Speaker fabric

[revans]

Is it necessary to use an "acoustically transparent" fabric to cover speakers? I was looking at some on ebay and noticed a lot were just 100% polyester (such as this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting). Would it be alright to use any old 100% polyester fabric, that while not being specifically for speaker covering, is made of the same material and probably comes in a larger selection?

[audiosteve]

When I need grille cloth, I just go down to my local fabric store and pick up some double knit polyester. Check it first for stretchiness and transparency. If I hold it to the light and it blocks too much light I look for a different fabric. You can tell by looking at it if it will work OK. It's not rocket science. This is how I have been buying grille cloth for years and it has always worked well for me.

[planet10]

Originally posted by audiosteve
When I need grille cloth, I just go down to my local fabric store and pick up some double knit polyester. Check it first for stretchiness and transparency.

seconded... it should stretch in both directions.

dave

[Tubamark]

Originally posted by audiosteve
When I need grille cloth, I just go down to my local fabric store and pick up some double knit polyester. Check it first for stretchiness and transparency. If I hold it to the light and it blocks too much light I look for a different fabric. You can tell by looking at it if it will work OK. It's not rocket science. This is how I have been buying grille cloth for years and it has always worked well for me.

The other test to do, while you're holding it up for the light test is the blow test. Breathe thru it. If air goes thru with little resistance, it will be acoustically transparent.

BTW, Don't listen to any reviewer nonsense about highs being attenuated by (any decent) grille cloth. Grille artifacts are more likely from the frame itself (diffraction, shadowing, etc), not the cloth.

[Cal Weldon]

I third that. When, as a man, you walk into a fabric store you tend to gain a little attention. I just bat my eyelashes, look helpless, tell them what I want, that it must be a two way stretch and then follow. Women aren't the only ones that can look helpless and receive much in return.