How can I put a shine back in an ash black subwoofer?

Okra

Okra

Active Member
Good morning,
I recently added a new SVS subwoofer and hadn't realized how dull my old sub had gotten. Is there a safe method of adding shine back into black ash speakers? (I actually don't know if SVS uses real veneer or if it is a vinyl wrap). Thanks!

New shiny subwoofer

SVS SB2000.jpg

Old dull subwoofer

SVS SB NSD-12.jpg
 

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Many car polishes have chemicals that destroy vinyl stripes on cars, I would be very hesitant to use those on a speaker enclosure unless high gloss enamel.
 
Armor All or pure lemon oil. As with any application of something you haven't used before, try a small sample spot in an area that's not normally visible.
 
I have used black shoe polish to cover scratches on black wood, and the black front baffles of speakers before. You can also buff it to get some shine as well. Worth a try.
 
StuartB said:
I have used black shoe polish to cover scratches on black wood, and the black front baffles of speakers before. You can also buff it to get some shine as well. Worth a try.
Click to expand...

Shoe polish is also an old musician's trick, to get the Tolex on old guitar amp cabinets to look good again. It works!!

At the least, it shouldn't hurt the vinyl finish.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Okra said:
Good morning,
I recently added a new SVS subwoofer and hadn't realized how dull my old sub had gotten. Is there a safe method of adding shine back into black ash speakers? (I actually don't know if SVS uses real veneer or if it is a vinyl wrap). Thanks!

New shiny subwoofer

View attachment 2872962

Old dull subwoofer

View attachment 2872964
Click to expand...
It's vinyl, so a silicone based spray like Pledge will make them look brand new and shiny again.
 
I've used Dunlop deep conditioning fretboard oil for all my black and dark wood finishes. Never had a problem.

I'll wipe down the speaker, apply a thin layer, spread it out and let it stand for five minutes or so then wipe down with another microfiber cloth.

Having said that, I'd expect Howard's to work 90% as well and is considerably cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002OOMTY/
 
F1nut said:
The covering on the sub is VINYL, not wood.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't care about that.

Regardless of the source. it's what I use on black and dark wood - AND WOOD-LIKE - surfaces, including an SVS SB-1000 sub.

I bought the sub used. Guy never cleaned it from the looks of it. I wiped it down a couple times with a very slightly damp microfiber cloth, let that dry, applied the thin layer of Dunlop smearing it around thoroughly and wiped it off after about five minutes or so and it looked fantastic afterwards. Literally a night and day difference.

I've done the same to B&Ws, Paradigms, PSBs, SVS Primes, ELACs, a couple pairs of Pioneer SP-BS series... they all looked fantastic after the same routine.

I do think the Howard's Dark Oak or Mahogany Restor-A-Finish looks nearly as good but the Dunlop lasts longer for sure.
 
Most wouldn't think of putting baby oil on expensive, treasured equipment, yet mineral oil is the main ingredient in most of these products. Everything else (lemon oil, beeswax, naphtha, silicone, etc.) is just marketing to differentiate their product from all the others and 'justify' a higher price. Some of these products are 90+% mineral oil which is inexpensive compared to the cost of their product.
 
I had a pair of JBL ARC 90s, bought used from a thrift store. They had a few light scratches on the surface similar to yours. I sold them after having used old fashioned black shoe polish to take out the light scratches. The shoe polish works! Just my two cents.
 
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