Carl, I agree that in the last few years, many North American and in fact European manufacturers, went to the metal dome and the ring radiator or ceramic dome. The poor silk dome was considered by these same people as passé and inferior. On may occasions, I have talked to and posted my dissent with these opinions only to be dissed and ridiculed. Problem is that I knew what my ears heard and like a few others were not willing to bend to the popular opinion.
IMHO, this hobby boils down to what you hear, and what you believe is the closest to the sound of the live un-amplified musical instrument that you are trying to reproduce in your own listening environment. When I hear a better sounding product, i for one, don't care if it is the latest technology or something from years back....IF it is better then the current fave of the day, then that's what i want in my system, PERIOD.
The bright and ringing metal dome in many current high end products is to me nothing more than a kludge by the designer, or a situation wherein that same designer hasn't really done his homework, and either cannot hear what is the better technology, or is somehow bending to the popular opinion. Thank goodness it would seem that Dave Wilson, for one, has finally done his homework and "heard the light"
...Rant over, LOL.
