Covers: Do you use them, does anyone make them, etc....

[pjr300]

Greetings All:

This forum has been very helpful in helping me understand that panel performance is enhanced by keeping them dust free and minimizing humidity. So my question is: is it common practice to use some sort of dustcover on the speakers when not in use? If so, is there a recommended design for them? Or a source for purchasing them?

 

[VideoVic]

Greetings All:

This forum has been very helpful in helping me understand that panel performance is enhanced by keeping them dust free and minimizing humidity. So my question is: is it common practice to use some sort of dustcover on the speakers when not in use? If so, is there a recommended design for them? Or a source for purchasing them?

Hello PJR. if you bought your ESL new, there probably were black cloth covers in the box they were shipped with and you should use those. I use the ones that came with my ESL - X and since I use my speakers every night for watching TV I put them on before I go to bed. If you did not buy the speakers new, you can probably order a pair direct from Martin Logan and yes, they help extend the cleanliness of the speakers so vacuuming needs to be done less frequently.
Best regards.
VideoVic

 

[Heyfey]

I've gotten very nice covers for my Odysseys and Theos from Digital Deck:

https://www.digitaldeckcovers.com/

 

[gvera]

I also use covers.
There are several covers in the market but most of them also cover the woofer cabinet which I think spoils the looks of the speaker.
I bought the following ones that only covers the panel.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204467493965?_ul=UY

The photos are actually of my own speakers, the seller didn't have any photos of the installed covers so I sent them mine.

Regards,
Gustavo

 

[Kermie]

Thanks for this link. I have 3 covers from this company for my Reel to Reels and they are very well made. This will be another purchase from them.

 

[pjr300]

Thanks all! I did not acquire my speakers new, and therefore i did not receive some of the goodies, like manuals, boxes, and now i learn dustcovers as well. Sounds like i have a new task!

 

[MHzTweaker]

I had https://www.digitaldeckcovers.com/ make me a set based on my measurements to cover just the panels. I had them made a little thick because I was unsure due to the stator being thinner at the top. There's a flap in back not sewn from 38 inches down to cover the space between the stator and bass box.

I just replaced my panels a couple weeks ago so I'm going overboard to keep dust off them including a new HEPA air filter seen in the photo that runs 24 hours a day when I'm not listening to music. I also bought manual remote power switches to manually shut the power off to them.

 

[DanR]

I had https://www.digitaldeckcovers.com/ make me a set based on my measurements to cover just the panels. I had them made a little thick because I was unsure due to the stator being thinner at the top. There's a flap in back not sewn from 38 inches down to cover the space between the stator and bass box.

I just replaced my panels a couple weeks ago so I'm going overboard to keep dust off them including a new HEPA air filter seen in the photo that runs 24 hours a day when I'm not listening to music. I also bought manual remote power switches to manually shut the power off to them.


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I’m right there with you on the dust thing tweaker I have a local guy here that makes boat covers and refurbs boat seats he made these up for me from my measurements. I installed new panels on my Odysseys and have had them covered whenever not in use since. I also use digital deck covers to cover my amps when not in use they make excellent covers.

 

[MHzTweaker]

I am also recovering the frames for the bass bins. THIS has been an eye opening experience for sure. I have yet to fully discover how Martin Logan got those frames covered so perfectly but I am getting there. The first frame is almost done and it has been my BETA test.

There are some things I can say for sure.
Standard speaker grill cloth will not work! I bought 4 yards of the best Mellotone from Parts Express. Wasted money. It does not stretch. Prodigy frames are just odd and crazy deep at the bottom half of the frames. Matin Logan original cloth may be some type of Lycra but it stretches in one direction a lot. Not so much on the other axis. I found some material at JoAnn Fabric (going out of business ) and bought 3 yards of it for roughly $50. It stretches in both X and Y axis. One yard should do 2 frames. I bought an extra yard in case of mistakes.

Martin Logan used glue to put the cloths on then dressed up the inside edges with a fabric ribbon, maybe to keep the edges from fraying. I am doing something similar. There is a popular speaker glue that is rather expensive for not much glue. I have found that Yeardera fabric glue is essentially the same thing and you get twice as much glue for less money. It smells exactly the same. Basically, contact cement. I used a black Outus 32mm (3/4") wire harness cloth electrical tape from Amazon that works perfectly when glued a day after the grill cloth has been glued for extra edge protection.

 

[DanR]

I am also recovering the frames for the bass bins. THIS has been an eye opening experience for sure. I have yet to fully discover how Martin Logan got those frames covered so perfectly but I am getting there. The first frame is almost done and it has been my BETA test.

There are some things I can say for sure.
Standard speaker grill cloth will not work! I bought 4 yards of the best Mellotone from Parts Express. Wasted money. It does not stretch. Prodigy frames are just odd and crazy deep at the bottom half of the frames. Matin Logan original cloth may be some type of Lycra but it stretches in one direction a lot. Not so much on the other axis. I found some material at JoAnn Fabric (going out of business ) and bought 3 yards of it for roughly $50. It stretches in both X and Y axis. One yard should do 2 frames. I bought an extra yard in case of mistakes.

Martin Logan used glue to put the cloths on then dressed up the inside edges with a fabric ribbon, maybe to keep the edges from fraying. I am doing something similar. There is a popular speaker glue that is rather expensive for not much glue. I have found that Yeardera fabric glue is essentially the same thing and you get twice as much glue for less money. It smells exactly the same. Basically, contact cement. I used a black Outus 32mm (3/4") wire harness cloth electrical tape from Amazon that works perfectly when glued a day after the grill cloth has been glued for extra edge protection.

Hey can you be any more detailed about what the material is (brand or how Jo Ann labels it?) We have a Jo Ann close to us my wife goes there a lot. I need to do my bass covers on Odysseys too. Thanks in advance

Dan

 

[MHzTweaker]

I can list their stock and/or item numbers.

Here is EXACTLY what I bought:
https://www.joann.com/p/solid-matte-nylon-spandex-fabric/20327045.html

The company is literally going out of business so stock and availability is VERY limited!!!
You should go NOW!!!

I'm about to do my second front cover today. I'm going to change up my technique in hopes of getting a more professional refined look on the folds behind the frame. It has to do with how the fabric is stretched. My Prodigy cover frames are ridiculous to cover. I will post my findings.

 

[DanR]

I can list their stock and/or item numbers.

Here is EXACTLY what I bought:
https://www.joann.com/p/solid-matte-nylon-spandex-fabric/20327045.html

The company is literally going out of business so stock and availability is VERY limited!!!
You should go NOW!!!

I'm about to do my second front cover today. I'm going to change up my technique in hopes of getting a more professional refined look on the folds behind the frame. It has to do with how the fabric is stretched. My Prodigy cover frames are ridiculous to cover. I will post my findings.



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Awesome!! Thank you sir, we’ll see if any of our local stores have any.

 

[MHzTweaker]

It's impossible to get the "behind the frame" fit and finish as good as Martin Logan did, but the fronts look the part. This is the 2nd front cover I re-did.

 

[DanR]

Nice job! That looks real good. I couldn’t find that material at our Jo Ann store so I’ll have to find something else that will work, but I know to get a material that stretches both ways thanks for that important tidbit!

 

[MHzTweaker]

This guy's video can be used a a basis but it goes off the rails when dealing with a really deep frame such as on these Martin Logan Prodigy's.



The sides of the frame are so deep, especially at the bottom, that a lot of extra material bunches up at the corners. I was able to stretch the material at the tops but the bottoms are just too deep and I ended up cutting a square of material at the corner and folding the cuts from the sides over the bottom flap underneath. You cannot see the seams when the grill covers are installed.

I ended up using one 60ml of glue per frame. For the best adhesion, I applied the glue 2 to 3 times because the fabric soaks up the glue. Once the fabric is saturated, you only need to hold it in place for a few minutes for a decent bond to form. I used chip clips to keep it in place. Since the fabric is stretched, it wants to pull back before the glue is sufficiently dried. This is pretty much contact cement and while it takes a day to fully cure, you can work with it in 30 minutes to an hour moving from side to side. There will be extra material left over because you need something to pull on. I used a new pair of bent trauma scissors to get in there to trim extra material. Unlike the video I linked above, it takes a lot more work to get these frames right. I also ran additional glue and used 3/4 inch black cloth tape to hide the jagged cut inside edges similar to what Martin Logan did but not as neat as theirs. You just have to work slowly. You won't be able to just glue all 4 sides in one go like the video shows. One side at a time with breaks of 30minutes to an hour between frame sides. Also, the material is much blacker than my photo might indicate.