Dumb question
- Thread starter John_L
- Start date
wixedmords
New member
Re: Dumb question
That's a pretty subjective question JL.
I use another layer of grill cloth, albeit thin, to fend off the spikey speaker types. Enough to make a difference? It depends on what the starting point of sound is and the makeup of the grill cloth. To many variables to account for to make a simple statement that is "is" going to make a difference, but it "can" make a difference.
Some don't hear differences in tube manufacturers so it is hard to tell is someone is going to hear a difference with grill cloth. The deal is really about finding what effects what you hear.
That's a pretty subjective question JL.
I use another layer of grill cloth, albeit thin, to fend off the spikey speaker types. Enough to make a difference? It depends on what the starting point of sound is and the makeup of the grill cloth. To many variables to account for to make a simple statement that is "is" going to make a difference, but it "can" make a difference.
Some don't hear differences in tube manufacturers so it is hard to tell is someone is going to hear a difference with grill cloth. The deal is really about finding what effects what you hear.
Last edited:
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Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Dumb question
Back in the Eighties, the default POS nearfield monitor speaker for checking how mixes would probably sound on domestic sound systems was the Yamaha NS10. For some reason, it became fashionable to remove the original fabric covers and then hang a sheet of tissue paper over the tweeter moulding. This practice became the accepted wisdom of the age. I recall no published literature demonstrating or quantifying what difference, if any, this practice made to the final sound?
IMO, the real reason was that, since the NS10s sounded faecal, you might as well have some tissue nearby to wipe up afterwards. :cool2:
Back in the Eighties, the default POS nearfield monitor speaker for checking how mixes would probably sound on domestic sound systems was the Yamaha NS10. For some reason, it became fashionable to remove the original fabric covers and then hang a sheet of tissue paper over the tweeter moulding. This practice became the accepted wisdom of the age. I recall no published literature demonstrating or quantifying what difference, if any, this practice made to the final sound?
IMO, the real reason was that, since the NS10s sounded faecal, you might as well have some tissue nearby to wipe up afterwards. :cool2:
J Moose
New member
Re: Dumb question
I'm not sure that any sort of subjective educational study was ever needed to qualify the difference between having some sorta cloth over the tweeter or not having it, or if it made a difference or not, because IT IS readily apparent that there is a difference if you've ever experienced in the first person.
We hang tissue paper (or pieces of an old T-shirt) over the tweeters on NS10's because they're so friggin bright that its hard to work with 'em... especially on a long session. Shy on bass, excess of upper-mids and top end... the cloth helps to balance that out. Lo-fi EQ.
Anywhoo the short answer to the original question is yes, anything that's in front of the speaker is going to change the sound. Change the material, change the sound. Simple enough...
Now is that a change that you'll actually hear? Maybe... probably... especially if you go from say, a wicker grille to a metal grate but in the grand scheme of things thats a pretty small change compared to say, putting a new pickup in or different tubes.
While recording some people actually remove the grille entirely so the speakers are unobstructed.
I'm not sure that any sort of subjective educational study was ever needed to qualify the difference between having some sorta cloth over the tweeter or not having it, or if it made a difference or not, because IT IS readily apparent that there is a difference if you've ever experienced in the first person.
We hang tissue paper (or pieces of an old T-shirt) over the tweeters on NS10's because they're so friggin bright that its hard to work with 'em... especially on a long session. Shy on bass, excess of upper-mids and top end... the cloth helps to balance that out. Lo-fi EQ.
Anywhoo the short answer to the original question is yes, anything that's in front of the speaker is going to change the sound. Change the material, change the sound. Simple enough...
Now is that a change that you'll actually hear? Maybe... probably... especially if you go from say, a wicker grille to a metal grate but in the grand scheme of things thats a pretty small change compared to say, putting a new pickup in or different tubes.
While recording some people actually remove the grille entirely so the speakers are unobstructed.
J Moose
New member
Re: Dumb question
Sorta.
The 'cheap radio' award goes to Auratones which are 5" full range, single speaker drivers. Sounds terrible and too much low-end will blow 'em up.
NS10s also sound terrible and have no low end... how loud is the kick drum? Who knows... gotta watch how far the speaker moves to figure that out. Really. Its far too easy to make a mix sound "good" on NS10s but that has too much low end anywhere else. And they'll never tell you because they won't blow up like Auratones.
I've never been able to make 'em work for me. When I closed my shop to outside engineers years ago I sold the NS10s & haven't missed 'em. Main monitors here are Dynaudio & Tannoy. No guessing with those!
But go ahead and hang a sheet or an old shirt over your amp. Does it sound different?
Sorta.
The 'cheap radio' award goes to Auratones which are 5" full range, single speaker drivers. Sounds terrible and too much low-end will blow 'em up.
NS10s also sound terrible and have no low end... how loud is the kick drum? Who knows... gotta watch how far the speaker moves to figure that out. Really. Its far too easy to make a mix sound "good" on NS10s but that has too much low end anywhere else. And they'll never tell you because they won't blow up like Auratones.
I've never been able to make 'em work for me. When I closed my shop to outside engineers years ago I sold the NS10s & haven't missed 'em. Main monitors here are Dynaudio & Tannoy. No guessing with those!
But go ahead and hang a sheet or an old shirt over your amp. Does it sound different?