11 replies to this topic

[Marlin]

Which frequency range is associatted with the harshness associatted with the likes of focal/MB Quart?

[golf_bht]

OK there are 2 obvious set of fequencies assisoate with those harshness.4~6 K and another one is around 10~12 K. in your case I think about -2 DB at 5-6K will help

[Mr_Bob]

I'veheard the claims about focals being bright, and to be honest, i've never experienced this with mine,
when RTA'd there was no evidence of massive peaks anywhere in the upper range...

[Marlin]

I've got PG elites now I was previously running TN51 tweets I didn't find them that bright at all certainly nowhere as bad as some people say they are though I did set them at -6dB. I also found that using my 4.1 I could attenuate the 2kHz range and I could tolerate much higher listening levels 2kHz is the freq our ears are most sensitive to so I thought it might have something to do with so called brightness.

[Bassaholic]

This is not specifically in relation to focal/mb quart tweeters, but some people percieve that some metal dome tweeters are brighter/more harsh, because they tend to have a more extended off axis (and sometimes on axis) frequency response. In those cases where the frequency response rolls off significantly before 18-20khz, you could claim that the tweeter is not as accurate.

Metal domes also tend to have a peak in the response a bit outside of our audible frequency range (at 25/26khz for example) which can technically contribute to the harshness, but this effect is not quite as bad as some people make out IMO since there won't really be that much 25khz content in the signal anyway.

As golf mentioned, other peaks in the response can also cause harshness. Some midrange drivers may have peaks in the upper midrange/low treble range (1-5khz) which can also contribute to the harshness.

And as Mr Bob mentioned, just because a tweeter has a metal dome, doesn't automatically mean it will be too bright.
Also, some people let there generalized perceptions about particular components get in the way of hearing how they really sound.

[Mr_Bob]

well said BassA

[APS]

I agree with BassA, however i dont understand why this topic is related to Focal/Mb quart tweeters. I havent heard the Focals but i did have the Mbquart in my car for a few years and they were very accurate absolutely nothing harsh about them, on some tracks the cymbals were very pronounced and not normally heard on other tweeters.

I have the Dyns in my car at the moment, i just made a new set of fibrglassed pods for the tweeters so they can sit on axis, and i must say the tweeter is clean, precise and not fatiguing or harsh. It is a silk dome tweeter so my point is that the Mb quart were just a touch brighter i cant even tell the difference between the two really, but thats probably me going deaf .

[Bodyjar]

Of course it all depends on where the tweeter is mounted too...

[Marlin]

highimpact said:

I agree with BassA, however i dont understand why this  topic is related to Focal/Mb quart tweeters.

Because many people claim that focals and MB Quarts are very harsh.

[Sonic Nirvana]

So they do.
And yet my experience with Focal tweeters, which so many people say are harsh, is that imo they are quite the reverse.
And this with both Kevlars (TN45?) and Utopia (TN51).

It is SO installation-dependant......

[forbidden]

And it is also totally dependant on how you hear. What may sound harsh or shrill to one person may sound great to another.

[-DJ-]

to my ears, i've always perceived MOST focals as bright, along with seas, mbq, some jl's and a few others, but i don't relate that to the metal domes. one listen to monitor audio or epos home speakers will dispell that. they have supremely smooth-sounding metal domes.

i prefer a more laid-back trebble. something that doesn't rip your head off or make you wince (which is, to date, what EVERY set of focals bar just one set has done) but everyone has different ears.

there's a lot of other factors in tweeters other than their freq. characteristics/rolloff etc such as distortion and their specs on/off axis that make them sound the way they do.

like i've said MANY times before, you can usually get a system sounding a LOT better with tuning. tuning is the key.

d