Replacing 12" Speaker Suggestions

[_jojo_bass]

Hey Everybody!

I have a DNA micro 1x12" and for as small as it is, the weight could be a lot lower for the size of it. It's REALLY slim and small. I was wondering if anyone with more experience has any good suggestions for an easily swappable NEO 12" speaker that would get me a similar volume and response, but just lighter.

Here are the specs for it:
Power Handling: 450 W RMS - 900 W Peak
Impedance: 8 Ω
Sensitivity: 101dB @2.83V/1M
SPL: 131 dB SPL max
Frequency Response: 44Hz to 14KHz
Size: 14.5"H x 21"W x 11"D
Weight: 30lb
Coverage Pattern: 60 degree
Tuning: 53HZ Flaired port

If this is a totally dumb idea, someones just gotta tell me and I'll scrap the idea. I've never done any amp or cab modifications before, so any guidance would be appreciated! THANK YOU!

 

[BeauZooka]

I personally would recklessly throw an Eminence Kappalite 3012ho in there but...
You should probably just email DNA and see if they have a neo replacement suggestion first.

 

[BogeyBass]

its a 1x12
its not heavy.

whatever magical driver gets 101 dB should stay in there.

i wouldnt say dumb idea.
its just a matter of what is in there now
and how much does it weigh.

weights savings wouldnt be more than 3 to 5 pounds id assume.
its not heavy
plus the specs are a little over hyped

it is what it is
most the weight is the wood itself.
still curious what the heck is in there.

if its really 101 dB, heck give me 4 of them

 

[BeauZooka]

Good point Bogeybass. You would probably only save 4 to 8 lbs, depending what your current speaker weighs and what you would replace it with. Plus it might sound worse afterwards. buy a hand truck instead.

 

[bobcruz]

From the DNA website:

"The ultra lightweight DNS-112 Micro features our custom 3-inch voice coil neodymium woofer...."

In other words you can't do better than what you have in the cabinet already. There are only a few other 112s that are lighter than 30 pounds and they're pricey.

 

[BogeyBass]

this is why i wonder why guys insist on 6 pound amps.

because in the end a speaker cab is going to weigh 30 pounds or more
and that is extreme light

 

[Omega Monkey]

In the end, you're going to spend a bunch of money, waste a perfectly good speaker, probably sound worse and maybe not have the same power handing, and not really get any significant gains in the weight that you're looking for. It's basically the hubris of assuming that you have a better idea than a guy who is widely regarded as one of the best bass cab designers out there of what driver to put in a fairly expensive cabinet that he surely spent a lot of time on R&D and in refining what is certainly a custom OEM driver. So are you smarter than the guy who started Eden, which is one of the most respected brand in bass amps over the last 30 years?

The effect of dropping maybe 2 or 3 pounds if that is really not going to have a significant experiential difference that is enough to outweigh (no pun intended) the cost and the potential degrading in sound and power handling. And if the difference between a 27 pound cab and a 30 pound cab is a deal breaker, you might want to look into switching to piccolo honestly.