neodymium,alnico,ceramic...whats the difference ?

sandman72202 · May 1st, 2006, 07:51 PM

curiousity question for the ones who have experimented here. clearing out some gear soon and i know it will drive me to get something new.
i like the sound of my weber alnico in my champ. very responsive and chimy with sweet depth(wondering how a couple of big 12's would sound in the twin). in my 2x12 cab used with the vfx crate the ceramic texas heats i used sounded full and clear and some of the better speakers i've heard of that size really like them.
i've never heard any neodymium speakers. like the idea of less weight. but have no idea how they sound. anyone do any comparison's of the three magnet types and their tonal differences ?

sandman72202 · May 2nd, 2006, 12:20 AM

i've never listened to one, i want to know how they compare to the other two besides weight
anyone ?

Smokin' Joe Picante · May 2nd, 2006, 05:10 AM

I'm curious as well. Celestion makes a Neodymium speaker that's supposedly sonically "very close" a Vintage 30... but it wieghs about 4 lbs or so. I'm about to re-load a Marshall 4x12, and I'd really be curious as to how these really sound. How close is "very close"? If they're sonically up to par, the substatial weight difference they would make in a cabinet as large as the 4x12 would justify their extra cost over stock Vintage 30's (for me). I just can't pull the trigger on them without having a pretty good idea what I'm gonna' get, 'cause they're not cheap! Has anyone here heard these things?

yegbert · May 2nd, 2006, 10:43 AM

Eminence had some sound clips for many speakers in their product line in their former web page layout.

They now have a new web page layout and some new speaker models, including a couple of neodymium magnet based 12s, the LIL' TEXAS™ and the TONKERLITE™; but no sound clips available at this time, not even the ones that had up previously for their older models.

My suggestion is, send them an email and let them know you'd like to hear some sound clips on theirs. I've done so already.

I have no affiliation with Eminence. I don't even use any of their speakers currently. I had a set of 12" 16 ohm ceramic Emis that I didn't like and so I sold them. But I'm open to trying some different ones. Sure would be nice to hear them.

CancerLeoCam · May 2nd, 2006, 12:56 PM

...the Celestion Neo 1520 and it sounds really nice and loud-very efficient. I would call the sound soft (not as harsh) and the bass comes through quite well. I handle lotsa 15" speakers all the time and I have to say that this one is so light it feels like a toy.

May 1st, 2006, 07:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
sandman72202 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Arkansas, currently on walkabout Posts: 476	neodymium,alnico,ceramic...whats the difference ? curiousity question for the ones who have experimented here. clearing out some gear soon and i know it will drive me to get something new. i like the sound of my weber alnico in my champ. very responsive and chimy with sweet depth(wondering how a couple of big 12's would sound in the twin). in my 2x12 cab used with the vfx crate the ceramic texas heats i used sounded full and clear and some of the better speakers i've heard of that size really like them. i've never heard any neodymium speakers. like the idea of less weight. but have no idea how they sound. anyone do any comparison's of the three magnet types and their tonal differences ?

May 2nd, 2006, 12:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
sandman72202 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Arkansas, currently on walkabout Posts: 476	ok...its the neodymium i'm curious about i've never listened to one, i want to know how they compare to the other two besides weight anyone ?

May 2nd, 2006, 05:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Smokin' Joe Picante Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 508	I'm curious as well. Celestion makes a Neodymium speaker that's supposedly sonically "very close" a Vintage 30... but it wieghs about 4 lbs or so. I'm about to re-load a Marshall 4x12, and I'd really be curious as to how these really sound. How close is "very close"? If they're sonically up to par, the substatial weight difference they would make in a cabinet as large as the 4x12 would justify their extra cost over stock Vintage 30's (for me). I just can't pull the trigger on them without having a pretty good idea what I'm gonna' get, 'cause they're not cheap! Has anyone here heard these things? __________________ http://www.joecurtisband.com/ Overheard at a gig... "The guitar could be louder... I have no idea how, but I'm sure it can be done..." ;)

May 2nd, 2006, 10:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,989 88 Photos	sound clips Eminence had some sound clips for many speakers in their product line in their former web page layout. They now have a new web page layout and some new speaker models, including a couple of neodymium magnet based 12s, the LIL' TEXAS™ and the TONKERLITE™; but no sound clips available at this time, not even the ones that had up previously for their older models. My suggestion is, send them an email and let them know you'd like to hear some sound clips on theirs. I've done so already. I have no affiliation with Eminence. I don't even use any of their speakers currently. I had a set of 12" 16 ohm ceramic Emis that I didn't like and so I sold them. But I'm open to trying some different ones. Sure would be nice to hear them.

May 2nd, 2006, 12:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
CancerLeoCam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mule Deer-Mt. Lion Safari, CA Posts: 1,692 5 Photos	I've tried... ...the Celestion Neo 1520 and it sounds really nice and loud-very efficient. I would call the sound soft (not as harsh) and the bass comes through quite well. I handle lotsa 15" speakers all the time and I have to say that this one is so light it feels like a toy.