"Acceleration factor" is the ratio of force or motor strength (Bl) divided by moving mass (Mms). It ignores cone area, and is imo therefore misleading.
Let me illustrate why: Suppose we are comparing a single 10-inch woofer against four 10-inch woofers, and they are all identical. So the acceleration factor (the ratio of motor strength to moving mass) is the same for the single 10-inch woofer as for the four 10-inch woofers. But it would be a mistake to claim that the ability of the single 10-inch woofer to accelerate air is the same as the four 10-inch woofers. The four woofers can accelerate four times as much air as the single woofer.
And ultimately it is the ability to accelerate air that we are most interested in.
As for whether a single big cone is better for bass than multiple smaller cones, assuming the capability of the multiple small cones adds up to the equivalent of the single big cone, I believe that I could get better performance out of the multiple small cones by distributing them to different locations on the loudspeaker enclosure to improve their interaction with the room. There would be tradeoffs for doing so, and the cost would almost certainly be much higher for the multiple small cones.
Duke
Let me illustrate why: Suppose we are comparing a single 10-inch woofer against four 10-inch woofers, and they are all identical. So the acceleration factor (the ratio of motor strength to moving mass) is the same for the single 10-inch woofer as for the four 10-inch woofers. But it would be a mistake to claim that the ability of the single 10-inch woofer to accelerate air is the same as the four 10-inch woofers. The four woofers can accelerate four times as much air as the single woofer.
And ultimately it is the ability to accelerate air that we are most interested in.
As for whether a single big cone is better for bass than multiple smaller cones, assuming the capability of the multiple small cones adds up to the equivalent of the single big cone, I believe that I could get better performance out of the multiple small cones by distributing them to different locations on the loudspeaker enclosure to improve their interaction with the room. There would be tradeoffs for doing so, and the cost would almost certainly be much higher for the multiple small cones.
Duke