Unusual speaker question.

[Artie]

Playing with my new little Vox amp has really accentuated the difference in tone between an 8" speaker and a 12". So I'm wondering, is the difference due to diameter, or surface area? (Or both?) Could an 8" speaker be made with a much "deeper" cone, so that it had the same surface area as a 12-incher, and maybe capture some of the 12" tone? Most of the 8" cab's, my little Vox included, are plenty deep enough to accommodate a deeper cone. Unfortunately, there's no way I can manufacturer a speaker to test this theory.

 

[devastone]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Interesting question, but I think the outside diameter has more to do with it than the surface area.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Interesting question, and I am guessing speaker companies have tested and decided against this for some reason. Either it doesn't work that way, or, it does, but they already have a the tooling for 12" speakers and don't want to make a different size 8". Although I would be down for a 4x8 cab that had the sound of a 4x12 if it were possible.

 

[Artie]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Yeah, it might be a money maker if people could actually upgrade their little practice amps or cabs with the sound of a 12-incher.

 

[Blille]

Unusual speaker question.

The size determines the wavelengths that you want to highlight, the cone shape is necessary for rigidity while keeping it light: http://www.vias.org/crowhurstba/crowhurst_basic_audio_vol1_044.html

So there's not so much wiggle room. To have a breakthrough it feels like you would need a material lighter than paper with similar rigidity.

 

[Old Guy]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

The size determines the wavelengths that you want to highlight, the cone shape is necessary for rigidity while keeping it light: http://www.vias.org/crowhurstba/crowhurst_basic_audio_vol1_044.html

So there's not so much wiggle room. To have a breakthrough it feels like you would need a material lighter than paper with similar rigidity.

This is 100% accurate. Nice post.

 

[Artie]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

I figured it was too easy of a solution.

 

[dave74]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Also to consider, we've all experienced how differently a specific speaker can sound in different boxes, even open-back vs another open-back of differing sizes.

 

[Blille]

Unusual speaker question.

Good point. Is the tiny Vox cab closed back?

 

[Artie]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

I think they refer to it as "semi-open." The opening doubles as the handle.

 

[Blille]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

I think they refer to it as "semi-open." The opening doubles as the handle.

View attachment 92926

Not sure closing that small space would do much. I was surprised to learn that their small Pathfinder Bass amp is open back. A popular mod is to just close it.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Also to consider, we've all experienced how differently a specific speaker can sound in different boxes, even open-back vs another open-back of differing sizes.

Not THAT different though, but....


1 thing the 8" practice combos MIGHT suffer from, though, is crappy MDF builds... a well built, braced, and caulked airtight (except where openings are intentional) ply/hardwood cab will be superior

Oh yeah also the dimensions of an 8" can sometimes be whatever-the-hell, which i guess COULD impact it.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Aside rigidness. I think making cone deep enough to make noticeable difference you would end up with a speaker too beamy for any practical use.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

I'd be willing to bet that an 8" speaker in a Bose or Thiel designed cabinet would sound quite a bit different than the standard cab made to go with these micro amps.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[Jacew]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Many of those cabs are too small or just poor.

I don't think that the speaker size matters really.

Good 8" sounds good, good 12" sounds good. And vice versa.

 

[Artie]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

I'm afraid you may be right. Nonetheless, I want to see if I can make this sound better. It's just so damn cute. (I'm being a bit facetious here, just 'cause that little speaker matches that little amp so well.)

I've already got a Celestion Eight 15 laying around here somewhere, that I want to try. But first, I want to lay down some licks with the stock speaker, so I can post a comparison. Then, depending on how the Celestion works out, I thought it might be fun to try something like this:



It's meant to be a "hi-fi" speaker, but it has a frequency response of 35 to 20k, and I've never seen anything like this done before in a guitar cab. Could be interesting.

 

[Artie]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Definitely MDF. Does the speaker construction, or numbers, mean anything to anyone? I wonder who built this, or if it's just a generic speaker.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

I'm afraid you may be right. Nonetheless, I want to see if I can make this sound better. It's just so damn cute. (I'm being a bit facetious here, just 'cause that little speaker matches that little amp so well.)

I've already got a Celestion Eight 15 laying around here somewhere, that I want to try. But first, I want to lay down some licks with the stock speaker, so I can post a comparison. Then, depending on how the Celestion works out, I thought it might be fun to try something like this:

View attachment 92941

It's meant to be a "hi-fi" speaker, but it has a frequency response of 35 to 20k, and I've never seen anything like this done before in a guitar cab. Could be interesting.

I think part of the reason electric guitar amps sound the way they do is that the speakers we put in them are basically giant paper midranges. Stiff suspensions, short excursions, not super great at reproducing treble. A hi-fi speaker might sound good at first as a novelty, but I’m willing to bet it becomes tiresome.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

Definitely MDF. Does the speaker construction, or numbers, mean anything to anyone? I wonder who built this, or if it's just a generic speaker.

View attachment 92947

View attachment 92948

View attachment 92949

It could be a brand name speaker made for Vox. The number is a production number. Only Vox and the manufacturer would know what it actually is.
It's a common practice in the electronic component industry. Supplying bulk volumes of components with just production numbers on them. Items made specifically for the customer.

 

[Blille]

Re: Unusual speaker question.

It could be a brand name speaker made for Vox. The number is a production number. Only Vox and the manufacturer would know what it actually is.
It's a common practice in the electronic component industry. Supplying bulk volumes of components with just production numbers on them. Items made specifically for the customer.

So it may actually be the Celestion 8.