Excellent data.  Thanks!

I'm about to install new speaks in SaVannah and have been wondering about
these details.  The front lower mids in me Saab (convertible, if that makes
a diff) are trashed.  Think they're paper ('99) and have been told speaks
don't last long in doors.  Funny, they sound fine unless I pump them up.
They also sound MUCH better than SaVannah's factory mids.

Don't ask me why I'm replacing Savannah's sound instead of the Saab's.  Must
be a Vanagon thing.

So, can you folks (Keith/Mike) list some good speaker Makes/Models for our
Vanagon doors or otherwise, for us'n's who just like the sounds and don't do
details?

I know a sound eng here but he looks down on me Def Techs (the bestest
speaks I've ever had) so I defer to you this time.

On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 3:51 PM, Keith Hughes <keithahughes@qwest.net> wrote:

>
>> Date:    Fri, 3 Oct 2008 15:09:33 -0700
>> From:    Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
>> Subject: Re: Vanagon, Rear speaker enclosures- I have them!
>>
>> Being a long term audiophile, also pronounced 'nut', I'll attempt this.
>> Everything degrades with time. But over the lifetime of us, or our vans:
>>
>> Paper cones degrade whether or not they're used. And that's probably what
>> we
>> have.
>>
>> Plastic doesn't degrade but the glue that holds the spider to the cone
>> can,
>> depends on what's used. Same with carbon fiber.
>>
>> Metal cones don't degrade and sometimes are connected by heat {read
>> solder,
>> silver solder, or brazing] and those connections don't degrade but can
>> break, but usually not and the glues that are used are pretty permanent as
>> well.
>>
>> Those are the common speaker materials. There are others, oh my many
>> others,
>> but they're not used much, if at all, in speakers for our vans.
>>
>> YMMV
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>  Paper cones are certainly a weak link, and do degrade over time,
> especially stored in high heat environments.  But long before I'd worry
> about the cone or the spider attachment, I'd look at the surround
> material.  Foam is used on 'cheap' speakers, and again, it'll die
> whether used or not.  Butyl (rubber) surrounds last much longer, but
> still are the weakest spot IME.  That said, a 'plastic' cone with a
> butyl surround, stored indoors out of the sun, will last a Long time on
> the shelf. So materials of construction are the first limiting factor,
> with storage conditions next.  The Boston Acoustics (doped paper cone,
> butyl surround) in my van are 13 years old, and still going strong -
> well, as strong as a 5 1/4" can.  The same speakers on a rear deck,
> exposed to the sun (here in Phoenix), would've been dead many years ago.
>
> Keith Hughes
> '86 Westy Tiico (Marvin)
>
> BTW - yes 'he' is named Marvin, after Marvin the Martian.  And he goes
> by Marvin or Mr. Buslie (although while replacing the transaxle drive
> flange seals yesterday, I found some other choice names for him as
> well)  :-)
>

--
Neil2
'82 Diesel Westfalia (Fwd Puke Qualified)
'86 Vanagon/Westfalia Wannabe (Savannah)
Nunquam Pendite Divendium