touching the tweeter

[intimeagen]

I was setting up a pair of Rega 5 speakers a few nights ago and got distracted and accidentally (and only lightly) touched the tweeter cone. Doesn't look dented or damaged. I believe they're silk. If no visible damage, is their possibility of "invisible" damage. Of course, being obsessive-compulsive, I think I hear a difference in the sound of each speaker, but then I'm always paranoid about consequences of mistakes. Any insights from the experts? How does one objectively assess the possibility of damage from accidental contact with a tweeter.

 

[MDS]

I can relate to the obsessive-compulsive nature but I think the probability of having done any real damage, visible or invisible, is practically nil.

A visible dent may cause a slightly noticeable change in frequency response but even then I'd be inclined to doubt it. Just chill...everything is ok.

 

[intimeagen]

Thanks, MDS, you've been a big help. The packaging warned against damage to the exposed drivers, but I guess if even touching them caused damage, the instructions would have been even more explicit. This begs the question, "Why don't manufacturers ship the speakers with the grills on them?" given that they're so easy to remove and the potential for damage caused by klutzes like me dramatically reduced.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have seen/heard speakers that have had the tweeters punched in, then pushed back into shape, and still sounded fine.

 

[highfihoney]

This begs the question, "Why don't manufacturers ship the speakers with the grills on them?" given that they're so easy to remove and the potential for damage caused by klutzes like me dramatically reduced.

Manufacturers dont like to ship speakers with grills attached because of the drastically increased risk of shipping damage,a grill that comes loose durring shipping will break off at the pegs attaching the grill to the cabinet & if they are velcro attached they will still cause damage,a loose grill will slide around & cause massive damage to the finish of the cabinet.

The cap in the center of a speaker is a dust cap & in the grand scheme of what makes a speaker work plays no role at all,its merely there to keep the driver sealed,you could push the dust cap in to make a big dent with no audible results,ive had tweeters pushed in & dented to where i had to take a shop vac & suck the dent out,ive also had to replace the dust cap because of a permanent crease in the material,in both cases the tweeter worked & sounded fine.

 

[intimeagen]

Thanks Joe and Highfihoney for the additional comments. I'm much relieved and can now fully enjoy my new speakers

 

[Warpdrv]

I personally would jam a screwdriver in there and pry out the front part to see if there was any damage that might have occurred... hey but thats just me...

 

[markw]

Grille covers are cheap insurance.

Particularly when you have kids or animals, (both four legged and two legged) and inquisitive guests.

It seems that humans, not just kids, have a natural propensity to want to poke dust caps. I think it's lodged in that part of the brain that makes us want to touch whatever the "wet paint" sign is referring to.

That, plus I've not noticed that great a difference with it on or off.

 

[Warpdrv]

I have a 16 year old, and I do leave the grills on, but he knows if he would ever do something like that.... I would beat him senseless !!!!

 

[Nick250]

I personally would jam a screwdriver in there and pry out the front part to see if there was any damage that might have occurred... hey but thats just me...

Exactly. And if you mangle it in the process, it probably needed to be replaced anyway.

Nick

 

[markw]

That's redundant.

I have a 16 year old, and I do leave the grills on, but he knows if he would ever do something like that.... I would beat him senseless !!!!

When my kids were 16 they were naturally senesless!

 

[rmongiovi]

If they didn't want us to push them why did they make them look like buttons?

 

[zhimbo]

"Touching the tweeter" is one of the dirtiest-sounding subject lines I've seen on this forum.

 

[emorphien]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's easy to brush them without doing any damage and as others has mentioned, even if you do bump one it's not necessarily going to be an issue.

FWIW my Totems don't even come with grilles but they do have a mesh tweeter guard.

 

[Seth=L]

I have a 16 year old, and I do leave the grills on, but he knows if he would ever do something like that.... I would beat him senseless !!!!

I just about whacked a friend in the head for touching on my woofers once. He was touching them so wrong.