Ukkonen AWG Photos

My current choice of finish would be this colour …

I never thought I’d have anything but black, but this colour and shade has tickled me.

It means I’ll have to re-decorate, and change the living room carpet, but easily worth it I think.

Any progress on using the new Purifi tweeter in your designs? If so, will it be a simple replacement (with appropriate XO design changes of course) of the current speakers, or will you introduce a new line of products?

Still deciding best way forward.

Is it really an upgrade over the beryllium SB Acoustics one? Wider dispersion, sure, but that should be more of a personal preference than a definite improvement, right?

Matias wrote:
Is it really an upgrade over the beryllium SB Acoustics one? Wider dispersion, sure, but that should be more of a personal preference than a definite improvement, right?

Potentially much lower distortion.

@Alan March, what are the pros and cons of using Purifi vs the SB Acoustics tweeters and vice versa (apart from price)? What tradeoffs, if any, do you see?

Matias wrote:
Is it really an upgrade over the beryllium SB Acoustics one? Wider dispersion, sure, but that should be more of a personal preference than a definite improvement, right?

SmartOne_2000 wrote:
@Alan March, what are the pros and cons of using Purifi vs the SB Acoustics tweeters and vice versa (apart from price)? What tradeoffs, if any, do you see?

In simplistic terms, for a given flat on axis response, a wider directivity will sound brighter. It's putting more sound power into the room.

A wider directivity will provide a more spacious, but possibly less defined sound stage.

Both these effects are influenced by the room acoustics. There is no definitive "right" answer.

What we do know is how much people like the smooth unfatuiging sound of our current tweeter. We are very concious of not spoiling that characteristic.

We are therefore taking out time to evaluate the Purifi option.

Alan March wrote:
In simplistic terms, for a given flat on axis response, a wider directivity will sound brighter. It's putting more sound power into the room.

A wider directivity will provide a more spacious, but possibly less defined sound stage.

Both these effects are influenced by the room acoustics. There is no definitive "right" answer.

What we do know is how much people like the smooth unfatuiging sound of our current tweeter. We are very concious of not spoiling that characteristic.

We are therefore taking out time to evaluate the Purifi option.

Thanks for the answer ... so is it safe to say that you are comparing both options in-house? If so, what do your ears tell you?

SmartOne_2000 wrote:
Thanks for the answer ... so is it safe to say that you are comparing both options in-house? If so, what do your ears tell you?

Constant directivity may not be the right answer.

Considering that most recordings are close miked, that subjective conclusion seems technically correct.

Part of the problem is "the circle of confusion". There is no definitively correct recording. The most appropriate replay directivity (from a timbre and soundstage POV) is dependant upon the the recording itself, its microphone techniques and the production/mastering adjustments.

However, if the majority of recordings end up sounding subjectively bright, regardless of the speaker having a flat on axis response, then you know something is wrong.

IMO being technically purist and saying constant directivity is the correct thing to do misses the reality that most actual recordings dont conform to the ideal where constant directivity works (in an ideal way).

Interesting analysis...So the SB tweeter sounds more realistic to you, right now. Then it's bye-bye to 'constant directivity' Purifi for now... Thanks!

SmartOne_2000 wrote:
Interesting analysis...So the SB tweeter sounds more realistic to you, right now. Then it's bye-bye to 'constant directivity' Purifi for now... Thanks!

Oh I didn't say that 😉

Touché !