Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Old Hybrid tweeter vs New tweeter.

First time posting here. Was wanting some input on old vs new tweeter.

Bought a pair of Mzeroti SE on Audiogon about a year ago just to see what all the excitement over Axiom was about.

I own several other notable budget speakers including the PSB Alpha Mini, Aperion 502D and vintage Pinnacle Pn5+.

To my ear the tweeter is better then any of the above speakers. No it dosen't come near the 9900 revelator in my Focus Audio FS688's but real real good for a budget speaker.

I'm looking to put together a second system and am seriously looking at the M2i and M3ti probably with a subwoofer

Amp will be Cambridge Audio A500RC with Cambridge Audio D300SE player. Room 12x18x12 with paneled walls and carpeting.

My concern is over brightness. To my ear the Hybrid tweeter is smooth, sweet and detailed without brightness.

My question is (finally) What is the difference between the old Hybrid tweeter (used in the Mzero, M1 and earlier version of the M2) and the current tweeter? Especially concerning brightness.

Thanks Maxxc

Hi Stimpy

I've had the M50Ti, M22Ti, M3Ti, and M2e speakers, all with the 1" titanium tweeter. I also have Michaura speakers which use the same aluminum drivers as the Axioms, but use the 3/4" Titanium tweeter which Axiom used on the Mzeros, M1s, M2s, QS4s, Merak speakers (non horn tweeter models).

The Michaura M665s have 2 x 6.5" drivers; 1 x 5.25" and the 3/4" Titanium tweeter; The M66s have 2 x 6.5" drivers + 3/4" Tweeter; M55s 2 x 5.25" drivers and the smaller tweet.

The M66s and M55s compare very favorably to the M3Tis even though the former use the smaller tweeter. Highs are pure, sweet and crystaline. I prefer all the speakers in this first flight to the M22Tis. The M665s seem to lack something of the smooth integration of drivers and tweeters that the others enjoy.

The M3Tis have a cap and resistor for the tweeter, but the driver runs free. I think that is the reason the M3s have such a pure sound.

So, bottom line for me is that the Axiom 3/4" titanium tweeter is no slouch and holds its own against the 1" tweeter.

Max, welcome. The older "hybrid" tweeter has a 1" dome, but only a 1/2" voice coil. You may find Ian's discussion of the benefit brought by the 1" voice coil tweeter now used in all Axioms to be of interest. The bigger voice coil allows greater power handling and a lower crossover, but doesn't have any direct effect on the level of the treble frequencies. That's set by the speaker's crossover and can be adjusted to some extent by the user with the tone control or equalizer. Although a few have noted "brightness", this may largely be due to poorly-recorded material, and most report the excellent quality that you've experienced.