Alnico Revelator?

dynamo

(Sorry for phone pics of a magazine)

So Wilson Audio has a new mid they call Quadramag. They say it has an alnico magnet. Looks like a revelator. Is there any objective benefit to alnico? I’ve only ever heard they lose strength over time, combined with a bunch of subjective stuff. Am I missing something?

jr@mac

Generally speaking, they fall between rare earth and ceramic for "strength", so there is likely a measurable difference. Whether that difference is euphonic is arguable.

Manufacturers stopped using it due to the stability issue, but I doubt a Wilson buyer gives two shits if he has to send his drivers in periodically to get re-gaussed. 

dynamo

Thanks, I did not know they were stronger than ceramic.

dcibel

Alnico is expensive, cobalt used in the alloy is in short supply (which also threatens electric cars).

It is also more powerful than ceramic, but mostly pointless for a hifi speaker. Alnico is popular for guitar speakers, as it can act as a built in compressor. As alnico heats due to driving a speaker hard, it will drop in magnetic strength. The motor strength will come back once it cools down. Neo magnets will have this effect as well, but at higher temperatures.