Neodymium Speakers?

[Double 07]

So what's the word on Neo speakers I mean as far as sound goes? I see they're a lot lighter than typical Ferrous magnet speakers. Do they differ in any other way generally sonically?

[Buster Loaf]

The sound great. Small, very clear, punchy and detailed across all volume levels

[kris]

I think these speakers work good with hollow-bodys not shure how they work with solid-body guitars...

[jorgemg1984]

I have a Jensen Neo in my jazzmaster ultralight stock cabinet and a 2x12 with Jensen Tornado and I am very happy with them - and the weight factor is awesome.

But several people don't like these speakers... there were some previous threads here on the subject.

[mtierney]

I have two Celestion G12 Century Vintage speakers. Very big response, the bass goes really low, but is never boomy; they're also extremely clear. They don't distort at all. I use them in an open back cab, and I'm a huge fan of them.

Even with my solidbody guitar Kris

Seriously, totally worth it though. My cab is SO light. The speakers are less than four pounds each.

[Double 07]

Originally Posted by mtierney

I have two Celestion G12 Century Vintage speakers. Very big response, the bass goes really low, but is never boomy; they're also extremely clear. They don't distort at all. I use them in an open back cab, and I'm a huge fan of them.

Even with my solidbody guitar Kris

Seriously, totally worth it though. My cab is SO light. The speakers are less than four pounds each.

Been reading some nice stuff on various forums about Neo speakers. Comments like "very sweet smooth high's". "Well balanced throughout the entire frequency spectrum". Someone on an audiophile forum (who also played guitar) saying the Neo speakers are even more touch sensitive than Alnico with power handling capabilities of ceramic magnets.

Hmmm, plus they're really light I'm going to have to get some.

[lpdeluxe]

The magnetic material used in the speaker has no effect on sound, in my opinion. What does make a difference is how the designer chooses to use his materials. Neodymium is powerful and lightweight (but potentially much more expensive due to the areas in which the metal is mined and political volatility), but if a designer follows the same parameters he or she would follow using other magnets the sound should be the same. Neo speakers got a bad name early on due to the designers using overkill just because it could be done.

As noted above, there are no issues (or sonic signature that I can identify) with the Jazzmaster Ultralight neo cabinet, and I have changed over to neo cabs for my bass amps due to the much lighter weight of a properly designed neo speaker. I can detect no dramatic difference between my 65 lb Mesa/Boogie 1x15 (with a 10" passive radiator) and a pair of 16 lb 1x10 Genz-Benz neo boxes. Certainly not enough to justify the added difficulty of moving the extra weight! Two tens sound different from the fifteen + radiator, which is what you would expect whatever the magnets used; but I can get very nearly the same sonic results using the EQ on the M/B head.

In my opinion, lightweight speakers are the wave of the future, especially with bass cabinets. To be sure, there will always be guys who will want the enormous stack, just as there are guys who buy a Dodge Hemi to cruise Main St with. Me, I'm 69 years old, and I don't need to impress anyone but my doctor.



Forty-five lbs, 300 watts.

[Double 07]

I'm glad the Neo speakers are working out so well for you .

I would not go as far as saying the type of magnet used has no effect on the sound (as a general rule, anytime you speak in absolutes about complex subjects you're almost always wrong). Different magnetic materials do have different magnetic flux properties. Therefore the type of magnet material used should have some effect on the sound. However there are other factors equally if not more important in the overall sound characteristics of a speaker. Such as the size of the voice coil gap, voice coil design etc. That being said a well designed speaker is a well designed speaker and should sound great and not only based on its magnet type.

Also, luckily for us musicians, the price of the Neo magnet material is coming down. I imagine due to the increased demand for it causing an increase in production / supply.

[hallpass]

I'm definitly a fan of the neo speakers I've played. I currently have an Eminence Lil Texas and used to have a couple Jensen Neos. All excellent.