066 Tweeter Reputation

[Zekeman]

What is the reputation of the 066 tweeter now? I mean...are modern tweeters significantly better? Are subsequent JBL tweets alot better?

I am curious because I read about these new (many different brands) tweets that are supposed to be so great...and they cost many $$$ each!

I have a couple sets of L96's and to me the 066's sound fantastic; pure and well balanced.

[jblsound]

The 066 were JBL's most expensive tweeters, at least until they started using Be in the K2 and Everest.

If the 066 are still in good condition they still are some of the best tweeters available, imo.
I've got 7 in use now in the L212s. With one pair in a C-C L212, and comparing to the Ti tweeters in the PT800s, well, I wouldn't want to live off the difference.

[rdgrimes]

What is the reputation of the 066 tweeter now? I mean...are modern tweeters significantly better? Are subsequent JBL tweets alot better?

I am curious because I read about these new (many different brands) tweets that are supposed to be so great...and they cost many $$$ each!

I have a couple sets of L96's and to me the 066's sound fantastic; pure and well balanced.
The L96 uses the 044 model.
I do not share others' enthusiasm for the 066. Although it's a fine tweeter, I prefer the 034/044 version for clarity and smooth range. They are supposed to all be the same, but to my ears they are not. I hear a sort of metallic edginess in the 066 that I do not hear in the 034/044.

[Titanium Dome]

The Ti dome tweeters in the Performance Series were around $50 when new. I don't think that's the $$$ that Zekeman is writing about.

[Ducatista47]

I realized how off topic this is here, so I moved it to General Audio Discussion.
http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=232059#post232059

"I am in mourning over the apparent demise of Audax, manufacturer of lots of fine sounding tweeters that didn't cost very much at all. What third party brands are still out there that have a good reputation for sound and value? Is Fostex good for tweeters?"

Clark

[4313B]

The L96 uses the 044 model.
I do not share others' enthusiasm for the 066. Although it's a fine tweeter, I prefer the 034/044 version for clarity and smooth range. They are supposed to all be the same, but to my ears they are not. I hear a sort of metallic edginess in the 066 that I do not hear in the 034/044.The 066 has the aluminum voice coil for slightly extended high frequency response. It's "good" to around 18-20 kHz. The 044 has the copper voice coil for slightly better power handling. It's "good" to around 14-16 kHz. The 034 has the slightly smaller magnet and is only "good" to around 14 kHz.

The 066 seems to be more finicky with amplifier power. It doesn't "do" dirty very well. The 044 seems more forgiving. I like both.

[jblsound]

The Ti dome tweeters in the Performance Series were around $50 when new. I don't think that's the $$$ that Zekeman is writing about.
When I said I wouldn't want to live off the difference, I didn't mean the cost difference between the 066 and the PS Ti tweeter. But rather the quality of sound.

[jblsound]

The 066 has the aluminum voice coil for slightly extended high frequency response. It's "good" to around 18-20 kHz.

The 066 seems to be more finicky with amplifier power. It doesn't "do" dirty very well. The 044 seems more forgiving.

Yes, the 066 does need a good amp and C-C certainly improves it also.
I much prefer the sound of the 066 using a HK Citation amp, or the Parasound amp than the Yamaha amp I used 30 years ago.

[4313B]

I much prefer the sound of the 066 using a HK Citation amp, or the Parasound amp than the Yamaha amp I used 30 years ago.Very interesting that you should mention that. We switched from a Yamaha to a Citation and immediately noticed the improvement as well.

[jblsound]

Very interesting that you should mention that. We switched from a Yamaha to a Citation and immediately noticed the improvement as well.
The Yamaha seems to make the 066 edgy. Wish I had bought a HK 30 years ago, but I don't remember seeing any HK gear in LV, at the time.

[jblsound]

Well, after 6 months of listening to the new 052Ti, I can say it is a better tweeter than the old 066. Much smoother, even cleaner HF.
I would recommend anyone still running speakers with the 066 to consider replacing them with the 052Ti.
And I did not have to do any mod of the HF XO.

[jblsound]

NLA

OCS still has some though.

***

Nevermind. I found some under the correct part number. :D And only through Pro. Consumer is NLA - obsolete.

I ordered a pair last July, and when OCS got in a new shipment they sent a pair out. And my daughter packed them in her baggage when she came down here. As I recall, the weight of the 066 is a kilo, the PS Ti is only around 110gr, including the weight of the WG, and the 052Ti might be about 400gr. I did weight it but can not remember its number.

And I did not have to mod the Biased XO at all. During the last few months of the 066, I had to crank up the HF pad to max to get any HF sound at all, they were dying fast. Installed the 052Ti and left the pad as is for 2, 3 days. And then backed it off to neutral.