Cloth vs paper surround


Posting for a friend he is about to have new surrounds  on speakers,. the original speakers are paper the repair service said he could also go with cloth which will last much longer he's wondering if this will degrade the sound. Opinions or experience with this please. 

johnto

+1 @dekay I had a pair of old Radio Shack Optimus 1s with cloth surrounds. They dried up and became stiff so I think that would be the main issue with them 

ALWAYS go with the original material, the surround can be considered like the suspension of a cartridge's cantilever, CONTROLLING Movement.

My vintage electrovoice 15" woofers from 1958 MUST be cloth.

Last much longer: To alter the response, more than likely detrimentally for every day of their longer life is a 'wrong' decision. Paper lasts a long time, the original surround for that size cone is likely to be around for generations!

Avoid any hvac heat discharge nearby, shut that vent to prevent premature aging/drying of the paper. Very dry house, get a whole house humidifier or if radiators nearby, add water gizmos,

https://www.amazon.com/air-vent-blocker/s?k=air+vent+blocker

 

 

avsjerry:

I tried something a local phile gave me that (to me) smelled like brake fluid and then I tried a skin lotion my wife used (think it was lanolin based).

Also tried re-doping a pair of US made drivers (forget who originally made them as they were marketed under various brands - including Lafayette - maybe Jensen).

In all cases they stiffened back up within 2-3 months, or so, and I gave up.

I still have 2 pairs of Japanese made 4.5" drivers with porous (screen like) cloth surrounds that I have not messed with (the surrounds).

They mated OK with a Gallo TR2 sub set @ the speaker level default of 100Hz and I assume that they fall like a rock @ around 90Hz.

I own/owned "vintage" Stephens Trusonic, Coral, Elac, R&A, RCA, Foster (predecessor of Fostex), Altec and Jensen(?).

Maybe a few others I've forgot.

 

DeKay