I have a pair of Optimus LX5s and a couple of pairs of the later RCA model
(not as good) both sold in years past by Radio Shack. All have ribbon
tweeters, which is the best thing you can say about these speakers. I'm
using them in a home theater application with a center and sub. I noticed
the earlier model LX5s with the transparent "cage" over the tweeters have
much better highs, so I removed the cloth covers on the RCAs and the
difference was amazing. I now do not want to put the covers back on. The
tweeters appear to be very fragile. Even blowing lightly on them is enough
to cause the ribbons to temporarily disfigure. Can anyone tell me if
leaving them exposed (to dust mostly) is a bad idea? Can I just carefully
blow them off occasionally without harming them? The cloth covers severely
attenuate and muddy their response. If letting them get dusty is a no-no
can anyone suggest a better covering material?

Thanks for any advice!

Alan Chapman

They're not really ribbons, they are a Linaeum tweeter using a piece of
mylar film driven by a magnet. Others on this group with more tech
smarts could describe them more accurately. I found, as you did, that
mine performed best when naked; dust buildup does not seem to affect the
sound....you could dust them with one of those camera lens camel hair
brushes....

---------------

Alan Chapman wrote:
I have a pair of Optimus LX5s and a couple of pairs of the later RCA model
(not as good) both sold in years past by Radio Shack. All have ribbon
tweeters, which is the best thing you can say about these speakers. I'm
using them in a home theater application with a center and sub. I noticed
the earlier model LX5s with the transparent "cage" over the tweeters have
much better highs, so I removed the cloth covers on the RCAs and the
difference was amazing. I now do not want to put the covers back on. The
tweeters appear to be very fragile. Even blowing lightly on them is enough
to cause the ribbons to temporarily disfigure. Can anyone tell me if
leaving them exposed (to dust mostly) is a bad idea? Can I just carefully
blow them off occasionally without harming them? The cloth covers severely
attenuate and muddy their response. If letting them get dusty is a no-no
can anyone suggest a better covering material?

Thanks for any advice!

Alan Chapman

I have a pair (not the LX5s but just the tweeters) that have been
sitting out for a few years. For some reason, they don't attract a lot
of dust, I do blow gently on them occasionally.

They were originally cased in metal 'hardware cloth'ish enclosures.
Don't think I ever listened to them with the covers on.


Frank /~ http://newmex.com/f10
@/


On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 04:29:28 GMT, "Alan Chapman"
wrote:

I have a pair of Optimus LX5s and a couple of pairs of the later RCA model
(not as good) both sold in years past by Radio Shack. All have ribbon
tweeters, which is the best thing you can say about these speakers. I'm
using them in a home theater application with a center and sub. I noticed
the earlier model LX5s with the transparent "cage" over the tweeters have
much better highs, so I removed the cloth covers on the RCAs and the
difference was amazing. I now do not want to put the covers back on. The
tweeters appear to be very fragile. Even blowing lightly on them is enough
to cause the ribbons to temporarily disfigure. Can anyone tell me if
leaving them exposed (to dust mostly) is a bad idea? Can I just carefully
blow them off occasionally without harming them? The cloth covers severely
attenuate and muddy their response. If letting them get dusty is a no-no
can anyone suggest a better covering material?

Thanks for any advice!

Alan Chapman