Focal has used this new tweeter for its latest innovations in order to meet the constraints of Utopia products.
The "M" profile for beryllium
We have moved from an ‘inverted dome’ membrane to an ‘M’ profile. Among other things, this shape reduces the stress exerted on the membrane during excitation by symmetrizing and balancing the membrane. With less stress, the diaphragm operates more like a piston (> 20kHz). Its design also results in less distortion and coloration of the sound at high frequencies.
All the acoustic phase warping encountered at high frequencies within the membrane itself is reduced to a minimum thanks to its very shallow depth. The result is greater efficiency at high frequencies and a more dynamic sound.
As with all inverted membranes, directivity is low, and this profile means that the same sound level can be maintained at 15 kHz from 0 to 30°. The sound is balanced and dynamic throughout the listening area.
We've also included a wave guide to reduce possible diffraction effects from elements close to the tweeter (edge of cabinet, other transducers, etc.) The tweeter grille has also been optimized to make it completely transparent.
A new coil for greater power handling
The tweeter coil has been completely redesigned, with several improvements.
- Its diameter has been increased from 20 mm to 25 mm for better heat dissipation between the coil and the air gap, offering greater power handling and less thermal compression, for improved performance and reliability.
- Changing the composition of the coil wire, our engineers have chosen Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire (CCAW) technology, which has an aluminum core for lightness and a copper outer coating for a reliable connection. The result is greater efficiency at high frequencies.
- The magnetic field has been increased to its maximum level (2.1 Tesla) to offer maximum efficiency and greater dynamics. Moreover, this magnetic field has been widened so that the coil always remains within it, regardless of the sound level: less distortion at the low frequencies of its range and at high levels, greater stability.
Improved direct acoustic loading
The decompression of the rear panel has been increased and optimized to eliminate internal diffractions. The rear acoustic pressure spreads into a large volume lined with absorbent material to absorb the rear wave, eliminating the presence of acoustic resonance on the rear panel and giving a neutral sound.
Improved suspension - Damping Hook System (DHS)
Our engineers took the TMD suspension and optimized it to give our tweeter a new generation of suspension. With the addition of a double hook, the suspension now works as a pivot, transforming vertical movement into horizontal movement and allowing the following adjustments:
- Improved stability and reduced intermodulation due to the suspension
- 50% reduction in THD
All these improvements result in a maximum SPL level of 122dB /1m with low THD.
Focal products using this technology
Discover other Focal technologies
REMOTE AMPLIFIER IN CURRENT MODE
The most transparent and natural
Since main monitors are frequently soffit-mounted, these require external electronics for this application. Focal engineers have therefore developed an amplification system combining a class H with a current mode. By controlling the current (instead of the voltage), it is possible to directly control the force submitted to the membrane and eliminate any unwanted artefacts. Combined with analogue filtering and exceptional drivers, this amplification achieves the lowest THD ever measured in an anechoic chamber.
TNF Tweeter
Treble finesse
Made in France in our workshops, the TNF aluminum/magnesium inverted dome tweeter delivers smooth, clear treble. The surround that connects the dome to its support uses Poron, a shape-memory material. This surround is directly derived from Focal's famous Beryllium tweeter, and reduces distortion by a factor of three between 2000 Hz and 3000 Hz, the most sensitive zone for the ear. In addition, a waveguide has been developed to perfect spatialization and further improve the inverted dome's very low directionality. In the horizontal plane, the frequency response is within +/- 0.5 dB. This performance guarantees an incredibly stable soundstage.
Gamma Structure
An anti-vibration cabinet
As the surface area of a loudspeaker cabinet is greater than that of the loudspeaker diaphragms, it can radiate sounds that are distorted by the resonances of the cabinet structure. This alters reproduction and blurs the sound image. To prevent such "interference", it is essential that the cabinet is as inert as possible, that it is not emissive. At Focal, we use MDF (Medium Density Fiber) to achieve this inertia. This stable, heavy structure is anti-vibration. It has been optimized by vibratory mapping of the loudspeaker walls to reinforce or modify the structure wherever a weak point appeared.
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