Impact on Sound Quality of Perforated Leather over Automobile Speakers

[Brian A]

This is probably the wrong forum to ask this, but it is the only audio forum I know, so I will ask anyway.

 

I am currently getting the interior refurbished in an old sports car. It has a big stereo system, which was installed before I bought the car. The tweeters are in the door panels at about hip height, the main drivers are at the bottom front corner of the doors, the subwoofer is at the passenger's feet and the amp are in the trunk.

 

The main drivers are covered with awful tan fabric. It needs to be replaced. The refurbisher suggests perforated leather (a circular pattern of holes the dimensions of the driver). This would certainly look nicest, but I worry that it will affect the sound significantly. Conversely, the tweeters will not be covered, engine noise is extremely high and the system is not any sort of "high end" system by any stretch of the imagination. I guess I might upgrade the drivers (and other stuff in the system) in the future.

 

Will covering the main drivers with perforated leather be okay?

[wgscott]

Can you take some home and drape it over your speakers? If you don't hear a significant difference there, then you are good to go.

[mwheelerk]

Simply an opinion but I think the density of the leather regardless of perforations would have a fairly significant negative impact on the audio quality. Put some over your mouth and speak (our voices are in the frequency range easiest for us to hear). My bet is it will sound quite muffled.

[souptin]

I'm going to bet that it will be ok, given that the tweeters are not going to be covered, but it's just a guess.

 

I have seen it done on some cars - I think more often as part of the standard audio fit-out rather than the work of a car audio specialist. The perforated areas ends up sagging a bit, so personally I don't think the aesthetics age very well. It might be worth finding a local car audio shop to see if they can either source some grills that fit your existing speakers, or recommend a replacement set of speaker and grill. Gives you another option if nothing else.

[mav52]

Why would you want to cover up your speakers ? Car audio is not the best place for acoustics anyway so let the drivers get some air. Use a nice grill cover or if you can find large holed perforated leather that could work.

PS: what kind of car are you working on...

[Brian A]

I'm going to bet that it will be ok...

...I think ... a fairly significant negative impact...

Can you take some home and drape it over your speakers?

Hum, good suggestions: I may even try draping some leather-like material over the lower drivers of my home system speakers to hear the effect. The refurbisher also uses grille cloth, but it will look less stock.

 

what kind of car are you working on...

It is a 1983 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole. Here is a picture of the problem:

[mav52]

Hum, good suggestions: I may even try draping some leather-like material over the lower drivers of my home system speakers to hear the effect. The refurbisher also uses grille cloth, but it will look less stock.

 

It is a 1983 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole. Here is a picture of the problem:

 

 

It appears youa re not the only person to encounter this

Leather speaker covers - FerrariChat.com

[mav52]

Hum, good suggestions: I may even try draping some leather-like material over the lower drivers of my home system speakers to hear the effect. The refurbisher also uses grille cloth, but it will look less stock.

 

It is a 1983 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole. Here is a picture of the problem:

 

 

It appears you are not the only person to encounter this

Leather speaker covers - FerrariChat.com

 

I think you might be able to use this product and shape it to fit your opening , but the perforated leather would look so much better. http://www.reliablehardware.com/customspeakergrill.aspx?gclid=CLXPuZH0-rYCFQTd4AodbmIAMA

[AudioDoctor]

First, beautiful car!

 

Second, you can always take out the audio system and add lightness... ;-) Personally, I would rather listen to the wonderful engine and exhaust note than the stereo anyway.

[Brian A]

It appears you are not the only person to encounter this

Leather speaker covers - FerrariChat.com

Ahh, FerrariChat: the font of all Ferrari knowledge. I should have tried there first. It sounds like the leather will compromise sound. I may still do it. I think the stock factory grilles are pretty ugly. I need to dig under the cloth to see why they did what they did. I'm not after a 100 point concours winner, but do want to keep it looking vintage. I can't see how it is possible to get a very good audio quality out of the car. It is no Lexus.

 

First, beautiful car!...Second, you can always take out the audio system and add lightness...

I know you are a Porsche guy, so thanks. An antique Ferrari is a bit like my audio system: simple but effective (I don't miss ABS but wish I had a rev limiter). The sound of a flat plane crank V8 at 7,800 rpm is hair raising. Regarding adding lightness, I am fully reconciled to a dated performance envelope of a 30 year old car. It is my track car but I don't race; just HPDE. I'm not going to get too fanatical about weight.

[AudioDoctor]

 

I know you are a Porsche guy, so thanks. An antique Ferrari is a bit like my audio system: simple but effective (I don't miss ABS but wish I had a rev limiter). The sound of a flat plane crank V8 at 7,800 rpm is hair raising. Regarding adding lightness, I am fully reconciled to a dated performance envelope of a 30 year old car. It is my track car but I don't race; just HPDE. I'm not going to get too fanatical about weight.

 

Exactly my point! ;-)

 

Someday I want to get a classic Porsche 911 for the fun of being able to work on it and of course the thrill of driving without all the gadgets and gizmos.

[NOMBEDES]

Do not worry about anything audio. Road noise will mask anything your audio system can or cannot do.

 

Now if you were working on a Rolls Royce we could get into some fine details, Ferrari, not so much.

[AudioDoctor]

The 458 actually has flat panel speakers like a Magnepan and sounds quite good.

[Brian A]

Do not worry about anything audio. Road noise will mask anything your audio system can or cannot do.

 

Now if you were working on a Rolls Royce we could get into some fine details, Ferrari, not so much.

Thanks for the perspective. Are you in the car audio business? I am increasingly thinking I shouldn't try to get good sound.

 

The 458 actually has flat panel speakers like a Magnepan and sounds quite good.

Modern cars are so refined. You can take one to 90 mph and it doesn't even feel fast. My 308 feels fast at 30 mph.

 

...Someday I want to get a classic Porsche 911 for the fun of being able to work on it and of course the thrill of driving without all the gadgets and gizmos.

About 10 years ago, I decided I was going to learn how to work on my own cars (back then it was E30 BMWs). Now I have the tools, books, jack stands etc. It is good "therapy". An old car is a simple contraption and a very raw driving experience; steering wheel and 3 pedals. Wonderful.

[AudioDoctor]

Thanks for the perspective. Are you in the car audio business? I am increasingly thinking I shouldn't try to get good sound.

 

Modern cars are so refined. You can take one to 90 mph and it doesn't even feel fast. My 308 feels fast at 30 mph.

 

About 10 years ago, I decided I was going to learn how to work on my own cars (back then it was E30 BMWs). Now I have the tools, books, jack stands etc. It is good "therapy". An old car is a simple contraption and a very raw driving experience; steering wheel and 3 pedals. Wonderful.

 

I kinda agree with NOMBEDES, I don't think a car is a very good place for audio, much less a sports car such as a Ferrari or Porsche...The fun is in the drive and the sounds the car makes, not the music. I did not order any upgraded stereo in my new Porsche, but I did order the upgraded engine... ;-)

 

Have you seen the Singer 911s?

[Brian A]

I remember reading Shawn Bailey's article in Road and Track. Don't tell me you actually own one??!!??

[AudioDoctor]

I remember reading Shawn Bailey's article in Road and Track. Don't tell me you actually own one??!!??

 

Oh god no, well, not yet is probably more accurate...

[Jsmith]

Personally I would stick with the grill cloth. If I hated the look that much I would just ditch the audio system.

 

Looking at the picture I wonder if black grill cloth would be better. Show less dirt than the tan, and match the pull part of the door.