plbeard
Active Member
Just a tip for those looking for decent, acoustically transparent, fairly historically-accurate-looking grille cloth for KLH 5s, esp., but potentially for others, too: this is 18ct thread, like the originals. It is polyester and is currently less than seven dollars per bolt yard--more than enough for two speakers (56" x 36"). Search for
"VLN326 Khaki Polyester Linen." ("Real" linen may go at six times that price.)
These are KLH 5s with all correct components and rebuilt crossovers that I cobbled together from parts.
Note this same cloth comes in other shades too. This cloth also is visually non-translucent so it doesn't show cavity shadows as some fabrics thin enough to be acoustically transparent do.
You can find real acoustic research on thread counts--and while this is a great service, I would qualify that research to note that each type of fabric is idiosyncratic. 18 thread count/ inch is generally a good bet. Research may claim that 14ct thread is Ok, and I have used 14 ct Aida embroidery cloth on some Dynaco 25s to good effect, too, but a recent experiment with a different brand of 14ct cloth showed that that brand was not acoustically transparent because of the thickness of that brand cloth's thread. I recommend doing your own tests with white and pink noise--it will be pretty obvious if the cloth attenuates high frequencies or not. I have found some great looking cloth at 28ct or slightly above and at those thread counts--even though the cloth looks visually transparent when held up to light--the linen occludes high frequencies too much.
"VLN326 Khaki Polyester Linen." ("Real" linen may go at six times that price.)
These are KLH 5s with all correct components and rebuilt crossovers that I cobbled together from parts.
Note this same cloth comes in other shades too. This cloth also is visually non-translucent so it doesn't show cavity shadows as some fabrics thin enough to be acoustically transparent do.
You can find real acoustic research on thread counts--and while this is a great service, I would qualify that research to note that each type of fabric is idiosyncratic. 18 thread count/ inch is generally a good bet. Research may claim that 14ct thread is Ok, and I have used 14 ct Aida embroidery cloth on some Dynaco 25s to good effect, too, but a recent experiment with a different brand of 14ct cloth showed that that brand was not acoustically transparent because of the thickness of that brand cloth's thread. I recommend doing your own tests with white and pink noise--it will be pretty obvious if the cloth attenuates high frequencies or not. I have found some great looking cloth at 28ct or slightly above and at those thread counts--even though the cloth looks visually transparent when held up to light--the linen occludes high frequencies too much.
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