Reference 3A line updated

New, beryllium tweeters arrived via FedEx today! I will be posting once I've had a chance to install them.

I'm kind of wondering about the switch from a cloth dome tweeter to a beryllium tweeter. Fairly or unfairly, metal domes often get a bad rap for imparting a harshness to the high end, so I'd love to hear the revised models, too.

Agisthos:
I'd really like to see that new finish in person. When my De Capo's have the new tweets, they'll be up to current spec except for the Nextel finish.

Nyaudio,
A pair of Manley Mahi's in triode mode... 20 watts/channel. More than enough power for the De Capo's. The Mahi's will also run in ultralinear mode at 40 watts/channel. You gain some slam in the bottom end, but lose some of that midrange magic.

Mapman,

:-)

Mezzanine,
I think they are convinced that the Nextel really does something for the sound and they decided to go with that conviction for the whole line.
Yeah, if you can get a pair of the Dulcets in one of the wood finishes, go for it. Maybe Reference 3A still has some of those cabinets in stock. I when I had mine they were gloss black and looked gorgeous.
As for the BE tweeter, I'm curious to see how they sound. Wish I could get to Vegas for THE Show, but I just can't.

I wonder what that finish looks like in person. If it absorbs light the way it's supposed to, then it may not be so easy to photograph. Maybe the photos don't do it justice.

Catama,
I was in touch with Tash at Reference 3A earlier in the week and it turns out that upgrade parts (like the new, beryllium tweeter) are available to end-users to upgrade their speakers. So all is not lost if you decide to go the upgrade route, eventually. Don't get me wrong – your new speakers are wonderful as they are.

So, I ordered the replacement, Beryllium tweeters from Reference 3A (birthday present to myself). Once I have them installed in my De Capo's, I'll report back.

They cut me a bit of a deal because my speakers are so new – I bought them only a couple of months before the new line came out. Let's just say "very reasonable" and "you could easily spend more on a fancy power cord." :-)

For the heck of it, why not give them a call and see?

Catama,
I think I am. Just need to remove the old tweeters and solder in the new ones. Ref 3A even provides the solder. I'll report back on how hard or trivial a job it is.
I know what you mean about the De Capo's. I'm regularly struck by how they keep getting better as they continue to break in.

Just heard from Ref 3A that it'll be a few weeks before the tweeters can be shipped because their tweeter supplier is behind schedule and they Ref 3A needs to get new speaker stock to their distributors first. So, good things come to those who wait. Good folks, though; I've no doubt they'll come through ASAP.

Catama,
On a very different note (no pun intended) I was listening to my De Capo's a couple of nights ago and had Sade's "Promise" on the turntable. It was glorious.. I'd never experienced such a sense of a coherent performance on that album. Very special.

Here's a report by Scott Hull of parttimeaudiophile.com on the Ref 3A room at THE Show in Las Vegas.

Apparently, the BE tweeter was added to the line because the Murata super tweeter from the Grand Veena and Episode is no longer made. Interesting read.

Yeah, Scott was kind of wishy-washy on the sound in the Ref 3A room, and I have to agree that the cosmetics of the Nextel finish aren't as nice as the veneers. Still, I'd like to hear the new line for myself.

Hi,

Well, I got word a couple of days ago that my new, Beryllium tweeters for my De Capo iA's have shipped! I'll report back when I've installed them.

Gosh I don't remember. It was 2.5 years ago. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Aprica88: They may not yet have an MSRP for the Sema... I don't know if it's in production yet. But generally speaking they offer free shipping, a small discount, and a 3 week in home evaluation period to customers who don't have a local dealer. Also, if you decide to move up the line within 3 months, they'll give you full price paid toward a your new model.

Okay, new, beryllium tweeters have been installed in my De Capo's! The slightest bit tricky in a couple of ways so that I called to get advice. But really not very difficult at all as long as you can handle a soldering iron enough to attach the new tweeters. Only had the briefest few minutes to listen to them after installing them. They sounded great, but I will put off posting about the change until after they've had some time to settle in. I think that Reference 3A puts something like 75 hours on all their drivers so that they can more accurately match them in pairs. Presumably, then, these tweeters have had that much time on them, and given that the rest of the speaker, including the main driver, is already very well broken in, it shouldn't take all that long I would think for things to settle down. Impressions coming soon.

Brownsfan,
So glad to hear you like yours, too!