Art, thanks for the kind words, and from what I know about the "Brightness" you speak of ...its never mentioned with the Ceramic Tweeter which was introduced only in the "current Vento" lines. The xxx.2 models. In fact, if one was to "toe in" Canton's, they can sound bright depending on if a recording is hot. Thats not really what one does with Cantons...they should be pointed forward with no toe in.
The previous tweeter was the "aluminum-manganese" tweeter. Let me add, Art.....if you like the tweeter of the LS50....well, you aint heard nothing yet until you heard the tweeter in the Vento/Reference series of speakers. Like I mentioned before, the new one is a world class tweeter... In fact, here is what one Stereophile reviewer said of the older tweeter some time ago.
"The Canton delivered such clarity, I'm convinced, because of that tweeter, which put out an unusual amount of sparkle and air in the harmonic overtones of the piano strings and cymbals (or anything else on the recording). You say you don't like metal-dome tweeters? Maybe you're right, but the ADT-25 didn't sound like a metal dome—or a soft dome either. To a stunning degree, it got out of the way of the sound of music."
The new xxx.2 models have a tweeter that's better and free of any pollution whats-so-ever. Like I said, that tweeter is so clear and transparent, you will hear your gear. Got bad recordings??? You will hear it...this speaker aint going to cover up any faults down stream. You got bad gear...you will hear it. Bright cables...bright gear, you going to hear bright cables/gear. Its that clear and transparent. You hear what you put in...simple as that. Thats German engineering, and it holds true for many German loud speakers such as TIDAL, Avantgarde Acoustic, Burmester, ASW ,ELAC, MBL and a host of other German speakers....They simply voice differently...very few of them are colored but very clear, transparent and accurate. If one wants to create a certain sound, then its up to the owner to pretty much chose the cables and gear for that. I own two pairs of Canton's and they are both the same...but as you go up the line, they are more refined.
I see a lot of guys buying the LS50...I think if they did a head to head with the small Vento's 820.2, they'd be surprised at the difference.
Want an interesting Review?
From the same review the above quote was attained from, is a very nice head to head comparison of the Vento and Sonus Faber Cremonas....Check it out.
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/605canton/index.html