I have a pair of S.A.P. J-2001 speakers that have two 12" paper cone woofers. While some may view paper cones as "old" technology, that does not mean it is inferior in any way. This speaker also has a horn midrange, but the compression driver has a titanium diaphragm ("new technolog"?). Both the woofers and the midrange utilize old fashion Alnico magnets. I believe the designer utilized what works best, not what is fashionable and current. At about $22k, I don't think the "cheapness" of paper was a consideration.
A friend of mine spends a small fortune collecting as many Western Electric or Altec paper coned drivers (515 or 555 or something like that) as he can get his hands on. The cones are so old they crumble if touched. The sound, however, is very lively and articulate when these drivers are used in his full-range, multi-driver designs. |
The majority of audiophiles prefer paper over other materials due to its "natural" sound...however...hi end speakers with paper drivers are often coated or a poly-blend...hence no relation to lower end speakers... |
Hey Marco.
Those headphones are sweet!
I think they would look great with a head gear orthodontic apparatus.
I dont know if you are joking around or not, but they look truly rediculous. They look like they might sound kinda "Tinny" HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Anyways, i guess if they sound good....
i think i will stick to speakers. :) |
The reason why many of us like and use pulp type cones is that they provide excellent self damping charateristics. That being the case, less of a filter can be used to accommodate the transition into the next driver. There is no doubt that some of the more rigid materials do certain things better but they also ring harder and require more filter to remove the resonance. IMHO, in my high resolution designs designs, I have found that component coloration (sounds and resonances of capacitors, inductors, resistors and wires) are much more objectionable than the problems that reduced rigidity generate. Then again, my drivers are more heavily damped and use carbonfiber to add rigidity the cone. Low mass, excellent self damping potential and rigidity, the necessary mix IMO for a superb transducer.
Bobby@merlin |
,,,There are paper base drivers in the multi thousand price tag speakers as well,,,,
Scan Speak and Morel make awesome paper treated drivers, and so do many other manufacturers I am sure...paper is easy to model and is more predictable, and all more well rounded.
I love paper treated drivers sound (the ones well made and designed of course,,especially for mid and midbass..
I actually have some JBL L-96's which have arguably the best midrange driver ever made, and its paper... |
Dunlavy used them on all his speakeres including some very expensive ones that recieved rave reviews for their accuracy. He claimed that they rang less and didn't store energy as much as more expensive, high tech alternatives. |
To add my 2 pennies, paper is used because of its lightweight(for fast transcient responses and dynamics)characteristics and ability to minimise sound coloration. Though its starting to finally show its age as there are new materials that will far exceed paper in terms of sound quality,output etc. Titanium alloy being one of them, but you dont see many speakers with titanium cones due to expense to mfg. them. But dont shy away from speakers that use a pulp cone. There are too many great sounding speakers that use them. |
Those who look inside high end speakers are often surprised by what they see. Not only are the cones sometimes paper, but the entire driver may be elcheapo. Wires too. I hasten to add that not every manufacturer is like this, but more than you would suspect.
What does it mean? Mainly that driver "quality" is more about reliability, and power handling capability, than sound, and the design of the overall speaker system, especially the crossover, is of great importance. Good drivers can sound lousy, and vice versa.
There is paper, and there is paper. Paper is a laminate of wood (mostly) fibers, and can be a very sophisticated product. One wooden product that amazed me when I learned of it is the bullet-shaped nose fairing on the submarine-launched ballistic missiles. It is made out of laminated wood, similar to a rowing shell. (I would have expected fiberglas). It is light weight and very strong: it supports the weight of the entire missile when it is hoisted into the launch tube. |
speaker cones made of paper(sometimes from the very same suppliers) are used in hi end and cheapo models. thw same goes for stranded copper wire. life isn't fare. |
Not true at all. "Paper" tends to denote taking the cheap way out but is in fact a complicated mess of fibers, polymers, resins etc., engineered for light weight (has to react quickly), high rigidity (prevents deformation) and longevity. Paper's been a proven performer for decades - only recently have things like Kevlar and metal cones been introduced, and while they have advantages and disadvantages over paper, they alone do not make a speaker high end by virtue of their properties. |
You know I don't photograph much audio gear. So when Motts approached me to photograph their new idea for headphones I was a bit sceptical when I first saw them. Boy was I wrong. They may not be comfortable but the audio experience is like nothing I've ever tried. Brings back memories of the good old days when I was a kid. Every time I use them though my wife complains I smell like tomato paste! So I was thinkin', why, for Pete's sake, don't the speaker manufacturers catch on and use these materials for their drivers?! I'm guessing that once they catch wind of these babbies Dixie Cups will be giving them a run for their money....paper is lighter and can move much faster after all. Motts SchaMater ReferenceMarco |
Paper is the most natural sounding to my ears. But it lacks dynamics and high volume capability.
To add to TWL's post, I think paper is good for absorbing unwanted resonances in the driver. Better than metal and polypropylene (that's a low end material Epos being an exception - there's always an exception) |
Cluesless is right, the paper cones are for the high end radio shack speakers as well.
TWL, Just kidding! :) |
said above: >> I always thought paper cones were for low end Radio Shack speakers.
Nope.
Sincerely
I remain, |
I prefer paper over any other cone material that I've heard. It is very light and very rigid for its weight. Nothing is perfect, paper has its flaws just like any other material. However, the statment that paper is only for low-fi speakers is very incorrect. |
I don't know much about this, but some mfg'ers as well as others in the know, believe that pulp (not paper) produces a more refined sound than say those made of kevlar, aluminum, etc..
I don't believe you should consider this to be an issue. Provided the mfg'er is truly producing a quality-oriented speaker.
-IMO |
