to Audaphon and Audiopur Ribbons and Air Motion Transformers: Ribbon tweeter Air motion transformer Audiopur

Ribbon tweeters, magnetostats and Air Motion Transformers

Ribbon tweeters and magnetostats are superior to conventional dome tweeters since they have less moving mass. Ribbon tweeters and magnetostats should be on the same horizontal level as the ears of the listener.

They have a perfectly plane radiating surface thus showing a flat frequency response.

And the Premiere League of ribbon tweeters: the Air Motion Transformer is extremely compact, but shows the characteristics of electrostatic drivers (refer ESS AMT1 in Klang+Ton 3/2001, from page 11).

Our favorite brands

Our favorite brands are:
- Audaphon (Ribbon)
- Audaphon AMT
- Audiopur
- Fountek
- Mundorf

Beside these we offer the following ribbons and AMTs:

Air Motion Transformers

Note: you will find more AMTs at Audaphon or at Audiopur
 
ESS AMT-1 (141)

Concertina styled ribbon tweeter with folded diaphragm in order to radiate even at little movement. Air movement is, therefore, accelerated considerably. As a result the driver shows an excellent pulse response with plenty dynamic reserves. Frequency range is 750 Hz to 32 kHz (-6dB), should, however, be employed only from 1.7 kHz onwards. Efficiency is 98 dB/2.83 V (1m, 4kHz) or 95 dB at 1 Watt. Resonance frequency is at 550 Hz, effective piston radiating area Sd is 42 cm2 and DC resistance is 3.2 Ohm. A paper about this driver can be found in Hobby HiFi 5/2002.


ai-amt1 from 1.7 kHz - not available
ESS AMT-2 (75)

This small AMT by the US manufacturer ESS, shows a remarkable sensitivity of 95 dB in conjunction with wide frequency range from 2.5 kHz to 30 kHz. Resonance frequency is at 1.4 kHz, DC resistance is 4.1 Ohm, effective piston radiating area Sd is 40 cm2. Dimensions: 90 x115 mm, required cut-out: 73 x 86 mm.

ai-amt2 from 2.5 kHz - not available
ETON ER 4

Concertina styled ribbon tweeter with folded diaphragm in order to radiate even at little movement. Air movement is, therefore, accelerated considerably. As a result the driver shows an excellent pulse response with plenty dynamic reserves. This driver may be employed from 1.5 kHz, has a resonance frequency of 450 Hz, an impedance of 6 Ohm and 92 dB SPL.

I-750615 from 1.5 kHz - not available

Ribbon tweeters and magnetostats

Note: you will find more ribbons at Audaphon
 


Visaton MHT 12

Magnetostat from 1.5 kHz, on principle superior to dome tweeters. SPL is 91 dB, impedance 8 Ohm, resonance frequency -, rated power handling 150 Watt with 12 dB crossover from 3 kHz. The casing is square (111 x 111 mm) with slanted corners requiring a circular cut-out of 94 mm diameter.

V-1080 from 1.5 kHz EUR 279,60 excl. VAT: € 234.96 / $ 253.75
      
neo CD 30
Audaphon Neo CD 3.0

Circular ribbon tweeter by Audaphon with a frequency range up to 40 kHz. Equipped with strong Neodym magnet; efficiency 95 dB (1W/1m); recommended from 2.5 kHz with 12 dB/octave crossover; dimensions: 110 mm for a circular cut-out of 86 mm; front plate gauge: 4.5 mm.

This ribbon is solidly built. Selected pairs are supplied when 2 unit are ordered. PDF data sheet

Audaphon Neo CD 3.0
with aluminium front
2,5-40 kHz - not available
 
neo CD 20
Audaphon Neo CD 2.0

Rectangular ribbon tweeter by Audaphon extremely sturdy ribbon tweeter with remarkable efficiency of 98 dB. Impedance is 6 Ohm, front plate made of 4.5 mm aluminium, almost flat frequency response from 1.7-25 kHz, outer dimensions 185 x 85 mm for a cut-out of 146 x 61 mm, countersunk depth: 4,5 mm.

This ribbon is solidly built. Selected pairs are supplied when 2 unit are ordered. PDF data sheet

Audaphon Neo CD 2.0
with aluminium front
2-40 kHz - not available
 
JP 20
Audaphon JP 2.0

Like Audaphon Neo JP 2.0, but with a very light 0,009 mm ribbon for a sophisticated sound. frequency response from 1.7 to 40 kHz; with remarkable efficiency of 98 dB (1W/1m); should be employed from 2 kHz onwards with 18 dB crossover. Outside dimensions 185 x 85 mm for a cut-out of 146 x 61 mm. countersunk depth: 4,5 mm.

This ribbon is solidly built. Selected pairs are supplied when 2 unit are ordered. PDF data sheet

Audaphon JP 2.0
with black aluminium front
2-40 kHz - not available
 
5i
Audaphon Neo Pro 5i

Rectangular ribbon tweeter by Audaphon extremely sturdy ribbon tweeter with remarkable efficiency of 102 dB. Impedance is 6 Ohm, front plate made of 6.5 mm aluminium, frequency response from 850 Hz-40 kHz, outer dimensions 190 x 115 mm for a cut-out of 166 x 91 mm, countersunk depth: 6.5 mm.

This ribbon is solidly built. Selected pairs are supplied when 2 unit are ordered. PDF data sheet

Audaphon Neo Pro 5i
with black aluminium front
1-40 kHz EUR 399,00 excl. VAT: € 335.29 / $ 362.12
     

Hi-Vi Research RT-1c

Ribbon tweeter reviewed by Klang+Ton 8-9/200. Frequency range 3 to 22 kHz, impedance is 6 Ohm, efficiency 91.5 dB (1W/1m); outside diameter 122 mm, required cut-out: 90 x 75 mm (HxW) diameter.

E-RT-1c 4-22 kHz EUR 126,00 excl. VAT: € 105.88 / $ 114.35
   

Hi-Vi Research RT-2c

Kapton polyamide film in neodymium / barium magnets. The frequency response in the range from 1.7-21 kHz is perfectly flat. The ribbon shows an ideal excursion. Impedance is 8 Ohm, efficiency 93 dB (1W/1m), outside dimension 179 mm diameter for a cut-out of 158 x 66 mm (HxW).

E-RT-2c 1.8-22 kHz EUR 189,00 excl. VAT: € 158.82 / $ 171.53
    

Hi-Vi Research RT-1

Ribbon tweeter with linear frequency response in the range from 4 kHz to 40 kHz, useable from 4.7 kHz, efficiency 93 dB, DC resistance 6 Ohm, outside dimensions (HxW) 130 x 102 mm, required cut-out 75 x 90 mm, countersunk depth: 3 mm

E-RT-1 4.7-40 kHz - not available
    

Hi-Vi Research RT-4pro

Ribbon tweeter with linear frequency response in the range from 3 kHz to 40 kHz, useable from 3.8 kHz, efficiency 94 dB, DC resistance 5.8 Ohm, outside dimensions (HxW) 100 x 130 mm, required cut-out 74 x 89 mm, countersunk depth: 6 mm

E-RT-4pro 3.8-40 kHz EUR 130,00 excl. VAT: € 109.24 / $ 117.98
    


Expolinear RT-7 Pro

Ribbon tweeter with linear frequency response in the range from 2 kHz to 40 kHz, useable from 1.8 kHz, efficiency 100 dB, DC resistance 6.77 Ohm, outside dimensions (HxW) 167 x 221 mm, required cut-out 175 x 65 mm, countersunk depth: 5 mm

E-RT-7pro 1.6-40 kHz - not available
    

Expolinear ARL-81

Aluminium ribbon tweeter, revised version of HRA-532, with somewhat higher efficiency, outside dimensions: 118 mm circular, required cut-out: 86 x 96 mm (HxW)

Please note: these ribbon tweeters are no longer in production

W-R8 Newform
Research

RIB 8
8'' ribbon tweeter by Newform Research in Canada, power handling 20 Watt RMS (i.e. definitely useable in a loudspeaker of 100 Watt continuous from 1.5 kHz), frequency range 1.2 to 20 kHz +/- 3dB, impedance 11 Ohm, SPL 85 dB from 1.5k not available anymore
W-R15 Newform
Research
RIB 15
15'' ribbon tweeter by Newform Research in Canada, power handling 40 Watt RMS (i.e. definitely useable in a loudspeaker of 125 Watt continuous from 1.5 kHz), frequency range 1.1 to 18 kHz +/- 3dB, impedance 5.5 Ohm, SPL 87 dB from 1.2k EUR 396.25
E-RT8-R Philips/
Isophase

AD 11700/RT 8
Philips AD 11700/RT8 Oval ribbon tweeter, frequency response below a 30 degree angle is not absolutely flat. The wider part of the oval diaphragm causes a somewhat directional radiation, a shortcoming that doesn't occur in the following Philips / Isophone ribbon tweeters. DC resistance is 7 Ohm, efficiency 91 dB (1W/1m), a small resonance at 3.3 kHz, outside dimensions (HxW): 95 x 95 mm, required circular cut-out: 86 mm diameter. 3.5k-30k not available anymore
E-RT8-E Philips/
Isophase
0021601/RT 8

appearance
similar to RT 8P

Philips 0021601/RT8 Rectangular ribbon tweeter with wide sound dispersion, frequency response is flat, ideal diaphragm excursion, DC resistance is 7 Ohm, efficiency 87 dB (1W/1m), no resonance, outside dimensions (HxW): 120 x 135 mm with a 8.5 mm front plate, required cut-out: 92 x 82 mm (HxW). 3.5k-30k not available anymore
E-RT8-P Philips/
Isophase
RT 8P
Philips AD 11700/RT8P Rectangular ribbon tweeter with wide sound dispersion, frequency response is perfectly flat, ideal diaphragm excursion, DC resistance is 7 Ohm, efficiency 90 dB (1W/1m), no resonance. Similar to RT 8, however, the protective grille is removable, the front plate is metal and the ribbon is a little wider. Outside dimensions (HxW): 120 x 135 mm with a 8.5 mm front plate, required cut-out: 92 x 90 mm (HxW). 3.5k-30k not available anymore
E-RSQ8-P Philips/
Isophase
0041601/RSQ 8P

appearance
similar to RT 8P

Philips 0041601/RSQ8P Rectangular ribbon tweeter with wide sound dispersion, frequency response is perfectly flat, ideal diaphragm excursion, DC resistance is 4.8 Ohm, efficiency 92 dB (1W/1m), no resonance. Outside dimensions (HxW): 188 x 210 mm with a 6.5 mm front plate, required cut-out: 92 x 90 mm (HxW). from 2k not available anymore

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