Neodymium??

[gimmethelowend]

I've heard before that neodymium speakers don't sound as good as standard speakers [whatever they're called ]. How are they different, and what would make them sound "not as good"??

[Eric Moesle]

Neodymium is just a type of magnet material which is more powerful than "regular" speaker magnet material, so less of it needs to be used thereby making the speaker lighter.

It by itself has NO bearing whatsoever on how a speaker sounds. However, speaker manufacturers may design speakers using neodymium magnets with different sonic parameters so that they sound different. But the magnet material used is not what makes them sound different.

[PSPookie]

The only fifference is the magnets used in the speakers. Neos sound fine; wonderful even. The differences people attribute to neodymium speakers (aside from reduced weight) are usually due to enclosure design and have little to do with the inherent properties of neo speakers.

At least that is my understanding of it. I'm sure Bill FM will be by in a few minutes to give us the scoop.

[BurningSkies]

Nonsense.

In fact, neodymium as a material has opened up speaker design. There are some very very killer speakers out there with neo magnets. Ones that perform better than standard ceramic magnets and weigh a fraction of their boat anchor counterparts.

[Russell L]

Mine sounds wonderful.

[Mr. Foxen]

Replace a ceramic speaker with a neo one, and it will probably sound rubbish, hence the rumour. But the problem is the box was designed for the first speaker, not the replacement one.

[Arjank]

Neo, ceramic, alnico, it all depends on what the manufacturer does with it.

The fun for designing loudspeakers with neodymium in mind is that you can use several small (and tall) magnets that you can place circular around the voice coil. This creates an optimal playing ground for the vioce coil since you can make the "magnet" deep for housing a long voice coil. One nice by-product when using such a multi-magnet design is that the small slots between these magnets keep the mechanical losses low because there is no air trapped inside.
There is one drawback, you need additional cooling.

[countrybass007]

I own PJB amps with both types of speakers and can't hear any difference at all, The only difference is the weight of the cabs.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by gimmethelowend

I've heard before that neodymium speakers don't sound as good as standard speakers

Not from a source that you should believe.

[RickenBoogie]

My neo loaded 2x12 is one of the best sounding bass cabs I've ever heard.

[svtb15]

Is there anything to the rumor that Neo speakers loose magnetic pull if they get too hot.. And what is that too hot if so.. Is leaving a cab in a truck in HOT texas sun in teh summer where inside temp gets maybe 140 or so enough? Just asking a possible stupid question

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by svtb15

Is there anything to the rumor that Neo speakers loose magnetic pull if they get too hot.

Yes. That's why they have heat sinks. If the interior of your car gets above 300 degrees you may have a problem. Leaving a cab in a hot vehicle still isn't a good idea, thieves love that sort of invitation.

[Rune Bivrin]

So hot that in a loudspeaker it isn't an issue. Every magnet material loses its strength at a certain temperature. For neo magnets it's from 310C to 400C. If the driver structure gets that hot you have other problems...

[okcrum]

Any magnet will lose its pull if it is raised above a temperature known as the Curie point. That is around 450 degrees C for ceramic/alnico magnets, and 300-400 degrees C for neo magnets.

Yeah, what Rune said.

[svtb15]

thanks.. thats way hotter that would happen in a gear truck.... So its good....
My gear stays parked in the gear truck alot..in an undisclosed location.....or when off from work for a while i may get it dropped off here. So i was just wondering.. Thanks.

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Yes. That's why they have heat sinks. If the interior of your car gets above 300 degrees you may have a problem. Leaving a cab in a hot vehicle still isn't a good idea, thieves love that sort of invitation.

[mdorren]

Have an Avatar 2x12 cab with neo speakers and LOVE it!

[Mr. Foxen]

If it is a neo cab, thieves can run off once they have it, but it is also much less effort to take out of the vehicle after a gig.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Yes. That's why they have heat sinks. If the interior of your car gets above 300 degrees you may have a problem. Leaving a cab in a hot vehicle still isn't a good idea, thieves love that sort of invitation.

I would also think that the 'pumping' of the speaker (my 3015LF creates a ton of air flow out of the ports of my cabs) would give a ton of convective cooling around those heat sinks and keep the speakers well within operating conditions.

[lowendfriend]

Originally Posted by okcrum

Any magnet will lose its pull if it is raised above a temperature known as the Curie point. That is around 450 degrees C for ceramic/alnico magnets, and 300-400 degrees C for neo magnets.

Yeah, what Rune said.

Well then, cancel that gig on Mercury!

[Arjank]

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

I would also think that the 'pumping' of the speaker (my 3015LF creates a ton of air flow out of the ports of my cabs) would give a ton of convective cooling around those heat sinks and keep the speakers well within operating conditions.

A speaker will not create real air flow.
What you feel at the ports is the resonating of the air column inside the port.