Hi Ken, Thanks for your quick reply and being helpfull.
First, DUMB ME ! (Famous D. B. Keele once said that in Audio Magazine after having made an elementary mistake while reviewing a loudspeaker !). I checked, my 2214H DO have black Aquaplas on the FRONT of the cone as you mentioned. Since recently, in another thread, you talked a LOT about and showed quality differences between OEM vs Aftermarket recones (e.g. pictures of 2245H voice coil/black Aquaplas on the BACK of the cone vs Mackenzie's cheap recone having none), I must have tought my 2214H were missing that on the back of cone (yea, dumb me again), but it is there on the FRONT of the cone, as well as the white "2214H" stamped on a frame arm and OEM cone number on the back of the cone. So it is the real thing, not a Mitsubishi...
Regarding my 2205H (SFG),
"The AlNiCo frames and ferrite/ceramic frames are dimensionally identical in that lots of recone kits are interchangeable where the speaker becomes the model of the recone kit installed. They don't become actually identical in sound because the magnetic fields are improved inside the gap in the later SFG ..."
"So...a 2205A reconed with a 2235H kit is spec'd by the factory as functionally identical to a a 2235H since the energy in the gap is supposed to be 1.2T for both models and the mechanical dimensions are the same."
Since mine are 2205H (SFG) as stated, is the above still valid ? And regarding "... lots of recone kits are interchangeable..." what could they become realistically if need be (if absence of a proper 2205H recone kit): 2235H, E-140, 2225H, 2226H ? (though you stated "2225/2226 are really not suitable replacements for the 2235H...") Does that imply also 2225/2226 not really suitable replacements for the 2205H ?
"The ferrite models had a foam vent filter which as everyone knows by now disintegrates and causes voice coil movement problems which can lead to failure." The AlNiCo models mostly have a cloth screen which doesn't cause this problem."
Having looked at my 2205H through the boxe's vent with a small mirror and a flashlight I clearly see a fine METAL screen on top of rear vent (under the name plate), but I can't see for sure if there is ALSO (?) a foam inside the driver's back vent(i.e. under the screen), without having to remove the drivers...
BTW here's a little story you'll like that tells a lot regarding most clones. Read in a serious newspaper's car section about 2-3 years ago. A Chinese car company built a "clone" of a BMW X5 SUV (seeing the picture it looked good). It was sent to Europe for certification by the authorities, and didn't pass the tests. It failed dramatically on safety issues, which the original had passed... No I don't drive nor own a BMW.
Considering your time invested here giving all that info/advice you give to the guys, the higher price asked for a better reproduction recone kit is probably well worth it. it's OK that someone still defends quality craftsmanship in a world of counterfeits, and whistles and bells... Keep-on carrying the burning torch for quality at an acceptable price! I'll vote for that anytime.
Richard