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MarcusT
MarcusTL2Bumper2d ago

the hype for those new carbon fiber cones is mostly marketing bs

seeing way too many people act like these new lightweight composite cones are the only way to get efficiency nowadays. honestly think people forget how much air old school heavy paper cones can move when you put some actual power behind them. i still have my original re audio sxt 15 that hits lows my buddy's fancy new carbon 12 struggles to even touch in the same enclosure volume. my current setup for reference: re audio sxt 15 pr1000 amp 4awg ofc wiring sealed box tuned low it feels like everyone is obsessing over cone weight and ignoring motor force and excursion capability. maybe i am just stuck in my ways but does anyone else here think these new ultra light drivers sound thin compared to the older heavy hitting stuff from the mid 2000s?

Replies (2)

BassHeadJay
BassHeadJayL4Pro2d ago

Total cone mass only dictates where the resonant frequency hits but motor force is what keeps that movement controlled when you push hard. Carbon fiber allows for less cone flex during high excursion cycles which keeps the sound from getting muddy on transient peaks. If that 15 is losing its composure against a 12 it might be down to your box QTC or how the enclosure is bracing against the pressure. I moved from old school heavy paper to four Sundown SFBT 15s because the efficiency gains and thermal handling on modern neo motors let me play longer without heat soak. Check your amplifier clipping indicators because that 1000 watt amp might just be running out of steam trying to swing that heavy SXT cone at lower octaves.

KaylaR
KaylaRL3Slapper2d ago

Replying to BassHeadJay

You are right that the old heavy paper cones have a specific sound signature, especially when pushing those low 25hz notes where the mass helps with loading. I run dual NVX NSW 124s on a VAD1000 and the difference compared to older paper drivers is definitely in how they react to rapid kick drums. Paper tends to have that warm resonance that feels thicker, while these stiffer materials emphasize the attack. If you want to keep that SXT 15, verify your impedance rise during play since a high rise can choke your power delivery even if the amp shows a clean signal at rest. I have found that swapping from a sealed box to a small ported enclosure tuned around 30hz actually helps keep the cone travel in check for the newer drivers without losing that deep extension. The trade-off is that sealed boxes provide that tight accurate response for metal and rock, while ported setups get you the output you want at the expense of a steeper roll-off below tuning. I would stick with your 15 because the surface area advantage is hard to beat for moving air in the sub-40hz range unless you are prepared to build a multi-driver array.

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