Box speakers with ribbon tweeters

Not that I'm interested in a new pair(would never be ideal with my tube integrated), but I'm kinda curious about how it works.

From my understanding(very, very little), ribbon-like speakers need much more space behind them. If that's is the case, then how do they manage to use them in box speakers? Do those speakers just have complexed internal cabinetry?

JRA

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Originally Posted by jrhymeammo

Not that I'm interested in a new pair(would never be ideal with my tube integrated), but I'm kinda curious about how it works.

From my understanding(very, very little), ribbon-like speakers need much more space behind them. If that's is the case, then how do they manage to use them in box speakers? Do those speakers just have complexed internal cabinetry?

JRA

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Inherently planars and ribbons are dipoler, that is, they radiate equally from front and back. Of course, the back and front are out of phase, one pushing while the other is pulling.

But in fact most small ribbons and planars are baffled so the rear wave is completely stiffled making them effectively monopolar. Consequently its easy to put them on the fromt of a box speaker. See a couple of such drivers (sold by Parts Express) ...

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...Number=264-735

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=276-402

sounds like a waste.... Without knowing anything, I would imaging placing ribbon tweeters on the top of cabinets would make more sense.

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Originally Posted by jrhymeammo

sounds like a waste.... Without knowing anything, I would imaging placing ribbon tweeters on the top of cabinets would make more sense.

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ie Martin Logan, etc.

but that's exactly not box speakers I have thinking of.
More like Elac VMPS and others without ...

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But in fact most small ribbons and planars are baffled so the rear wave is completely stiffled making them effectively monopolar.

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JRA

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Originally Posted by jrhymeammo

but that's exactly not box speakers I have thinking of.
More like Elac VMPS and others without ...

JRA

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But the VMPS and most of the ELAC line are baffled-behind in boxes.

Maybe you're thinking of something like the Bohlender-Graebener, below, which is diapole. Apogees use dipole ribbons I believe, although Florian might comment on that.
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Well all Apogee speakers are dipole ;-) I own a VMPS 626 which uses a monopole ribbon as a tweeter. Its ok, but ribbons can sound very differentelty and are not the same. The best ribbons i know, are Apogee ribbons. Esp. when you use them Fullrange :)

I was thinking more like a bookshelf speakers with 3-4" dipole tweeter on the top. Instead of having buffled tweets in the front. I was just thinking with designs like that, speakers MAY benefit more of what ribbons can do.....

JRA

I dont know about bookshelf.. but what you are talking about sounds similar to Heil ESS AMT 1's....

These are excellent speakers, left a bit to be desired aestheticly but they sound great!

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Originally Posted by jrhymeammo

I was thinking more like a bookshelf speakers with 3-4" dipole tweeter on the top. Instead of having buffled tweets in the front. I was just thinking with designs like that, speakers MAY benefit more of what ribbons can do.....

JRA

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Check out http://www.newformresearch.com They're not really bookshelfs but they are close to what you're describing. The Line Source Referrence looks interesting.:idea:

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Originally Posted by Daedilus

I dont know about bookshelf.. but what you are talking about sounds similar to Heil ESS AMT 1's....

These are excellent speakers, left a bit to be desired aestheticly but they sound great!

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Those are nice. Heil tweeters always sound very good. Maybe someone will make them again. I'm sure the original patent has expired.

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Originally Posted by JoeE SP9

Heil tweeters always sound very good. Maybe someone will make them again. I'm sure the original patent has expired.

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Dieter Burmester has, although he calls them something slightly different.

B100

rw

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Originally Posted by jrhymeammo

I was thinking more like a bookshelf speakers with 3-4" dipole tweeter on the top. Instead of having buffled tweets in the front. I was just thinking with designs like that, speakers MAY benefit more of what ribbons can do.....

JRA

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Well aren't you the fussy one, eh?

The "baby" Martin Logan, see below, uses a Behringer-Graebener planar tweeter that is used dipole. Of course it isn't a book shelf speaker.

This ML users is the same BG driver for which I supplied the link earlier; it is possible to remove the rear baffle and user the tweeter dipole, which is what ML has done.

http://www.us.martinlogan.com/displa...r/montage.html

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How do you guys feel about monopole ribbon tweeters? Does it restrict what ribbons are capable of? Or wouldnt matter too much since they are just for high frequency?

Thanks for the link Joe. I've always thought they were interesting and no one ever talks about them here.

edit: Feanor, yes I am. Sorry about that, and thanks for the link. I've never seen that ML before. Of course I've never been curious about ML.

Daedilus: That looks pretty sweet. Maybe someone on this site should bid on that. pickup in SF only?
JRA

Mmmh, planar magnetics on a Martin Logan? now i lost all faith in ML :confused5:

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Originally Posted by JoeE SP9

Check out http://www.newformresearch.com They're not really bookshelfs but they are close to what you're describing. The Line Source Referrence looks interesting.:idea:

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The NewForm's are monopole.
:hand:

Mebbe you're looking for something more like the Legacy Victoria's?

http://img.hi-fi.ru/news/2004-12/legacy_victoria.jpg

There are others that utilize small ribbon tweeters, not the least of which was Infinity with their "Emit" ribbon tweeters. It's not all that uncommon, although results certainly vary. Von Schweikert utilizes ribbon supertweeters on their custom line.

Thanks guys.
Yeah, there are alot of companies who make boxes with ribbon tweeters. Like Aurum Cantus and Coincident to add to the list.

So, basically like Legacy speakers with same sized ribbon tweeters but dipole on the very top of cabinets.

http://www.studio-fh.com/library/images/leisure3.jpg

My curiousity towards ribbons is growin, but most of them have 3ohm impedance and I can't go back to SS amps..

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Originally Posted by jrhymeammo

My curiousity towards ribbons is growin, but most of them have 3ohm impedance and I can't go back to SS amps..

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sissy

If I could get a pair of ASL Hurricane, and some sweet tube pre I would... But proably not even enough to drive Maggie 1.6. I think I would rather get a VPI Scout though. Sissy? You betcha!!!

There are plenty of tube amps even for below 1ohm Apogee (Scintilla and Active FR) speakers :-) All depends on the output transformers and the price :)

Flo, I got your price right here..(gripping my ballz):cornut:
What tube amps stay steady at lower than 2ohm?

Man, there is EAR 834 on A'gon right now for $1850. It's expensive, but not too bad. Dont think it'll do 2 steady ohms, but still....... A great Nottingham deck just got posted too... I need to somehow block that website permanently.

finish school, then spend money.

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Originally Posted by emorphien

finish school, then spend money.

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I guess I can start looking after wednesday night then. I'm graduating Mo-fo!!! I decided not to get MBA.....I'll get a company to pay for that. J might be relocating to Chicago.... so probably shouldnt acquire anything yet.

JRA