newer speakers with neodydium magnets

hi Joe do they sound better then the speakers that are usually in the mth engines and a good as the Lionel fat boy does?

Very poor way to test them. All the low frequencies are lost without a baffle.

Its a good idea though Joe. Its about the strength of the magnetic field. Neodynium will give a stronger field with a smaller magnet. That will allow easier fitting on our small engines. You still have to compare the audio specs though. The magnet is only one part.

Pete

I haven't compared them one for one. I will soon. I like the idea of technology moving us forward. Even when the hobby tries to put the brakes on!

I have to get a set of those Tang band and see what they are all about.

Hello Joe,  where did you get them, I like to try a set myself. One of the few things that bother me about our trains is the sound.

I usually get my small speakers from Madison sound, or Parts express, etc.

I bought another set of JBL 18" pro woofers and this time I got the neodydium magnet for the light weight. They have double voice coils and got me thinking about the Weaver engine I had just upgraded to PS3. I put a close out 2"? $2.00 speaker in that one from an electrical supply, and it actually sounds decent. I installed the correct sound set and the engine's steam sound got worse! The whistle and bell sound good. I am on the fence about installing a better speaker.

 The last speaker that made me happy was a $15-17? Peerless 2" inside my 3rd Rail Niagara. (I removed the direct link as they aren't a forum sponsor.)

madisoundspeakerstore peerless-830970-2-full-range-4-ohm/

I have the feeling it had those modern magnets. I haven't spent over $20 on a speaker to see the best yet.

That was an impressive little speaker. Agree with others that it wasn't given a proper chance with no baffle. But still quite impressive none the less. Do you happen to know which speakers were in the video above? Those are worth of testing as well, IMO. I have always been interested in sound reproduction, stereos, amps, speakers, etc. The stuff I really like has always been way over my budget though... Used to be fun to go listen to it at the high end audio stores, but those seem to have all gone the way of most of the LHSs. We do have an LHS, but unfortunately no good hi end audio stores anymore. The folks running them all got old, retired and closed up shop. 

Your post made me think of the Tang Band speakers too, and wonder if those had the neodymium magnets in them? The Tang Band's I have heard do have very impressive sound, or they had super recordings playing through them. They were HO sized too. I have thought about getting one o f those myself, but haven't yet done so. The Tang Bands will probably be more than $20 though, at least when I looked at some a while back they were about double that and up as I recall. Worth it for good sound, and still within my budget too.  

I haven't found those exact speakers in that video. They appear to me to be used, and maybe taken out of something?

p2duc-32 bo24

4ohm 2" square frame.

Thank you Joe.

Parts Express lists 4 Tang Band speakers 1 3/4" and 2". All have neodynium magnets. Very impressive specs as well. Prices 25-30 buck range.

Pete

You can get the Tang Band speakers from Parts Express.  You'll find them under the "mini speakers" category.  The modules suitable for O scale installs include the 2008S, 1925S, 1931S, and the 1942S, in order from smallest to largest.  The 2008S would be for the tightest fits, the 1925S is probably the most versatile size as it will fit flat in hood units, the 1931S can be made to fit in hood units with modification or if the shell is thin walled, and the 1942S would really only be suitable for big open box type installs like large tenders or cab units.  Note that these are modules that include an enclosure, primary driver, and passive radiator.  The drivers used in the modules are also available separately, but they would be like any other speaker and require enclosures or baffles for installation.  Individual drivers are listed in the "midrange/midbass drivers and full-range speakers" category.

Prices run from about $11 for the 2008S through +/-$25 for the 1942S.  Discounts are offered for four or more.

All of the Tang Band drivers used in the above modules are called out as utilizing Neodymium magnets.

Jim

Edit:  Looks like Norton beat me to it....

Jim, the ones I was referring to are individual drivers about the size of a Lionel Fatboy. Except these have a higher sensitivity (more volume per watt in) flatter response (120 hz resonant frequency) with a deeper bass. Best example W2-2136S.

Pete

Norton posted:

Jim, the ones I was referring to are individual drivers about the size of a Lionel Fatboy. Except these have a higher sensitivity (more volume per watt in) flatter response (120 hz resonant frequency) with a deeper bass. Best example W2-2136S.

Pete

OK to the diameter is 2" or 50mm. What's the height? 

• Note : Many Lionel Diesels use 40mm Diameter.
• MTH is 2" or 50mm.
• 4 ohms is good for the MRC AC sounder units.
• TMCC uses 8 ohm speakers.

Don't forget the deeper base speaker will sound better then mth speakers but there is always a compermise in that you'll loose some of the higher treble sound for higher frequencies but it might be worth the sacrifice since most people want the deep base for the train whistle n psa sounds.  Time will tell when someone try's one of these speakers