Magnets! Neodymium vs AlNiCo vs Ceramic-Ferrite

[Sbasstik]

A skilled transducer designer can design with any magnet material and achieve the desired tone and feel for the most part. I have in fact designed ceramic and Neo models that were darn near identical in performance (other than weight).

I trust my ears, but I'm certainly no audio engineer ... so why then do neo-speaker guitar amps sound like total crap?

I really want them to sound good and not weigh a ton, but in my experience different speakers have quite distinct properties and the interplay between guitar signal, preamp/poweramp, speakers and feedback loops are a very real thing. If I dial on the edge of compression and regulate angle/distance to speakers, vary how hard i hit my strings - the differences are very much real world phenomena and speakers play a role. Sometimes an EVM12L is what you want if you want pure amp OD, if you want a mix of amp OD and cone distortion, an Alessandro GA-SC64 will offer a completely different interaction between guitar and amp. For some reason I've yet to hear NEO speakers in a guitar systems that doesn't sound like shaging crap. If that's just down to poor engineering, then I sure hope for Fender Super Reverbs that sound like Super Reverbs only weighing merely a fraction of the original

 

[agedhorse]

I trust my ears, but I'm certainly no audio engineer ... so why then do neo-speaker guitar amps sound like total crap?

I really want them to sound good and not weigh a ton, but in my experience different speakers have quite distinct properties and the interplay between guitar signal, preamp/poweramp, speakers and feedback loops are a very real thing. If I dial on the edge of compression and regulate angle/distance to speakers, vary how hard i hit my strings - the differences are very much real world phenomena and speakers play a role. Sometimes an EVM12L is what you want if you want pure amp OD, if you want a mix of amp OD and cone distortion, an Alessandro GA-SC64 will offer a completely different interaction between guitar and amp. For some reason I've yet to hear NEO speakers in a guitar systems that doesn't sound like shaging crap. If that's just down to poor engineering, then I sure hope for Fender Super Reverbs that sound like Super Reverbs only weighing merely a fraction of the original

The Fender Tonemasters use a Neo speaker and IMO they sound awfully good…

 

[Sbasstik]

The Fender Tonemasters use a Neo speaker and IMO they sound awfully good…

Beauty is in the ear of the beholder. I am not gonna argue with you, personally I think they sound harsh and they don't behave as tube-amps at all once pushed.. A friend has a Deluxe Reverb TM .. we tested mine and his side by side and they are wildly different.

 

[agedhorse]

Beauty is in the ear of the beholder. I am not gonna argue with you, personally I think they sound harsh and they don't behave as tube-amps at all once pushed.. A friend has a Deluxe Reverb TM .. we tested mine and his side by side and they are wildly different.

Whatever, it's the single best selling amp in Fender's amp line so it suits many other player's ears just fine…

 

[beans-on-toast]

Iron Nitride (FeN) speaker magnets show a lot of promise. China has monopolized the Neo supply. Iron is plentiful world wide and green. My understanding is that the refining process is still under development.

Iron Nitride Permanent Magnets: A Comprehensive Guide

Iron nitride permanent magnets are an emerging alternative to traditional rare-earth magnets, offering unique advantages in terms of performance and sustainability.

www.stanfordmagnets.com

Next-Generation Rare-Earth-Free Magnets Are Coming

When a speaker development project is initiated, one of the first decisions is usually the magnet type — ferrite or neodymium — each one with its associated benefits, and problems. This article introduces the most promising alternative based on Iron Nitride (FeN), soon be available from Niron...

audioxpress.com

 

[LiptonJigglers]

Speakers and pickups; I lean towards ceramic.
They just do what I like and thats all there is to it.

 

[TheSpinDoctor]

Cabinet design makes the tone. Speaker magnet determines the magnetic field strength, which is independent of tone.

I have used an Ampeg SVT-18 cabinet, 35 Hz - 2 KHz ± 3 dB, 86 lbs., for years because it reproduced a B-string more realistically to my ears. The Ampeg PR410HLF, 33 Hz - 18 Khz ± 3 dB, 128 lbs., is marginally better, just not enough to offset the increased weight. Now I use an Ampeg VB-410, 28 Hz - 17.4 KHz ± 3 dB, 42 lbs., and intend to stick with it. I have A/B compared my SVT-18 and VB-410 cabinets with a frequency generator and verified that the VB-410 cabinet does indeed have more low end response. Overall, the VB-410 cabinet has much more high end response, which may lead someone to believe that it does not have great low end response. I can EQ either my Ampeg SVT-3 Pro or Mesa/Boogie WB-800 to roll off the high end as desired. Personally, I prefer the greater definition that comes from the greater frequency response range, but still can shake the walls of a nightclub.

With respect to cabinet weight, using a neodymium magnet does save weight, allowing a lighter speaker frame to be used. The speaker frequency response is design dependent. )I defer to Aged Horse to explain the design considerations.) Having a lighter speaker weight means that the cabinet structure does not have to provide as much support. Ultimately, the overall cabinet can be lighter without sacrificing frequency response or tone.