Yet, despite the "herd vote"… I digress. I much more prefer the bullet version in my system.

I would confidently state most subjective reviews as seriously flawed, because the vast majority of enthusiasm relies on passive crossovers. The 8-9khz frequency peak pf the CP22 would not be compensated in their "test", hence the bad sonic results and dismal reports.

If the bullet tweeter is being used at a crossover point of 5khz (too low) and the peak at 8-9Khz isn't corrected, the consequence would be awful sounding, and as a result, I understand the bad reviews.

Further, even 6khz on a 2nd order passive crossover (12db/oct) is way too low and too shallow curve for such a super tweeter, with distortion rapidly becoming an issue falsifying the subjective conclusions.

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Once again one can intelligently use a DSP to make the bullet tweeter version shine:

• Frequency response is KING! One must use DSP’s to obtain flat responses. (per my usual DSP push...)

• At 10Khz and above, I've found the wide dispersion of a slot tweeter isn't important. I don't notice any improvement in soundstage or envelopment feeling. Sweetspot didn't seem to grow in size. Sound is probably just absorbed by my acoustic panels scattered in the room. 

• The 2db efficiency gain of the bullets over the slots is a big advantage.

• After DSP correction, the bullet tweeter sounded significantly cleaner. Subjectively, I know its hard to point by any measurement curve to prove it. However, the multiple A/B/A/B tests I performed consistently "proved it" to me. 

• Above 10khz, super tweeters are much cleaner than any 1" compression driver.

• Super tweeters are optimized to play higher, and actually do perform better in the last octave. Compression drivers all have break-ups mode of some sort, usually between 13khz and 18 khz. They also beam significantly at these high frequencies.

• Above 10khz, bullet tweeters vastly outperform compression drivers. No point even using a DSP to correct the mighty Celestion CDX1-1425. It simply can't keep up to the bullet. 

• At 8khz, the efficiency gain of the CP22 is more like 4 or 5 decibels. This is an even bigger advantage. I've tried to harvest those gains by lowering the crossover point and do more testing.

• Advantage of the CP22 tweeter diminishes as frequency drops. I've found that below 6.5khz (48db/oct slope), the Celestion CDX1-1425 on a JMLC horn takes the subjective lead over the CP22.

• Many subjective tests prompted me to pick 8khz as the optimal crossover point between my CP22 and my 1" compression driver, while using 48db/oct crossovers slope for both.

• I'm a happy camper at 8Khz, which is the best of both worlds for the CD/Bullet transition, and overall…the best subjective sound.

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Bonus :)

After I found that 8khz was the best transition for the CDX1-1425 to the CP22, I explored the Radian 950PB to the Celestion CDX1-1425 transition as well. When you're on a roll, you keep going!

• I crossed the 950PB to the CDX1-1425 at 3.5Khz, resulting in the 950PB reproducing almost 3 octaves.

• It now felt wasteful to have the CDX1-1425 only active on a tiny band (3.5Khz 8Khz, barely above 1 octave) while the 950PB was doing much of the heavy lifting (480hz - 3.5khz, stretching almost 3 octaves).

• They used to share the work load more evenly, but the new 8khz crossover point changed all that.

• It turned out that crossing them at 2.8khz (about the lowest the CDX1-1425 can go) was quite a subjective improvement!

• I really love the extra clarity and cleanliness of the new settings. Grand piano test tracks are reproduced with much better accuracy.

• Going back to 3.5Khz or higher crossover transition is now impossible.

• Changing the CDX1-1425 to, let say a Radian 475PB, might yield benefit here as the 475PB could reach 2.4khz easy.

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Note my latest crossover point:

• Radian 950PB on 340hz JMLC horn (480hz - 2.8khz)

• Celestion CDX1-1425 on 2000hz JMLC horn (2.8khz - 8khz, would like it a tad lower but the 1425 limits are real)

• Beyma CP22 on its conical horn (8khz and up)

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I can't understand people trying to make a system sound great while limiting themselves to 2 or 3 way speakers.

• 2-way speakers are a waste of time, compromised all the way, with lack of everything.

• 3-way speakers bring hope. But sacrifices and reality then kick in. One must improve the flaws. More ways are needed.

• 4-way speakers barely touch it but you "feel" it’s entirely possible at first.

• 5-way speakers on an active system, is really superior in every aspect. (except cost)

• 6-way speakers, law of diminishing returns, seriously play a factor but it isn’t a dumb idea. One could use a rotary subwoofer for covering 2 to 18hertz! 

• 7-way speakers and above…well… I see no added benefit.

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Back to the super tweeter. I'm always open to try other contenders but feel like those Beyma CP22 are a bargain and very hard to dislodge from the top, when used with adequate DSP setting. 

 

Some other candidates I have in mind are:

• FaitalPRO FD371 - Very similar to the Beyma and can play lower and are relatively affordable.

• TAD ET703 - Exotic and quite pricey and almost impossible to find, amazingly subjective reviews.

• Ciare CT-440 - super well built, 110db, strong magnet, could be a CP22 slayer.

• Selenium ST400 – Have very strong magnets with 111db efficiency, look exciting to me.

• Selenium ST350 - Has a 50 degree horn, offering wider coverage than the ST400 and the CP22, not sure it is a real benefit.

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I may dive in and order the ST400 or the CT440. It could surpass the CP22. One can never tell.

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MTF