Cheap speaker grill/cover???

[transfan]

Does anyone have any suggestions for an inexpensive speaker grill/dust cover?  I am using computer speakers and just need the "look" of real speakers.

Anything I can get at LOWE's, for instance that looks real?

[deepblue]

I used car audio covers. You might be able to find replacement ones around. Barring that you could make your own with wood framing and speaker cloth material.

[gryhnd]

I used these for my upright:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SPEAKER-COVER-4-SPEAKER-/120369556286?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c0695ab3e

and for my cocktail, I actually used some circular, aluminum, louvered vents from Lowe's that I painted up.

[RayB]

go to a surplus store.

[transfan]

go to a surplus store.

[Rick]

I went to our local Fabricland and bought speaker cloth.  It cost $10/metre, and comes in a bunch of colours.

[transfan]

Great ideas folks.  Any ideas for a metal-type grill, as opposed to a cloth?

[ragnar]

car speaker covers are a good choice.  How big are the covers that you need?  You might be able to get cheap car speakers at Wal Mart (or EBay) which can be used for the casings (gut the actual speaker).

The thing is, with cloth you don't see the inside of the cabinet.  With a metal grill, it has small holes and hte inside becomes visible to some extent.

[Rick]

The thing is, with cloth you don't see the inside of the cabinet.  With a metal grill, it has small holes and hte inside becomes visible to some extent.

This is true, and I'll append on that using multiple layers of speaker cloth will give you an even more opaque look.  I recently completed a fireplace build with an integrated media bay hidden behind some white speaker cloth, and needed two layers so that you couldn't see inside the enclosure.  (That being said, black is usually much better for opacity than white.)

[garnerb350]

When i was stripping a Universal Mr Do cab the speaker grill ( the actual board ) was wrapped in cloth...
On my Mame cab i went to walmart and bought cheap speakers (4 inch) and I had some black felt ( craft section of walmart)...I then cut out the felt to fit inside the grill...took black thread and sewn it to the grill(keep it in place)... I love it...cant see the speakers...

You might can ride by a best buy and ask if they have any unused speaker grills ( there in the back where they do the car/stereo installations) they might can give em to ya...

Another way if ya want is route you some holes (like the speaker on Donkey Kong)

[transfan]

I'll check best buy but I was hoping they made some sort of circular plastic for $1 and some metal screening to use.

No one has tried any of that?

[deepblue]

Here's an early pic of my speakers (again, cover is a car speaker):


What I did here was to get fabric (any color/material you want really), stretch it over the grills and hot glue it on the back, then attach. This was a given for me because I was using car speakers, but the same idea could apply for any speaker you might use. Just track down some spare grills.

[Rick]

Where have I seen those before???  Oh, right!!!



 

[deepblue]

Yep, very muppet like...had to be in keeping with the color scheme for the King of Kong

[garnerb350]

Reason i brought up best buy is that alot of times they dont replace the factory car grills with the ones packaged with the speakers...they usally end up throwin them away...

But the places i went, they didnt have em...so i ended up myself just getting a set from wallmart...I used the speakers to rig up an old stereo in my workshop...

But wait...heres this...

http://www.amazon.com/Diameter-2-Pc-Mesh-Speaker-Grill/dp/B0002ZPLOI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1283194918&sr=8-5

[JustMichael]

How come that Muppet guy sounds just like Miss Piggy?

[RayB]

go to a surplus store.

A surplus store! They sell all sorts of discounted over-stock, parts n stuff. You'll find actual speaker covers for cheap. And what looks more authentic than the real thing?

[transfan]

go to a surplus store.

A surplus store! They sell all sorts of discounted over-stock, parts n stuff. You'll find actual speaker covers for cheap. And what looks more authentic than the real thing?

I have no idea what this store is.

Do you have some store names as an example? 

Is this in the U.S.?
I can only think of Big Lots?

[CheffoJeffo]

Don't think about chain stores -- most surplus stores aren't.

This is a nice solution from one of BYOAC's finest:

http://bellasarcade.blogspot.com/2007/06/speaker-cover-installation.html

Options are widely available -- here are some arcade-specific solutions:

http://thearcadeboneyard.com/speakersgrills.html

http://www.mikesarcade.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?action=search&category=Game+Parts&subcategory=Speakers+and+Grills

http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm

[deepblue]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=surplus+store

[transfan]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=surplus+store

Hey thanks! Doing that search brings up the only thing I've ever heard of as a surplus store, and that's an army surplus store.  Why would I go to an army surplus store for old speakers???

 

Is it possible that people in different geographical locations call things by different names, and while having a conversation, I might just want to ask for clarification?  No need to be a jerk about it.

[CheffoJeffo]

There are a number of examples on that page that aren't army surplus stores.

If you want an example of one close to you, let us know where you live and WGTFY!

 

[deepblue]

Hey thanks! Doing that search brings up the only thing I've ever heard of as a surplus store, and that's an army surplus store.  Why would I go to an army surplus store for old speakers???

 

Is it possible that people in different geographical locations call things by different names, and while having a conversation, I might just want to ask for clarification?  No need to be a jerk about it.

Jeez - it appeared you didnt know what it was, wasn't trying to be a jerk (see above where i was trying to help you).

Good luck with your build.

[JustMichael]

Hey thanks! Doing that search brings up the only thing I've ever heard of as a surplus store, and that's an army surplus store.  Why would I go to an army surplus store for old speakers???

 

To get the speaker covers off of them or didn't you originally ask

Does anyone have any suggestions for an inexpensive speaker grill/dust cover?

[transfan]

[/quote]

Jeez - it appeared you didnt know what it was, wasn't trying to be a jerk (see above where i was trying to help you).

Good luck with your build.
[/quote]


Sorry, you're right.  The link is kinda patronizing so I immediately got all internet-defensive.  Sorry

[RayB]

THEY DON'T SELL "USED" ITEMS.
Cripes, I'm done here.
 

[dawolv]

Does anyone have any suggestions for an inexpensive speaker grill/dust cover?  I am using computer speakers and just need the "look" of real speakers.

Anything I can get at LOWE's, for instance that looks real?

Im using these in my cab (im also using PC Speakers Logitechs Z313)


Got the 5 1/4" at Amazon.Com   -- LINKY --

They look good and they are cheap  ($4.50 per pair ie if you are using two speakers then you will need to order 2 pairs so like $9.00)

Hope it helps!

[Dervacumen]

Great ideas folks.  Any ideas for a metal-type grill, as opposed to a cloth?

I couldn't find a metal solution in my area but put cloth behind a very heavy screen door type vinyl with decent results.  If your speakers are in an area that's easily kicked or hit you might not like this solution.  If they're out of the way...a decent alternative.