Let's talk speaker cones...

300Z · 15th December 2007, 11:32 PM

Did some search around and haven't really seen any significant posts on the subject so...

What is the correlation between cone profiles and materials to the actual sound that we hear? What difference exactly does a cone profile make assuming the same material is used? Straight, curvilinear? Soft, hard cones?

Leo

jupiterjune · 15th December 2007, 11:51 PM

I saw link around here somewhere -- (for now I'm going to guess it was on Zaph's website, I'll look around later to see if I can find it) -- about distortion measurements for some different cone profiles. I think the cone profiles looked at were pure conical vs. a progressive profile. I recall it dealt specifically with metal cones, but some of the results should carry over to other materials.

JJ

jupiterjune · 15th December 2007, 11:56 PM

http://www.zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker17.html

Here is a link to Zaph's project article, which contains a link to the paper.

JJ

jupiterjune · 16th December 2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

What is the correlation between cone profiles and materials to the actual sound that we hear?

This is one of my favorite topics, as cone breakup seems to be the most audible type of distortion to me.

I won't bore everyone with a ridiculously long post, but in my experience, only metal cones can reproduce all the detail that encoded in even a standard CD. But the cone breakup of larger metal cones can sound rather unpleasant. My 'currrent' speakers use a 3" titanium (more or less) cone.

JJ

BudP · 16th December 2007, 12:36 AM

You might also investigate the EnABL thread. A way to disperse even the major nodal breakup found in metal cones is discussed there.
EnABL Processes
Also some work shown on how to eliminate reflections, diffractions and transient standing waves in all emitting surfaces, cones, domes, horns CD's, and the incidental surfaces surrounding the emitters.

Bud

Jonathan Bright · 16th December 2007, 01:41 AM

You'll find Lynn Olson has some quite extensive commnets to make on the realtionship between cone material and sound quality. You'll find it in his "nutshellhifi" site or just Google "lynn olson speakers". The relevant section is Part Two of 'The Art of Speaker Design' or something like that.

bastek · 16th December 2007, 04:02 AM

My metal cones are like medical instruments, accurate, analytical and neutral. My paper-plastic cones sound warmer and more pleasant. Is warmth part of the music? For decades, speakers sounded warm (evolving). But i prefer metal (logic) than paper-poly (emotion).
But now i hear good things about wood cones..

300Z · 16th December 2007, 05:24 AM

Thanks for the input everyone. Looks like I got some reading to do.

Cheers

Leo

jupiterjune · 16th December 2007, 12:16 PM

Bastek-

I would be interested to know--
How big are the metal drivers?
What model are they?
What type of music do you listen to, and, most importantly, do you ever hear evidence of cone breakup, especially when listening to female vocalists?

JJ

bastek · 16th December 2007, 01:12 PM

The Seas W15CY001 is 5 1/2", a great mid-woofer for New Age and Jazz, and an occasional classical passage. No breakup on moderate to high volumes. Clear (and cold) as ice.

15th December 2007, 11:32 PM	#1
300Z diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Let's talk speaker cones... Did some search around and haven't really seen any significant posts on the subject so... What is the correlation between cone profiles and materials to the actual sound that we hear? What difference exactly does a cone profile make assuming the same material is used? Straight, curvilinear? Soft, hard cones? Leo

16th December 2007, 01:41 AM	#6
Jonathan Bright diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Queensland	You'll find Lynn Olson has some quite extensive commnets to make on the realtionship between cone material and sound quality. You'll find it in his "nutshellhifi" site or just Google "lynn olson speakers". The relevant section is Part Two of 'The Art of Speaker Design' or something like that. __________________ "It was the Springtime of the year when aunt is calling to aunt like mastodons bellowing across primeval swamps." P.G. Wodehouse.

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15th December 2007, 11:51 PM	#2
jupiterjune diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	I saw link around here somewhere -- (for now I'm going to guess it was on Zaph's website, I'll look around later to see if I can find it) -- about distortion measurements for some different cone profiles. I think the cone profiles looked at were pure conical vs. a progressive profile. I recall it dealt specifically with metal cones, but some of the results should carry over to other materials. JJ

15th December 2007, 11:56 PM	#3
jupiterjune diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	http://www.zaphaudio.com/audio-speaker17.html Here is a link to Zaph's project article, which contains a link to the paper. JJ

16th December 2007, 12:36 AM	#5
BudP diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: upper left crust, united snakes	You might also investigate the EnABL thread. A way to disperse even the major nodal breakup found in metal cones is discussed there. EnABL Processes Also some work shown on how to eliminate reflections, diffractions and transient standing waves in all emitting surfaces, cones, domes, horns CD's, and the incidental surfaces surrounding the emitters. Bud

16th December 2007, 04:02 AM	#7
bastek diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY	My metal cones are like medical instruments, accurate, analytical and neutral. My paper-plastic cones sound warmer and more pleasant. Is warmth part of the music? For decades, speakers sounded warm (evolving). But i prefer metal (logic) than paper-poly (emotion). But now i hear good things about wood cones..

16th December 2007, 05:24 AM	#8
300Z diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Thanks for the input everyone. Looks like I got some reading to do. Cheers Leo

16th December 2007, 12:16 PM	#9
jupiterjune diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	Bastek- I would be interested to know-- How big are the metal drivers? What model are they? What type of music do you listen to, and, most importantly, do you ever hear evidence of cone breakup, especially when listening to female vocalists? JJ

16th December 2007, 01:12 PM	#10
bastek diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY	The Seas W15CY001 is 5 1/2", a great mid-woofer for New Age and Jazz, and an occasional classical passage. No breakup on moderate to high volumes. Clear (and cold) as ice.