Right and Wrong About Speaker-Driver Materials (Ep:89)

In a previous "Real Hi-Fi" video, SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider debunked the notion that some audiophiles-and even audio reviewers-have been espousing about speaker-driver materials not mattering like they used to. Some even called the different materials designers use for speaker diaphragms nothing more than "marketing," That video generated numerous comments, with Doug addressing two of them-one true and the other false-in this follow-up video.
#audiophile #stereo #hifi

[@connorduke4619]

Good follow-up. I recall another designer/reviewer once saying the priority of importance of a loudspeaker us: 1. speaker driver materials 2. crossover 3. cabinet construction. Which is also why I think Dynaudio has such an advantage in this field due to their proprietary Magnesium Silicate woofers.

[@dougschneider8243]

Thanks for watching. I'd subdivide #1 into several areas -- materials is one, but obviously the mechanical and electrical design, etc. Basically, everything about how the driver gets made. But what's also definitely true I think is to get the driver right and do less with the crossover, something I touch on in a newer video.

[@connorduke4619]

@@dougschneider8243 I recall when Dynaudio Confidence 20i was upgraded from 20 by adding a Hexis device behind the tweeter and making that enclosure, they were able to simplify the number of components in the crossover at the same time.

[@davidt8438]

Doug, have there been any materials used over the years that designers learned just don’t make good speaker cones? I’m not talking about something that destroyed itself after a few weeks or something that was ridiculous like gummy bears but more along the lines of foam surrounds which took years before people understood they would rot and disintegrate, or copper because of the weight. Thanks for the informative videos.

[@dougschneider8243]

That's a good question because I think in the case of materials that at first seem good, but then rot (like foam), they find ways to overcome that, then they're good again. For example, you do see foam surrounds these days, but they're treating them with something that allows them to stay. I know in the past paper could have problems, but they treat them and make them work. So off the top of my head I can't think of any materials that are absolute no-nos.

[@emmet7208]

If someone is trying to tell you that they can make driver material A sound like B through cross-over design, they probably don't build speakers themselves, or listen carefully to them when completed. Great video!

[@soundstagenetwork]

We agree!

[@shipsahoy1793]

Correct Emmet.. 100% False.. there's no shortage of dumbasses in the technical world!

[@timomy8]

Or just like to argue 😂

[@genkifd]

there are a number of objectiver reviewers that use DSP to adjust the speaker to sound neutral. imo if you use DSP you may interoduce additional unwanted distortion. DSP in my experience isnt always good.

[@dougschneider8243]

Very good point. In fact, in my mind is a video about what DSP/EQ can and cannot do -- and what it might harm.

[@genkifd]

@@dougschneider8243 thats would be a great vid.

[@JoelHernandez-tz3vk]

​@dougschneider8243 I know already you generally want to fine tune the last imperfections rather than expecting a bad speaker to sound good out of DSP.

[@arcadepiano]

i modified my guitar speaker celestion neocreamback with varnish 2k spraymax and real gold leaf gilding. the results in sound with this added rigidity is that the technique called dive bomb, (which is lowering the pitch with a floydrose) shows a pitch you can tell, identify, transcribe. it is not vague imprecise noise anymore. the front part now is water resistant so it will last over a century the reason why paint it real gold is to prevent another pain in one ear, the gold is beautiful hypnotizing not fatiguing to state at it for entire hour. the gold is a reminder to face the speaker, otherwise one ear would be more exposed than the other to the decibels. most guitar players has the speaker on one side and back, and they move around facing freely to anywhere on the room. this is what i used to do until i hurt my ears for just 10 minutes of loud feedbacks in only one ear, and caused me pain for an entire year. in mono speaker music we do must face the speaker. this is the case on all televisions. the source of sound is where we focused facing to. it is the normal in our biology. most speakers are paper, you can improve with varnish, but the frequency response will change A LOT. maybe for better, which was my lucky case.

[@dougschneider8243]

It's an interesting experiment, but I'd really caution against anyone varnishing their drivers -- it's most definitely going to change the behavior.

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

Well reasoned. Hit the nails correctly Doug. Mark