What types of loudspeakers is it possible to make covers for?
In theory, it is possible to create covers for any speaker. The size and shape don’t matter, in its fundamentals.
However, there are two things to consider. In short, the preferred type of speakers fulfills two criteria:
Straight, simple boxy shaped speakers are the easiest to work with. The size of the speakers has no importance.
Also, it is better if it easy to keep the edge of the speaker drivers from touching the cover fabric when the speaker is in full play.
The future plan is that Desaudio will offer loudspeakers and audio devices for sale or will at least be able to recommend to its customers who want or need to acquire speakers and possibly audio components. In that case, these issues will be cared for.
If they customer owns or acquires speakers
The points here are more to be considered for a customer who wants to acquire Desaudio design speaker covers for loudspeakers that the customer already owns, or the customer wants to acquire new or used speakers to upgrade the audio gear.
Here are further speculations about these points:
About the boxy form
First is that it is easier and more straightforward to make covers for a speaker that has (mostly) a straight, boxy shape with 90° edges and corners. A seamless pattern runs effortlessly over the edge of such a speaker, in the sides and top, and doesn’t mismatch on seams as there are no seams on these edges. The edges of a speaker may be rounded, but if the sides are straight then the pattern will fit snugly over the surface of the speaker.
If a pair of speakers have a complex sculptural shape, then it makes less sense to create covers for those, as it is difficult and expensive to tailor, cut and sew a cover so that it will fit correctly. It is just like cutting and sewing a dress for the human body, which has a very complex shape. A speaker with a complex, sculptural shape is also a more unique creation, the work of an industrial designer that has put a lot of work and undoubtedly artistic pride into creating the shape. To cover up that designer’s would perhaps be not popular at all and could even lead to loud complaints and accusations. Desaudio is not interested in getting tangled in such a thing and will try its best to honor the real, artistic work of other designers.
The loudspeakers that are most desirable for this kind of project is loudspeakers with high acoustical quality, but with a simple, boxy shape where little or no effort has been made to make the design of the speaker remarkable in any way. These speakers will already sing, acoustically, and it is Desaudio’s job to let them sing, in a visual aesthetic way, as well.
Speaker price
The price of the speakers doesn’t matter either, although the customer will evaluate what are the appropriate proportional costs between the speakers basically, and the pattern creation and production costs of the covers. To order an expensive bespoke creation for loudspeakers that are unremarkable in build and acoustic quality probably doesn’t make much sense, although executing that is the same as for an expensive, superior quality, high-end speaker.
About preventing the speaker drivers from touching the cover fabric
The speakers generate sound by the speaker drivers, the circular cones, vibrating in and out, and generating sound waves in the process. While the high-frequency tweeters only vibrate in and out perhaps a millimeter or less, then the low-frequency woofers may vibrate in and out as much as 50 mm in some instances. On loudspeakers, the manufacturers deliver them with protective fabric, often black, which is stretched on a speaker grille. The manufacturer often recommends keeping grille on, to protect the delicate speaker drivers, that are often made of paper, and the center cap may be of thin aluminum that can be damaged by poking fingers.
The speaker grille is fastened to the front, either with pegs or with magnets. The only purpose of the grille is to create a distance between the fabric and the speaker drivers so that they don’t touch the speaker grille fabric when they are playing (more specifically the rubber that surrounds the speaker cone and fastens it with the metal frame in the front of the speaker driver).
The speaker grille fabric is acoustically transparent and has an almost undetectable effect on the sound quality. More specifically, there is no effect on the lower frequency sound ranges, but some small effect on the top frequencies (typically perhaps a 2-3% drop in loudness). The loudspeaker manufacturers often adjust the audio signal to accommodate for this, by slightly increasing the power in the top frequencies. The manufacturer then recommends that the speaker grille should be kept on the speaker to protect it.
However, it is possible to take the speaker grille off, for those who want to experience the play in its most direct form.
If the speaker is configured in such a way that it is possible to take off the black fabric and leave the speaker grill empty on the front of the speaker, then we are in luck.
The black fabric, made of acoustically transparent speaker grille fabric to protect the speaker, is thus replaced by the Desaudio cover, which is also made of acoustically transparent speaker grille fabric that also protects the speaker and has the same little effect on the acoustic quality, except that this cover stretches all around the speaker and over the top, and is printed with colors and patterns that harmonize especially well with the décor of the room. That is the basic idea of Desaudio and the Designer Home Audio that is introduced here by Desaudio.
It is also possible to take the Desaudio cover off, to experience direct playback without any covering fabric, should the owner desire that, as the cover is simply fastened with Velcro, buttons, or a zipper on the back.
However, if removing the black fabric from the speaker grille can only be done with a destructive operation, then this needs more thorough consideration.
Is it possible to buy an empty speaker grille from the loudspeaker manufacturer? Will the manufacturer respond positively to such a request? Will it be decently priced?
Is the speaker owner happy with ripping the black speaker grille fabric off and throwing it away, as it will be replaced with the Desaudio cover?
If that is not desired, then the question is how it is possible to provide another frame, another grille, to keep the Desaudio cover from touching the speaker drivers. This may be difficult if the loudspeakers for which the covers are intended are not there, on a different continent even.
This is one of the tasks that need to be considered.
