23 AM

I heard ribbon tweeters and I love that they can produce great highs very easily.

Lestat, why not take some movies over to your dealer and let him play movies on them. I am sure there will be no issues and you can have peace of mind.

Big Daddy · 10-29-2009, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ^Lestat^

Matching center for those towers are 4 ohms and they are always in pairs. Its just that ribbons are kinda delicate. And these speakers do sound heavenly and is within my budget but it would drive me crazy if i blow those transducers watching movies.

Calibrate your speakers properly and listen to your music/movies at a reasonable level and you should be ok. If you start turning the volume to crazy levels, you will do damage to your ears faster than you can to those ribbons.

As far as impedance is concerned, it doesn't matter as long as your receiver/amplifier can handle it. Find a center channel that has ribbon tweeters. Alternatively, build one with ribbon tweeters.

Tonian Labs offer good ribbon speakers and ribbon super tweeters. Super tweeters can be used with any other speakers as add-on products.

These speakers from Newform Research are real ribbon speakers.

^Lestat^ · 10-29-2009, 09:05 AM

Thanks for the replies and insights. My current reciever is a marantz 4003 sadly it does not handle 4 ohm loads although i have preouts but the power amp is on my next years budget and was actually getting a 2 channel pre pro and power amp.

And yes i agree with you callas these ribbons absolutely sings on high frequencies with ease without sounding harsh. Guess i will be getting these as a xmas gift for myself then. Was scared of damaging them because replacement for them are around $300 ea although the ribbons are pretty cheap but hopefully i would learn to DIY the replacement.

prerich · 10-29-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Calibrate your speakers properly and listen to your music/movies at a reasonable level and you should be ok. If you start turning the volume to crazy levels, you will do damage to your ears faster than you can to those ribbons.

As far as impedance is concerned, it doesn't matter as long as your receiver/amplifier can handle it. Find a center channel that has ribbon tweeters. Alternatively, build one with ribbon tweeters.

Tonian Labs offer good ribbon speakers and ribbon super tweeters. Super tweeters can be used with any other speakers as add-on products.

[/CENTER]

I have never heard of Tonian Labs before so I decided to look them up and MAN

!!!! Those speakers are a dream - high sensitivity, wide band speakers! I saw a review in which the reference speakers were the Audio Note AN-E's and they held their own quite well. They may not be pretty - but they make good sense!!! If I ever get a chance to demo some - they will be on my short list to listen to!!!!

prerich · 10-29-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ^Lestat^

My towers are old Pioneer CS-722p with modded xover caps and wires. Recently bought Klipsch RC-62 and planning to get the RF-82 when funds allow and RS-52. Now my dealer offered me a pair of speakers which i have been eyeing there for quite a while. gave the price 30% off from msrp so now it costs as much as the RF-82. Problem is i love those speakers for 2 channel listening but im quite hesitant to use them for HT use since they use ribbon tweeters. Is anyone here using ribbons for HT use as well.

Here is the link to the speaker im planning to get on december.

http://www.aurumcantus.com/aurumcant...ody%20m103.htm

Any advise would be well appreciated TIA

One of my LCR sets at one time had ribbon tweeters!!!! The sound was just sweet!!!! I gave them to my son and sometimes I kick myself (should have given him my Heresys instead

) But back on topic - Big Daddy is right speakers don't know the difference between the two (HT and music). If you can listen to them first (I'm familiar with that ribbon and it is nice!) and you like them - go with them. For me I would choose those over RF-82's. And I have used ribbons before and love them!

D · 10-30-2009, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ^Lestat^

My towers are old Pioneer CS-722p with modded xover caps and wires. Recently bought Klipsch RC-62 and planning to get the RF-82 when funds allow and RS-52. Now my dealer offered me a pair of speakers which i have been eyeing there for quite a while. gave the price 30% off from msrp so now it costs as much as the RF-82. Problem is i love those speakers for 2 channel listening but im quite hesitant to use them for HT use since they use ribbon tweeters. Is anyone here using ribbons for HT use as well.

Here is the link to the speaker im planning to get on december.

http://www.aurumcantus.com/aurumcant...ody%20m103.htm

Any advise would be well appreciated TIA

I used ribbons in the surrounds that I built, and they sound and perform wonderfully for multi-channel music, as well as movies.

kingofgrills · 10-30-2009, 05:27 PM

All of the speakers in my HT and two channel setup use ribbon speakers all the way around. They sound fantastic for both stereo and surround sound use.

I say go for it!

^Lestat^ · 10-31-2009, 03:20 AM

Yeah will be going for the ribbons although i was really planning to get a seperate 2 channel rig. With regards to the ht though the partner/Boss likes the look of the klipsches so i guess will get mine first before she gets hers lol. I do envy you guys if ever some get togethers and home auditioning of gears do happen as i am on the other side of the globe. Planning to spin vinyls by middle of next year.

Dennis M · 11-02-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ^Lestat^

Planning to spin vinyls by middle of next year.

Go for it Lestat. You'll love the rich sound of vinyl.

It will be frustrating at first, as a TT setup definitely takes a lot more effort to get right. But the results will be worth it.

10-29-2009, 12:54 AM	#1
^Lestat^ Active Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Manila, Philippines Home Theater Gallery:6	Ribbon Tweeters for HT use My towers are old Pioneer CS-722p with modded xover caps and wires. Recently bought Klipsch RC-62 and planning to get the RF-82 when funds allow and RS-52. Now my dealer offered me a pair of speakers which i have been eyeing there for quite a while. gave the price 30% off from msrp so now it costs as much as the RF-82. Problem is i love those speakers for 2 channel listening but im quite hesitant to use them for HT use since they use ribbon tweeters. Is anyone here using ribbons for HT use as well. Here is the link to the speaker im planning to get on december. http://www.aurumcantus.com/aurumcant...ody%20m103.htm Any advise would be well appreciated TIA

10-29-2009, 12:57 AM	#2
sokrman14 Special Member Member since:Mar 2006 Location:Omaha, NE Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:32 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	I absolutely love Ribbons, I say go for it. I have listened to the Sunfire XT series which utilizes ribbons. For both music and movies they are wonderful. I shouldnt say that if you like something for music, you should like it for movies, but most of the time thats true. Music is harder for a speaker to reproduce sound than a movie, because music has more dynamic sounds. So most people who like a speaker for music, should like it for movies. Last edited by sokrman14; 10-29-2009 at 12:59 AM.

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10-29-2009, 01:58 AM	#3
Big Daddy Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Southern California Home Theater Gallery:79 Blu-ray collection:122 Trading Score:1	Speakers do not understand HT or two-channel music. Good speakers produce good sound no matter what type of music/soundtrack you send to them. Ribbon tweeters sound very nice. The problem with two front speakers with ribbon tweeters is to find a matching center channel speaker. Ideally, if you can buy three identical vertical front speakers, you will be in sound heaven.

10-29-2009, 02:05 AM	#5
Drew664 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:South Dakota Home Theater Gallery:28 Blu-ray collection:68	I will be buying a center channel that uses a ribbon tweeter, which should arrive in November. Doesn't help you at all now, except that I listen to 95% movies in my HT, and this is what I've decided to go with (even without hearing it). You'll have to rely on some reviews, testimonials, and such a little bit. I have heard that Kiplish horn tweeters can be harsh for listening, but ribbon tweeters don't have a negative connotation associated with them - at least none I could find. You've had the ability to listen to both, and you have your preference. At this point, I'd be thinking about picking up a matching center for those new ribbon towers!

10-29-2009, 03:54 AM	#6
^Lestat^ Active Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Manila, Philippines Home Theater Gallery:6	Matching center for those towers are 4 ohms and they are always in pairs. Its just that ribbons are kinda delicate. And these speakers do sound heavenly and is within my budget but it would drive me crazy if i blow those transducers watching movies.

10-29-2009, 06:23 AM	#7
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	I heard ribbon tweeters and I love that they can produce great highs very easily. Lestat, why not take some movies over to your dealer and let him play movies on them. I am sure there will be no issues and you can have peace of mind.

10-29-2009, 09:05 AM	#9
^Lestat^ Active Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Manila, Philippines Home Theater Gallery:6	Thanks for the replies and insights. My current reciever is a marantz 4003 sadly it does not handle 4 ohm loads although i have preouts but the power amp is on my next years budget and was actually getting a 2 channel pre pro and power amp. And yes i agree with you callas these ribbons absolutely sings on high frequencies with ease without sounding harsh. Guess i will be getting these as a xmas gift for myself then. Was scared of damaging them because replacement for them are around $300 ea although the ribbons are pretty cheap but hopefully i would learn to DIY the replacement.

10-30-2009, 05:27 PM	#13
kingofgrills Blu-ray Guru Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Dec 2007 Location:PDX Home Theater Gallery:31 4K collection:5 Blu-ray collection:81 Trading Score:31	All of the speakers in my HT and two channel setup use ribbon speakers all the way around. They sound fantastic for both stereo and surround sound use. I say go for it!

10-31-2009, 03:20 AM	#14
^Lestat^ Active Member Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Manila, Philippines Home Theater Gallery:6	Yeah will be going for the ribbons although i was really planning to get a seperate 2 channel rig. With regards to the ht though the partner/Boss likes the look of the klipsches so i guess will get mine first before she gets hers lol. I do envy you guys if ever some get togethers and home auditioning of gears do happen as i am on the other side of the globe. Planning to spin vinyls by middle of next year.

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