Phil Jones Bass Piranha vs. Neopower cabinets!

[Jaldegren]

Hi!

Have someone here tried both a Piranha and a Neopower cabinet?
If so, what is the differense between the two of them except the weight?

I am most interested in if there is any differense in sound between the two speaker types.

Thanks!

[countrybass007]

I own and use both and I can't say I hear any difference between the two.

[Jaldegren]

Ok, thank you!

[babebambi]

they certain don't sound exactly the same
A/B them and you can tell there is a difference
but the difference is not distinct enough so
I can't tell which is which just by listening

not sure if that make sense to you thou...

[IAMbc15E]

I found a seemingly good comparison between ceramic, neo, and AlNiCo on a Fat One Amps page:

"In the 50s and early 60s, AlNiCo magnets were all that was available, but as power levels increased, amplifier and speaker manufacturers turned to other magnetic materials like ceramic, to provide greater energy per weight. AlNiCo magnets impart a warmer, smoother tonal characteristic which works very well with the relatively low powered vintage amps. For more power the easy solution was multiple low powered speakers in a cabinet to handle higher power levels, but at a cost in weight, size and speakers. Ceramic magnets provide greater clean headroom and a punchier sound projection characteristic. They work differently but still sound great when overdriven and can handle higher power ratings so smaller more powerful combo amplifiers are possible (like an MB Mark I 100W 1x12 or Fat One Clubber). Neodymium magnets are relatively new to the market and can be half the weight of similarly power ceramic speakers for the same energy levels. Their tonal characteristic is considered similar to AlNiCo speakers. One ideal application is reducing the weight of a bass cabinet by providing lighter speakers with same power handling capability.

Fat One Amps uses speakers with all these magnet types in different applications taking advantage of their best characteristics for the specific application."

So, it seems that there is a bit of coloration from the magnet materials, with Neo sounding a very slightly more "vintage," but otherwise not much tonal difference. The main difference is weight, and this is probably more relevant for the PJB cabs with a large number of the 5" drivers.

-Clayton

[BurningSkies]

Flux is flux. Its all the other stuff that you have to worry about.

[seamonkey]

necro threads seem to stick around like magnets

AlNiCo became rare because of a controlled market on Cobalt. Cobalt, weapons, USSR, read up on it.
Even things like blue glass, cobalt use to color it, became rare.

Not anymore.

Neodymium went through an artificial price hike recently because it too is a controlled market.

Magnetic fields do not care about what material produces them. It's up to the engineer to effectively use a magnetic field.
Neo magnets developed by GM are getting refined even further with new formulas even since this thread was started. There are several lines.

[Philonius]

"Flux is flux." I like that.

When the guitarists I play with start talking about the tonal characteristics of different magnet types I just nod my head and say nothing.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by IAMbc15E

So, it seems that there is a bit of coloration from the magnet materials

There isn't. That source is incorrect, possibly pandering to make sales to those who think there should be a difference. But different materials do allow transducer engineers to do different things. On advantage to neo is that it allows longer excursion without the loss of sensitivity that usually accompanies longer excursion unless the motor is built to very close clearance tolerances, which raises driver costs. JBL is one example of that scenario.

[BurningSkies]

Originally Posted by Philonius

"Flux is flux." I like that.

When the guitarists I play with start talking about the tonal characteristics of different magnet types I just nod my head and say nothing.

Different materials have different strengths of flux, and because of that things can sound different...but with that in mind, you can manipulate materials to provide the same amount of flux (either by mixing it with other things, manipulating the amount, the size and shape of the magnet, etc). And the strength of the flux means that you can design FOR it...giving you a different set of parameters to work with.

[Blankandson]

I really wouldn't care which speaker it had. I absolutely love how my old Warwick sounds through the Suitcase w/extension speaker.