Why is cost-effective Vortex Screen Better?

I own a highly-modified pair of Vortex's, but my mods were mostly in the cross-over & bass inductance coils - to indescribable success after hundreds of hours of burn-in from clean over-power.   I bi-amp the Vortex's with Tubes, & high-current on the bottom-end.

The existing drivers seem to be matched fairly well to that Vortex design; the existing tweeters (Seas H535 tweeter) is a VERY good sounding tweeter 'if' in the 'right' speaker & electronics design.  I heard many pairs of $4,000-$5,500.+ newer speakers and they don't sound immediately 'better' nor not nearly as 'romantic'.  I want to keep them that way, however...

Question:  I would like to find a fairly less efficient tweeter driver (& with more power handling?) but that can similarly 'match'. However, because I bypassed the hi-pass resistors in the original cross-overs for better sound quality -they sound a bit bright or 'tweeter-hanging' (like a Thiel or B&W speaker).  Please note: I have already tried the newer-generation Seas H535 replacement (from Madisound Parts?)with the ferrofluid-cooled coil and supposedly has impedance curve helping with power handling - but these replacements also sound just as bright.

Can you make any near-perfect replacement recommendations that will not cause a mis-match of components (and that does not require me to change much, if any, components in my well-burned-in exotic $1,200. worth of home-made crossovers?

In case you don't remember the 'Seas H535' here is their literature:
www.seas.no/images/stories/vintage/pdfdataheet/h_25tacd.pdf

Regards, Tony Hi Tony the ScanSpeak Discovery D/ might work. As for it sounding less bright, I really have no idea how that will turn out.

You bypassed the Hi-pass resistors you say? Didn't this make the tweeters ring? Just curious.

Anyhow, it would be great if you could share some pics too. I've never gotten a good look at the Vortex Screens.

Cheers!

I had several of Von Schweikerts speakers, right after the vortex.. The VR4’s were the evolution of the Vortex screens, if I recall correctly. From the NY Watertown factory.
I started out with the VR3’s , then moved up to the 4’s, which were very good ! Albert used the fabric to keep the costs down and delivered an impressive sound for the price.. He used some inexpensive drivers and coated them with a rubberized cement which gave them more “weighted” sound and kept the foam from drying out.. I then moved to the VR6 which were ugly and large and hard to setup ! Also had the veneer come loose in the places where it curved.. Then the flood hit the Watertown factory and Albert lost much of his inventory and the factory.. I luckily sold the VR6’s and was about to go with something else..
I received a call from Albert after he relocated to the San Diego area.. He told me to buy these VR7’s , that was the first thing he said! He was so excited about the quality of the cabinets! He had some company in NY who built high end furniture for the wealthy create these cabinets.. He went on like a kid in a candy factory and I bought the 3rd pair of the VR7’s that he had made.. I owned these speakers for almost 19 years before I sold them for something a bit less majestic for my new smaller audio room after downsizing.. I hope the new owner realizes what a special speaker those 7’s were.. Albert was a good friend .. He truly loved designing and making music.. I’m so glad I knew and listened to his advice and wisdom.. when starting out with his speakers, he was very proud to build high end speakers that were affordable! I will miss the long conversations and his excitement over his creations.. and the great sound he delivered for a reasonable price.. Alberts backers knew had Something special and it all went sky high after the 7’s .. What a thrilling ride !

Wow! What a story! Albert seemed like quite an amazing guy, and very eager to interact with his customers. I emailed him after I got these, and he sent me an answering all my questions and offering more info even than I requested. I never realized he was in Watertown years ago, and I'm in Rochester! Thanks for the reply!

You’re Welcome.. Albert is hero of mine in the world of audio..
He loved talking anything audio, He did his best work in the back room designing and building speakers. He was more into that than the business aspect of VSA. Albert made me a ”Dealer” for the audio club when I lived in TX and then NC. I even managed to move a few pairs of VR5’s and VR7’s .. this was before Albert put together a real dealer network, which didn’t work out too well until Albert received some formal backing and corresponding business model. He was a musician, guitarist in a band called the Ravens.. way back when..

You’re Welcome.. Albert is hero of mine in the world of audio..
He loved talking anything audio, He did his best work in the back room designing and building speakers. He was more into that than the business aspect of VSA. Albert made me a ”Dealer” for the audio club when I lived in TX and then NC. I even managed to move a few pairs of VR5’s and VR7’s .. this was before Albert put together a real dealer network, which didn’t work out too well until Albert received some formal backing and corresponding business model. He was a musician, guitarist in a band called the Ravens.. way back when..

That's great, you were really involved. I was really sorry to see he passed

You’re Welcome.. Albert is hero of mine in the world of audio..
He loved talking anything audio, He did his best work in the back room designing and building speakers. He was more into that than the business aspect of VSA. Albert made me a ”Dealer” for the audio club when I lived in TX and then NC. I even managed to move a few pairs of VR5’s and VR7’s .. this was before Albert put together a real dealer network, which didn’t work out too well until Albert received some formal backing and corresponding business model. He was a musician, guitarist in a band called the Ravens.. way back when..

Wow that's great, you were really involved huh? I was really sorry to hear that Albert passed away this year. It seems he really had a passion all the way back to the beginning. I have been toying with the idea of moving my screens along to someone else however I know I'll never find another pair around here. I do want to downsize the gear that I have though but not sure if those will be part of it yet. It was nice to meet you, all the best, Tom.