A cone is not a cone.
It depends on how well engineered the "cone" is.
They are not all the same, and cannnot be lumped into one category.
Some points will do wonders, while others just don't.
The best bet with the Daytons(which are pretty low on the scale), are to not use any of the "leveling features", and screw them into the speakers nice and tight against the botttom, and make the pointy tips screwed in tight against the cone body. At least this way they have some chance of working.
Even if the Dayton cone had any possibility of working, these "leveling features" would defeat it. Try tightening everything up with no leveling and see what you think.
Cones are made with certain principles(if the designer knew what he was doing) and the wide top part of the cone needs to be tight up against the base of the speaker, because it is not the threaded part that makes the vibration transfer, it is the interface between the speaker base and the top surface of the cone. The whole cone needs to be solid and rigid(thus the recommendation to tighten up the "levelers"). Now we know it's not made of the right type of brass, and doesn't have the right shape geometry, but it might work some for a low priced cone.
With a "proper point(cone)" you can expect improved imaging, better soundstage, less smear, tightened bass, and general improvements all around. Not sure what to expect from the Daytons, except that I can tell by looking at them that they are flawed design.
If it does work at all, there will be at least 2-3 days of "break-in" time, for it to "settle" into place mechanically, so give it a weekend.
What can you expect for $16.95 for a set of 4 anyway?
If they worked, everybody here on Audiogon would be using them. The whole world gets the Parts Express catalog.
