Why it matters
The cone is the surface that moves air.
A cone must be light enough to accelerate, stiff enough to act as one piece through its working range, and damped enough to keep breakup under control. Material changes those tradeoffs, but motor design, surround, voice coil, cone shape, and crossover point still decide the result.
How it works
Paper is light and naturally damped. It can sound smooth when used well, but quality depends on the exact pulp, coating, and forming process.
Polypropylene and other plastics are consistent and damped. They can be forgiving, but may trade some stiffness for that damping.
Metal cones are stiff for their weight. They can hold piston motion higher, then break up sharply. That breakup must sit outside the working range or be controlled by the crossover.
Composite cones mix fibers, films, resins, or sandwiches to tune stiffness and damping.
Common mistakes
Simple example
Related concepts
Related concepts
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