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Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ.

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various websites, particularly those who deal with mu metal.

Magnetic fields would rather travel through ferrous material than air or anything non magnetic. You can easily verify this by placing a strip of steel against a magnet. You can pick up something like paper clips at much farther distances than if there was only air between the magnet and the clips.

Any conductive material will generate a small current field and attempt to travel through the material. Quite obviously, brass is significantly more conductive than steel and thus will allow the magnetically induced current to move "faster". I have experimented with actually grounding the speaker baskets of my speakers, and there is a small but audible difference (smaller than just changing out the mounting screws).

Ever consider why manufacturers and designers prefer magnesium or aluminum speaker baskets? Are they really stiffer than steel? Not really (0r, at least, not necessarily), and the primary reason they sound "better" is that they are non magnetic.

Again try a simple experiment. Since most tweeters have sealed magnet structures, try taking out one screw from the tweeter mounting. You need to do it to only one side and only one screw. The sound of the tweeter will "pull" towards the location of the screw you removed. Or you can try using a longer steel screw and listen to the effect it has on the sound.

You are not just dealing with the mechanical aspects here, but the actual magnetic field being generated by the drivers (or transformers, etc.
In the case of toroidal transformers, after a long play time, place your finger against the center mounting screw. Note the temperature and compare it to the transformer body itself. It will be hotter as the magnetic field is attempting to do work by inducing a current through the mounting screw.

Try placing a large steel washer on the top of your speaker cabinet, right above where your tweeter magnet would be located. It will "pull" the magnetic field towards the washer and you will hear the top end extend further upwards. Place on the side ( use a bit of blue tack) and you will hear the sound "pull" again towards the washer. It works similarly for all the drivers.

Stu


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