Small fingers + woofer dust caps on expensive speakers = ?

[Hifi_swlon]

Big repair bill?

Ok it's all relative, but my Facts are expensive to me, and an unfortunate incident with a friends inquisitive child left me one woofer with a well dented dust cap. Doh.

If I was keeping them it wouldn't bother me as much and I'd probably try pulling it out and live with it, but since I'm selling them it's going to mean a trip back to Cassa PMC. Have already asked for a quote, but anyone know what we're talking - I'm assuming it's just cosmetic but even so is it the entire driver or they can remove and replace the cap?

Either way I'm bracing myself, I've never had a speaker repair but if it's anything like a car I'm sure it won't be favourably priced!

The poor little sod did call up to say sorry.... Hope it's not a home insurance job.

And there was me partly thinking I've got a few years before mine gets big enough to poke them and I need speakers with hard grilles!

[Pim]

Have you tried carefully sucking it out with a vacuum cleaner?

[Hifi_swlon]

Have you tried carefully sucking it out with a vacuum cleaner?

I'd read that might be possible, but I think it's going to look imperfect as its paper and well dented.  

So not ideal for resale. I didn't want to mess with it until I'd had a quote from PMC, just in case I made matters worse. I could foresee me and a vacuum cleaner possibly equalling an even bigger bill!  

I might have to update my avatar.....

[Antoine]

Using a piece of adhesive tape over your index finger, sticky side up of course, holding it with your thumb and middle finger of the same hand works better/more precise than a vacuum cleaner. If normal tape isn't strong enough use duct tape or put the tape over your thumb for a larger "sticky area".

Any speaker repair shop should also be able to repair this or if it needs replacing replace it. I don't think there's an immediate need to send it back to the factory.

Good luck!

Edit: wrote this post before I read it's a paper dust cap (thought it was plastic). This might make things harder or leave wrinkles.

[Philb]

I have successfully used a vacuum cleaner - same situation, a visiting child (I could/should have strangled the parent) - both speakers (PMC) - I was careful not to let the nozzle touch the dust-cap, carefully teasing it out. Unlikely that it will end up looking like new though.

[Hifi_swlon]

Ouch - both speakers! It could have been four drivers for me so I suppose I was lucky.

These things happen I suppose - I used to be more paranoid, but since they'd survived so far I thought I was worrying too much. Well, plus I had my own to worry about.

Parents-wise, I think a lot of people (even with good incomes and a taste for nice stuff) have no idea how expensive hifi stuff is. Lots of friends get that flashy cars, houses, bikes, even big TVs all cost money - but most just think speakers come with the music system or whatever. Generally Sonos or whatever serves their sounds. That's not having a dig - just seems very few people appreciate it. Only person that even noticed them (immediately) was a sound engineer friend.

Anyway, hearing from the viewpoint of a seven year old - 'it looked really like it wanted you to touch it, like a button' and 'I thought it would pop back out'. Hard to disagree really. I have thought about what it might feel like myself, and whether it would pop back out. Now I know and I didn't even get to enjoy it!  

[Hifi_swlon]

Thinking about it, if I can get it repaired and the speaker has to go off, I might just enjoy myself and do the other one.

Kidding!


Mmmmm. Or am I!

[Philb]

Agreed, very enticing to a child, however if the child has been brought up properly they should not go touching stuff when visiting other people - the parents involved in my situation are bone idle and completely inattentive. I didn't cry too much because I use them as rears for home cinema and they are bit beaten up anyway (cheap demos).

[Silvertouran]

I think you should go round to their house and poke the woofers in their Amstrad. :-)

[Philb]

tempting... ;-)