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Dynaco A25 Grille Cloth

charlie_bird

charlie_bird

Member
Google shows a number of results that are 10+ years old.

I recently came across a pair of what are best described as NOS Dynaco A25's. Original boxes, price tags etc. super minty. The grille cloth is stained, a ring around the woofer is seen on the grilles. I assume this may be from the speakers being stored face down? It's unsightly. Pictures on the internet show this may be a common thing. I've carefully taken the grille cloth off the frames and tried to wash them but the stains remain.

So... In modern day America what is the closest match to the original A25 grille cloth? I realize there isn't an exact replacement, but I'm happy to spend a few $$ to get something close.

Appreciate any suggestions you have.
 
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123stitch had 18ct linen, which is a perfect match to vintage original AR speaker cloth. It will keep the look you're after with the Dynacos.

Before you buy any cloth, there's plenty of threads where cloth has been cleaned with stains removed. I'm sure more will chime in. I've read that Woolite is one that many have had success with.

Let's see some pics of these!

Glenn
 
GD70 said:
123stitch had 18ct linen, which is a perfect match to vintage original AR speaker cloth. It will keep the look you're after with the Dynacos.

Before you buy any cloth, there's plenty of threads where cloth has been cleaned with stains removed. I'm sure more will chime in. I've read that Woolite is one that many have had success with.

Let's see some pics of these!

Glenn
Click to expand...

Thanks Glenn, that's exactly the info I was looking for. I don't think re-washing the cloth is going to do it. I used some fairly strong laundry stain remover and the rings are still there.

Here are some pictures of the speakers and my efforts to remove the grills.

The before picture. Shows the stains / rings I mentioned.

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Lots of horror stories describing how hard the grilles are to remove and the black gorilla snot holding them on.
I read somewhere that a dental pick was the best choice to start lifting on the glued in grille.

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Inserting the pick parallel to wood and then rotating it under the grille worked a treat. Once I got a hold on the corner liberal use of the hairdryer got things moving.

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Not really that difficult in the end.

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I only listened for a couple of minutes but the speakers didn't sound good. I've ordered some Dayton Audio PMPC 5.1uF 250V caps to replace the old ones.

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Here are some shots of the boxes. Obviously originally from the US (I'm in Australia). They cost 79.00 (each?) back in the day.

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http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/...ements-comments/&do=findComment&comment=71036

My A-25s came without grilles and I asked for someone to count the threads and this was one person's response, he says 25 per inch:
"On my A25s,the version with Scan-Speak tweeter and SEAS woofer,it's around 25 threads per inch -one thread per mm-although it could very well be made in India or whatever.It's not evenly woven though,about every inch or so there's a thicker thread and also some extra thicker threads woven in uneven intervals.Sounds a little complicated,I guess.I'll see if I can scan the fabric."
 
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Any luck on stain removal? I'm wrestling an old pair of Grundig speakers with stained cloth. The stain seems to have set in the threads. I was able to remove close to 90% of the stain but some remains.
 
for particularly tough stains, fels naptha soap and Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (dissolved in warm water and then allowed to cool) has revived a few I have had.

while I agree the 1-2-3 material is not a perfect match, it does have a similar look and would be a fine choice for a replacement. I have not seen replacement cloth with the large long slubs like the OEM Dynaco material, but I will keep looking!
 
I've looked quite a bit, and AFAIK there is no replacement cloth out there. The lambs wool stuff is a great match for ARs but lacks the textured look of the material Dynaco used. The closest looking material is burlap, but burlap does not have the acoustically transparent quality required.

Given how many Dynaco speakers were sold, all with that cloth, it's odd that no replacement exists. Maybe someday...
 
kirk57 said:
I've looked quite a bit, and AFAIK there is no replacement cloth out there. The lambs wool stuff is a great match for ARs but lacks the textured look of the material Dynaco used. The closest looking material is burlap, but burlap does not have the acoustically transparent quality required.

Given how many Dynaco speakers were sold, all with that cloth, it's odd that no replacement exists. Maybe someday...
Click to expand...
I agree completely. It's got to be out there somewhere, but we just haven't found it yet.
 
I covered a pair of these with slubbed linen-look fabric scavenged from an old tablecloth I found in a thrift store. Slubs, incidentally, are the irregularities you find in linen. ( I have a crafty wife who tells me things.)

Anyhow, the end result wasn't perfect, but it did--somewhat-- preserve the look of the grills.

And it was cheap.

Good luck.
 
I've had reasonably good success at cleaning my grill cloth. I washed them while the cloth was still attached to the frame and I protected them from leaking dye by cutting a plastic garbage bag into strips and stuffing the plastic between the cloth and the frame. I first used laundry detergent with some Oxyclean and used a paint brush to gently scrub the fabric. I repeated this a few times until the rinse water looked clean. I then sprayed them with laundry bleach that was diluted with water and let them thoroughly dry out in the sun before removing the plastic strips. They don’t look like new but I think they turned out reasonably well.

Les.

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Yeah the (old) Magnepan cloth sort of has the same vibe to it. I have a stash of it...
 
wonder if you could spritz with hydrogen peroxide after doing LesE's trick with the garbage bags, or utilize a black light (ultraviolet light) to "bleach" them back out
 
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