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Romy the Cat wrote:

The S2 has own very idiosyncratic upper range with own helpful resonances injected into sound.  I feel that that original metal suspension diaphragm does it bolder and more aggressively then the plastic suspension diaphragm.

Many people have read it but ironically no one requested any further explanations. However, this was the only one phase in that entire article that worth something. I think I should elaborate on it.

The Vitavox S2 upper range (above 5K I would say) is in a way unique and quite peerless compare to any other compression drivers. It has own beneficial granularity or beneficial graininess and that granularity has own superbly interesting MODULATIVE QUALITY. This modulative quality combined with some other matchless characteristics create the distinctive S2 Sound that is very much different from anything else out there. The tone of S2 has sort of attractiveness of Koetsu with it lush and honey appeal but at the same time it has a tremendous speed, stunning contrast and incredible transient. The ability of S2 dive into a dynamic extreme is unprecedented but what is interesting about S2 that while the driver dose its “jumps” it maintains its tonal integrity. And it is not juts a “tonal integrity” but a phenomenally nubile tone.

So, what the original metal suspension diaphragms do different? The modulative quality of the “beneficial granularity” is kind of more effective with the original diaphragm and the sound jump form granule to granule more distinctive but less observable then with the plastic diaphragm. I know, it kind of sound almost semantically-idiotic but try to “get” it:

Pretend that you have a surface that is not smooth but consist with micro-granules and each granule is unique and valuable. Now you move your head across this surface very fact and your hand do not recognizes that the surface is not smooth because the speed of the head is too high. So, with the original metal suspension diaphragms the hand move faster and the granules are sharper. With the contemporary plastic suspension diaphragms the hand move slower and the granules more dull. The total effect of smoothness of the surface is preserved in both cases but in the case of the sharper granules there is more chance for the each granule to introduce own impact to the process of hand scratching. Now parent this: a 1000 around granules on sq feet and you smashed your hand 100 miles per hour across the granules. This was the sound of JBL 375. Then, you move your hand with the same speed over those granules but the granules now are not round but the shape of pyramid – this would be the sound of Vitavox S2 with a plastic suspension diaphragm. To get an effect of Vitavox S2 with metal suspension diaphragm you have to visualize that you move your hand over the same granules only this time each granule is not a sharp-edged pyramid but an erupting micro-volcano…

I hope you did not loose yourself among my associations and got the picture…

There is another interesting moment that the posters in this thread failed to pay attention. When I go with my “bad” Lamm ML2 the harshness with my Vitavox S2 driver I contacted a number Vitavox S2 users around the world. None of then (NONE OF THEM) told me that they have idea what harshness I was talking about and all of them confirmed it and shared with me their ways to deal with it. Only one of the people with whom him I spoke used Lamm electronics and all the rest of them probably never even heard about the “Inherent inaccuracy of the Lamm Electronics” (Sorry, Guy, I can’t resist). So, would it be possible that that upper region of S2 is not juts hightailed the problem of Lamm L2 preamp but also this driver impose something very demanding to electronics that is difficult to come by? Should the upper frequency harshness of Vitavox S2 be considered “inherent” is not the S2 are running in my system and have thier upper range crystal clear?

This all juts education folks. The time will show up and will provide the correct answers to the correct questions. For now, I’m quite happy Cat, who still has some exciting ideas under my hood….

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