suspicious of paper cones

[bvbellomo]

I've always been suspicious of paper:

1) I live in Ohio and we go from 0% humidity in late February to near 100% in early March. If size, stiffness or weight changes, it could be noticeable. Similar transitions occur as summer dries everything out, and then it gets we again in the fall.

2) Paper (in theory) degrades over time. I know most quality paper cones should outlive rubber surrounds, but at least with a metal or ceramic cone, it is either perfect or broken, not much middle ground. Paper could lose original stiffness or other performance, without an easy way of telling.

Are either of these reasons valid for avoiding paper?

 

[mctavish]

Most, if not almost all, paper cones are impregnated...

They also normally have better damping properties than metal cones.

And they sound good

Matter of taste really.

 

[Cal Weldon]

As McTavish points out, paper is only one of the ingredients. Add to that, designers have known about fluctuating humidity for a long time.

 

[bvbellomo]

What I am suspicious of isn't a matter of taste. I am not worried I will buy a paper driver I don't like. I am worried I will buy a paper driver that will change.

 

[mctavish]

Well there are millions of owners and dozens of manufacturers of paper-based cones that can tell you that paper cones are indeed stable and will perform properly for years or decades..... even in ohio

 

[bvbellomo]

As McTavish points out, paper is only one of the ingredients. Add to that, designers have known about fluctuating humidity for a long time.

Yes, but they aren't necessarily designing for Ohio, and they may not care about performance beyond a one year warranty. If anything, they might want products to degrade after one year, so they sell more.

 

[mctavish]

sounds like this thread is going "under the bridge".....

 

[gabdx]

paper is treated and is maybe going to be temporarily affected by high or low humidity levels but can restore original properties soon.

I would not submerge the paper cone in water for 6 months, but other than that it is fine.

 

[planet10]

With literally millions of receipes for paper it is hard topush them into a corner. Where i live has similar variations in humidity and that has never been a factor in avoiding paper cones, many of which i rather like.

dave

 

[leadbelly]

OMG! You know what is an anagram of "Ohio paper"...I RAPE POOH...surely the work of Satan!

 

[scottjoplin]

sounds like this thread is going "under the bridge".....

A few more thrown stones should sink it

 

[vinylkid58]

Ohio is special.

jeff

 

[geotone]

Many loudspeaker manufacturers reside in quasi-tropical areas. I can hardly imagine, say, sbA
sitting in Indonesia or Tymphany in HongKong and blissfully ignoring the issue.

/G

 

[globalplayer]

paper is treated and is maybe going to be temporarily affected by high or low humidity levels but can restore original properties soon.

I would not submerge the paper cone in water for 6 months, but other than that it is fine.

This.

 

[DrBoar]

I have 50 years old Philips 9710 still working as they should. I have 60 year old Goodman Axiette that work as well.
At least Toledo (Ohio) is nothing special compared to many parts of Europe.

Really dry indoor air during the winter can be cured by using a rotary heat exchanger instead plate heat exchanger.

 

[scottjoplin]

I'd be more worried about my health if humidity varied between 0 and 100% in my listening room

 

[nigelwright7557]

The paper just needs a layer of lacquer sprayed over it if you are worried about dampness.

 

[charlie2]

OMG! You know what is an anagram of "Ohio paper"...I RAPE POOH...surely the work of Satan!

I wonder if POOH on here feels he as been raped by using paper coned driver

 

[gabdx]

Metal cones would expand/contract affecting greatly the sound.

 

[irext]

My speakers have Nomex cones which are basically treated paper. Humidity varies wildly here (Melbourne Aus). Built them in 2011. No sign of any problem. Still sound as sweet as the day I built them.