Neodymium speakers

Martbass64 · #1 10-19-2011, 02:21 PM

Greetings from the UK!
Recently purchased an EBS Neo stack to help with the weight problem associated with my regular 4 x 10" and 2 x 10" Trace /Eden cab set-up. On it's own it sounded great, but gigging it just doesn't cut through two driven guitar rigs and a drum kit. The neo's sound brittle and lack warmth. Different heads used include Trace V8, Boogie 400+ and an Aguilar DB750. Disappointing - what are other people's experience of neos? To me the weight / tone trade-off just doesn't seem worthwhile.

Cool site / forum - don't know why I didn't get on here years ago.

craig.p · #2 10-19-2011, 02:26 PM

Invalid comparison. (Hint: You changed more than one variable.)

DaZombieWoof · #3 10-19-2011, 02:36 PM

The issue is not necessarily driven by neo magnets. Some neo magnet cabs do real well. There is a tendency with neo cabs to emphasize light and small which can mean it lacks bottom and "meat", whatever meat means. It is way more a function of what they did with the speakers, both in cab design and in how they specified the qualities of the speakers. Greenboy's fEarful stuff is supposed to be killer and relies heavily on neo magnet drivers for bottom and mid.

**nutdog** · #4 10-19-2011, 02:44 PM

You started this thread 3 days ago.

Neo cabs vs traditional heavyweights

People responded and asked for more info. What's up?

Russell L · #5 10-19-2011, 02:44 PM

Right. It ain't the neo speakers. From what I hear neo doesn't make any difference, but it's all the other specs that do. I have some Markbass cabs that kick butt with neo.

GrowlerBox · #6 10-19-2011, 02:45 PM

Neodymium doesn't sound like anything. It's a component of the magnet. You can build a lousy cabinet with neo-drivers, or you can build a great one. Just as with ferrite-magnet drivers.

Stumbo · #7 10-19-2011, 02:46 PM

Try vertically stacking your two 2x10 cabs at your next rehearsal/gig.

Joe Louvar · #8 10-19-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martbass64

what are other people's experience of neos? To me the weight / tone trade-off just doesn't seem worthwhile.

Welcome to the TB amp forum. I love neos. I drive two little GK MB115’s and they sound awesome (killer tone), and don’t under estimate two MB115s - they pack a punch too.

BurningSkies · #9 10-19-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

Neodymium doesn't sound like anything. It's a component of the magnet. You can build a lousy cabinet with neo-drivers, or you can build a great one. Just as with ferrite-magnet drivers.

+1.

Neodymium is a magnet material.

Speakers can suck with neo just as much as they can suck with 'traditional' ferrite magnets. Cabinet designs can suck with neo or regular magnet speakers, usually because production cabs tend to be 'under-designed' anyway... Of course, if someone has just put neo magnet speakers in a cab designed for a specific ferrite magnet speaker without making adjustments based upon the T/S specs of the Neodymium speaker, you're layering suck upon suck.

lomo · #10 10-19-2011, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

if someone has just put neo magnet speakers in a cab designed for a specific ferrite magnet speaker without making adjustments based upon the T/S specs of the Neodymium speaker, you're layering suck upon suck.

In which case you're left with something even worse than
2suck.........suck squared!

BurningSkies · #11 10-19-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lomo

In which case you're left with something even worse than
2suck.........suck squared!

Exponential suck.

5port · #12 10-19-2011, 03:49 PM

Neos need break-in more so than other speakers IMHO.

Break-in can consist of a quite a few gigs or 20 hours of sinewave at 20hz.

lbwdog · #13 10-19-2011, 03:52 PM

Have you given them a good break in period?

I wasn't impressed at first with my Eminence 3015LF, but after a couple of gigs it started to really shine.

BurningSkies · #14 10-19-2011, 03:57 PM

I found 14.234 hours of 24.67hz sine wave worked best for me.

will33 · #15 10-19-2011, 04:01 PM

2 rehearsals and 1 gig worth of pounding settled mine in.

BurningSkies · #16 10-19-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

2 rehearsals and 1 gig worth of pounding settled mine in.

Yeah, that was about it for me too.

will33 · #17 10-19-2011, 04:08 PM

S'pose the Op's considered he's comparing different companies different oem spec drivers in different cab designs or ya figure it's just the neo?

Doug Parent · #18 10-19-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

I found 14.234 hours of 24.67hz sine wave worked best for me.

Here on the Pacific coast it requires consuming ale. Otherwise the higher excursion results don't occur.

**Hapa** · #19 10-19-2011, 04:18 PM

+1 on all the break in period for any new cabinet. I have used plenty of Neo drivers in some cases cabs replaced with neo drivers. no difference after 24 hours of playing time. and remember that its more the cone than the driver that gets broken in.

dog1 · #20 10-19-2011, 04:21 PM

Unfortunately, speaker makers will advertise their products as drop in replacements, as an "upgrade". Neo speakers are mostly excellent.....if they (like any other speaker) are designed for the enclosure. I use two cabs that use the excellent Eminence Kappalite 3012LF. One has a mid horn/driver, and the other does not. This is the best speaker set up I have ever used. Everything else I had owned as been sold. BUT, the cabs were designed specifically for these drivers, and no other. Many, if not most, production line cabs have very little real design. They make a box, install speakers, and put their name on them. Maybe you should check out Duke's new "Thunderchild" cab. Small, light, powerful. He designed the ones I use. As good as it gets.