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Which is better? Aluminum Cone or Regular

willg95

willg95

Jul 7, 2007
157
2
Southwest Michigan
#1
First of all I'm sorry if this has been mentioned previously. I searched for 10 minutes.:eyebrow:

Yeah, I really don't know the difference between the two. I've noticed there's an aluminum cone version of my amp (Behringer BXL3000) and that makes it $20 than mine. Could somebody explain the difference please? :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
#2
Hi.

IMO there's not better or best cone material, it's all about personal preference. Also some cone materials are better suited to a spesific application.

The aluminium cones sound a bit harsh to my ears when compared with paper ones, but some players prefer that kind of sound ;) .

Durability is one issue that's quite often debated and there's IMO no end to that debate either. Both have their strong points and weak points and as there's about a 100 ways to manufacture both kind of cones and as many different material variations, there's no telling if one manufacturers cone is the same as with another. (durabilitywise and soundwise)

So IMHO, what You think sounds best is best. Try both variations and make a decision.

Just my 0.02€
Sam
 
#3
FWIW----- what about hemp??? I know some spkr manufacturers are making cones outta hemp- All I know is from history-hemp paper used to last 3-5 times longer than wood pulp paper-Meaning 300-700 yrs!!!! Seems pretty sensible to me!!
Oh re OT- I think Aluminium cones are a bit harsh sounding also- bit "tinny" sounding- but I haven't used one for long myself-so thats a uneducated opinion
 
#4
And when you finally blow it up, you can smoke it! Yay?

:hmm: :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

- Tim

rodl2005 said:
FWIW----- what about hemp??? I know some spkr manufacturers are making cones outta hemp- All I know is from history-hemp paper used to last 3-5 times longer than wood pulp paper-Meaning 300-700 yrs!!!! Seems pretty sensible to me!!
Oh re OT- I think Aluminium cones are a bit harsh sounding also- bit "tinny" sounding- but I haven't used one for long myself-so thats a uneducated opinion
Click to expand...
 
#5
i've found the hartke cabs i own to not be harsh whatsoever, in fact,
they sound smoother and less mid-range tan alot of the paper cones i've had. they seem to go deeper as well, being able to handle sub tones from a dod fx-25 envelope like a champ(could just be the cabinet design
though). the downside is that alot of the folks have had the glue wear out on these...no problems here yet, though.
my cabs at the moment are hartke 4x10 xl and 2x15 aluminum cones.
great tone out of these, and a bargain price-wise.
on the hemp issue, that is a good point. we should use hemp for alot of things as opposed to trees. the hemp in question does not contain thc levels that would make it useful as a drug:hmm:
 
#6
tadawson said:
And when you finally blow it up, you can smoke it!
Click to expand...

Tim (and others): It's time to drop the cannabis puns regarding hemp coned speakers. That's gotten pretty old now.

This isn't related to the OP's question, but I will say that I purchased an Eminence CH-2010 hemp coned neo 10" driver last year, and I love the tone.

When Eminence started producing hemp coned speakers, hemp cones took off, from the esoteric small market they occupied previously, into the mainstream.
 
#7
I'm less concerned with the material of the cone, as I am the material of the suspension surrounds. That's what keeps your speaker in place. The only time I've ever seen a cone fail, is a rookie with no grille cloth or metal grate over his cab, and a mic stand leg went through one of his drivers. DURRR! But when I see a driver fail, it's either the surround tearing, or the voice coil melting. Some have mentioned cones rippling under really really extreme abuse, but never experienced that yet. I'll bet it looked pretty!
 
#11
Bryan316 said:
I'm less concerned with the material of the cone, as I am the material of the suspension surrounds. That's what keeps your speaker in place. The only time I've ever seen a cone fail, is a rookie with no grille cloth or metal grate over his cab, and a mic stand leg went through one of his drivers. DURRR! But when I see a driver fail, it's either the surround tearing, or the voice coil melting. Some have mentioned cones rippling under really really extreme abuse, but never experienced that yet. I'll bet it looked pretty!
Click to expand...

So true, I have never had the actual cone of any speaker come apart in any way. Voice coils, surround material and lead in wire are another story.
 
#13
I played a Hartke 4.5XL for about 10 yrs. It had none of the problems many have described about aluminum speakers. It was articulate but smooth. But, I'm sure the same sound can be had with traditional paper cone speakers. I don't think it makes as much difference as the cabinet design and the watch the speakers match the cabinet.
 
#17
willg95 said:
First of all I'm sorry if this has been mentioned previously. I searched for 10 minutes.:eyebrow:

Yeah, I really don't know the difference between the two. I've noticed there's an aluminum cone version of my amp (Behringer BXL3000) and that makes it $20 than mine. Could somebody explain the difference please? :confused: :confused: :confused:
Click to expand...
When I first saw the Hartke aluminums in the late eighties, I REFUSED to try them because it seemed like just another scam. A few months later I did a gig with backline already supplied, and all they had was a stack (2 cabs) of Hartke 4x10's. I was blown away! I immediately purchased a 4x10XL, and a second one a few months later. These cabs became my main rig for the next 10 years. They fit all styles - from rock to funk, R&B, and even jazz. For weight, portability, efficiency, and sonic reasons I now use an Epifani 310UL (series 1). While the Epi has all the benefits of a more modern day cabinet, including phenomena sound, there is something I still miss about those Hartke 10" XL's. I had a chance to play through a stack again last year and loved 'em all over again. I also currently use a Hartke 12" (aluminum) Kickback for very small and low volume gigs. Basso54 is right about the low mid growl, and Greybeard is right about the proper matching of drivers to cabinets. The point is that while aluminum may LOOK "tinny," it's not! It's very important to hear with your ears and not your eyes, and of course this goes for everything. But be careful, one company's aluminum driver can be radically different as another's, just the same way paper cone speakers can vary from each other.
 
#18
rodl2005 said:
FWIW----- what about hemp??? I know some spkr manufacturers are making cones outta hemp-
Click to expand...
Hemp is quite stiff and has better internal (slf) damping so that it doesn't produce any of the high frequency 'riiiiing' that metallic and ceramic cones do. When you look at a freq response chart there is usually less of a ragged peak at the top end before it rolls off which to me is a cleaner top end. Mechanical ringing can't be controlled by EQ. I've never heard a metal or ceramic cone that sounded 'right'.

I have a couple of Eminences that I've been playing with and have some Hemp Acoustics drivers on their way here for a hi fi project. I'll comment more when I get them and ave a chance to measure and listen, but initial findings are very promising.
 
#19
It's a matter of personal preferences after all, but I tested 2 Hartke VX3500, one with paper cones (got one myself) and the other with aluminium. The aluminium speakers' sound is mostly mid - high oriented, without good low presence; that's why I pretty much hate 'em. The only way they would sound good it would be in a combination with a second cab that cand handle lows very well.
 

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