cloth surround for speakers

marcok

Chief Journeyman
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
988
Location
Milan Italy
Tagline
I'm very curious about any tech item
#1
My father's Infinity RS iii speakers need new surrounds . ( simply the age )
My question is : Can you appreciate the difference between cloth and foam ?
The advantage is that the cloth is for lifetime .
I know that is the classic " one million question " but
I would like to know your opinions .
Thank you in advance and ciao
Marco
 

Fast Forward

Forum Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
6,057
Location
Chaska Minnesota
#2
It's kind of a toss up Marco I used cloth on my Marantz Imperials , but if you can find foam that is stiff enough it may be easier to deal with. There is a trick to cutting foam evenly Freeze it which stiffens it up, I'll take a few pic of my Imperials and post them for you
 

marcok

Chief Journeyman
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
988
Location
Milan Italy
Tagline
I'm very curious about any tech item
#3
https://www.simplyspeakers.com/cloth-speaker-repair-edge-kits.html
I mean something like this .( half cloth / half foam )
Ten years ago I would have say : foam only , like original .
Now my "speaker guru "( not my hifi guru ) said to me :
Trust me, use this type; they are forever . He's a very experienced guy in speaker reparing ( 40 years )
My hifi guru , on the contrary , has some doubts .
He always used sorrounds like original .
The problem is that you modify the compliance and the resonance frequency of woofers .
Are you able to appreciate the difference ? I don't know .
For me you can see the difference in a anechoic chamber with a B&K test set , but.....
Ciao
Marco
 

Fast Forward

Forum Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
6,057
Location
Chaska Minnesota
#4
My Marantz's came with foam covers but they were messed up from years of use and also from a heavy smokers house, so I decided on cloth. I also replaced the foam on the inside, re-coned and re-foamed and even replaced a tweeter
 

Attachments

marcok

Chief Journeyman
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
988
Location
Milan Italy
Tagline
I'm very curious about any tech item
#5
I think there was a language mismatch ,
but I simply found the right words in an american site .
Things that happen !
Ciao
Marco
 

Northwinds

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Mar 18, 2013
Messages
7,543
Location
Coventry, CT
Tagline
Fondler errrr... fan of all Nav's avatars
#6
I think he wants surrounds for his Dad's speakers, not grill cloth
Marcok, I would use whatever material is recommended. Personally I prefer foam surrounds as you get easier excursion rates but cloth does last longer. I have speakers with foam surrounds that are 40 years old almost and still no issues with them. It's all about quality
 

marcok

Chief Journeyman
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
988
Location
Milan Italy
Tagline
I'm very curious about any tech item
#7
I think he wants surrounds for his Dad's speakers, not grill cloth
Marcok, I would use whatever material is recommended. Personally I prefer foam surrounds as you get easier excursion rates but cloth does last longer. I have speakers with foam surrounds that are 40 years old almost and still no issues with them. It's all about quality
Generally the life span of foam is 10 / 12 years .
40 years looks very high . Are you sure that is foam ? There is also rubber ( B & W some models ) and silk ( Klipsch some models ) .
Which speakers do you mean ?
Ciao
Marco
 

Northwinds

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Mar 18, 2013
Messages
7,543
Location
Coventry, CT
Tagline
Fondler errrr... fan of all Nav's avatars
#8
They are the woofers out of Realistic T-200s that I transplanted into my Bose 501's used in the garage. They are indeed at least 40 years old as I bought the speaker set brand new in 1983, definitely not rubber or silk surrounds

Original cabs are long gone now but they looked like this until I damaged one cab bad in a move and scrapped them


http://www.hifiengine.com/files/images/t200 good shape (623x640) (584x600).jpg
 

marcok

Chief Journeyman
Joined
Jun 9, 2014
Messages
988
Location
Milan Italy
Tagline
I'm very curious about any tech item
#9
O.K.
Ron .
Probably the life span depends on sunlight exposure ,too . In a normal living room there the windows ,
while in a cave or a garage you have less sun light .
If I have understood well the worst enemy of foam is the sunlight .
Anyway the last surround replacement was made 10 years ago ( expected MTBF )
Thank you and ciao
Marco
 
Top