beryllium vs diamond

There have been older posts in other threads that compared BE dome tweeters to other types of dome tweeters. My general recollection is that BE dome tweeters are much stiffer and lighter than most other (if not all) types of dome tweeter materials on the market. Of course, I am not speaking about ribbons or stats.

That said, IMO, there is more to the "quals" of a dynamic "box" speaker than just the tweeter. In particular, the start/stop speed and resonance point of a dome tweeter are not the only specs that count.

As to BE being toxic, ... yes I have read the same thing, but I gather that BE toxicity has more to do with the manufacturing process when BE may be in an aerosol or particulate state. Once it's formed into a final dome shape and mounted in the tweeter housing, I surmise that it's pretty harmless in that inert state.

FWIW, my Paradigm Signature 8(v3) speakers use BE tweeters. So I have a little background here. As an additional FYI, Magico and Focal also use BE tweeters. But going to my point above about overall speaker "quals," Paradigm, Magico and Focals employ many different manufacturing and technology approaches that make them sound differently from each other.

Not much more to say about this very narrow question. In the end, its all about how a particular good quality speaker matches up with one's amp and how the over-all combo of everything sounds in the listener's room. It has taken me years of mixing and matching stuff and I'm still not done.

One of my pet and not favorite irks is my bloody room. Neither BE nor diamonds will fix that problem. Think DEQX.

verdantaudio,

You posted "[that the Persona] is universally deemed bright and I found it **and every other paradigm product I have ever heard to be bright.** But, that has been there [sic] house sound since the beginning of time."

I never heard the Personas and express no views.  That said, I seem to recall that John Atkinson may have reviewed one of the Persona models and I noted that the top end was shelved up. That could possible explain what you heard.  

In any case, I own the Paradigm Signature 8 (v3) BE tweeter speakers.  Based on old reviews of its predecessor (S8 v2), I recall that the FR was pretty flat, although its impedance and phase angle curves were pretty wild.  On the other hand, I also recall that Audiophile Review.com reviewed a bunch of speakers and to my surprise, the S8s ranked 7 among a host of dozens.  

See https://audiophilereview.com/audiophile/the-25-ultimate-audiophile-speakers-of-all-time.html

Well, I still own the S8s and I do not find them bright or harsh.  I can't speak for other speakers in the Paradigm line, but the S8s with the BE tweeters sound very nice.  It could be that my ARC Ref 150SE tube amp tames the harshness, …. who knows.  In any case, IMO, your post uses a pretty broad brush to slap a lot of paint on a company's entire speaker line.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I have been dying to listen to the Magico S5 Mk IIs, coupled with my amp.  Maybe one day I will get that chance.  But until that day comes, IMO, I do not think that I am listening to sonic swill.  

Respectfully submitted,

BIF