| Coated paper or pulp | About 3–15 inches | Pressed fiber cone, sometimes treated with a moisture-resistant coating or reinforced with fibers | Low mass; can provide a smooth, natural response when properly designed | Moisture resistance and durability vary with the pulp, coating, and manufacturing quality | General-purpose listening where balanced sound and moderate weight are priorities |
| Polypropylene | About 4–12 inches | Molded polymer cone, sometimes formed with ribs or other stiffening features | Moisture resistant and relatively consistent in everyday environments | Performance depends on cone geometry and the rest of the driver; material alone does not determine sound quality | Vehicles or other settings where resistance to humidity and routine wear is useful |
| Aluminum | About 2–8 inches | Thin formed metal cone, usually designed with a surround and damping to manage resonance | High stiffness for its mass, which can help limit cone flex within the intended operating range | Metal cones can produce strong resonances outside their intended range, so crossover and damping design matter | Compact midrange or midwoofer applications with carefully matched system design |
| Glass-fiber composite | About 4–12 inches | Composite cone made with glass fibers in a polymer or resin matrix | Offers a balance of stiffness, durability, and relatively low mass | Exact behavior varies with fiber content, layup, resin, and cone shape | Applications that call for a rigid cone and robust construction |
| Carbon-fiber composite | About 3–12 inches | Layered or molded carbon-fiber composite, often combined with resin or other materials | High stiffness-to-mass potential and good resistance to cone deformation | Construction and cost vary widely; check the complete driver specifications rather than relying on the material name | Systems where low cone mass and rigidity are important design goals |
| Large cone size, regardless of material | About 8–15 inches | More radiating area, with the surround, spider, motor, and cone designed to work together | Can move more air at a given excursion than a smaller cone of similar design | Requires suitable enclosure space; low-frequency performance also depends on excursion, motor design, and enclosure tuning | Bass-focused systems with enough mounting space and an appropriately designed enclosure |
| Small cone size, regardless of material | About 2–6.5 inches | Compact cone and suspension assembly | Fits smaller openings and is generally suited to higher frequencies than a larger driver in the same product family | Usually has less cone area than a larger driver, so deep bass output may be limited without system support | Space-constrained installations, compact speakers, or midrange duties |
| Selection note: Size ranges are approximate nominal driver diameters, not exact cone diameters. Compare the complete driver’s frequency response, sensitivity, impedance, power handling, mounting dimensions, and enclosure requirements. Cone material alone cannot predict overall sound quality. |