Paper Cones in HiFi?

The reason why many of us like and use pulp type cones is that they provide excellent self damping charateristics. That being the case, less of a filter can be used to accommodate the transition into the next driver. There is no doubt that some of the more rigid materials do certain things better but they also ring harder and require more filter to remove the resonance. IMHO, in my high resolution designs designs, I have found that component coloration (sounds and resonances of capacitors, inductors, resistors and wires) are much more objectionable than the problems that reduced rigidity generate. Then again, my drivers are more heavily damped and use carbonfiber to add rigidity the cone. Low mass, excellent self damping potential and rigidity, the necessary mix IMO for a superb transducer.
Bobby@merlin

Hey Marco.

Those headphones are sweet!

I think they would look great with a head gear orthodontic apparatus.

I dont know if you are joking around or not, but they look truly rediculous. They look like they might sound kinda "Tinny" HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Anyways, i guess if they sound good....
i think i will stick to speakers. :)

The majority of audiophiles prefer paper over other materials due to its "natural" sound...however...hi end speakers with paper drivers are often coated or a poly-blend...hence no relation to lower end speakers...

I have a pair of S.A.P. J-2001 speakers that have two 12" paper cone woofers. While some may view paper cones as "old" technology, that does not mean it is inferior in any way. This speaker also has a horn midrange, but the compression driver has a titanium diaphragm ("new technolog"?). Both the woofers and the midrange utilize old fashion Alnico magnets. I believe the designer utilized what works best, not what is fashionable and current. At about $22k, I don't think the "cheapness" of paper was a consideration.

A friend of mine spends a small fortune collecting as many Western Electric or Altec paper coned drivers (515 or 555 or something like that) as he can get his hands on. The cones are so old they crumble if touched. The sound, however, is very lively and articulate when these drivers are used in his full-range, multi-driver designs.

Paper is a low mass low loss material. Paper cones have better transient reponse ang higher mechanical Q compared to plastic/polymer alternatives. They have higher efficiency. But they may have resonances which must be taken care of at crossover side. The envoiremental robustness is achieved by surface treatments. But since it is a compressed material it will loose it's structural rigidity in time. High tech marketting jargon can also be applied to parper cones by giving exotic names to pulp mixtures etc.