Is the 'gasket' really necessary ?

[Jim West PA]

I'm about to re-foam a bunch of speakers and got to wondering if it's really necessary to replace the paper gasket over top of the out side surround edge.
In the past I've always replaced it. Only one time did I see a problem.
When doing a pair of Baby Advent woofers I saw that the roll of the surround came in contact with the gasket resulting in a buzz during playback.
( This could not be avoided. I suppose the surrounds were not accurate replacements)

Anyhow, as best that I can tell, I see no reason for that gasket to even be there ?
Some speakers, Large Advents for instance, don't have the gasket to begin with.

I've often wondered if the gaskets are put in place as a 'rule of thumb' because the
speaker manufacturer doesn't always know exactly who is gong to buy their product, and maybe, in some instances, it will be inside mounted ? Hence, the gasket is then necessary ?

Thoughts ?
Experiences ?

 

[bowtie427ss]

In many woofers, the forward surface of the gasket forms a plane beyond which the cone and surround by design never extend under normal operating conditions. This prevents cone/baffle contact on rear mounted drivers, and can prevent contact with the grill frame/material. Of course some speaker and grill designs allow for no practical use of the front gasket, and you can safely leave them off in those cases.

 

[Raccoon1400]

The gasket helps hold the edge of the foam to the basket, I always put them back. And for originality.

 

[Kahoona]

I have reformed a number of Boston Acoustic speakers that are gasket-less by design. I don't think you need one but I am a fan of replacing in kind unless proven otherwise. Some possible reasons to use a front gasket in a front mounted speaker.
To hide a sloppy looking glue job on the foam.
To hold the foam edge in place properly if the glue was not applied evenly.
It is an easy way to hold the freshly glued surrounds in place because you can clamp them easily.
Yes that buzz should be cured by trimming the gaskets which is done routinely in the pro shops. Sometimes that foam roll to gasket contact means that you have a replacement foam with too wide a roll which may or may nor affect the sound.
Nothing is simple is it?

 

[Jim West PA]

In many woofers, the forward surface of the gasket forms a plane beyond which the cone and surround by design never extend under normal operating conditions. This prevents cone/baffle contact on rear mounted drivers, and can prevent contact with the grill frame/material. Of course some speaker and grill designs allow for no practical use of the front gasket, and you can safely leave them off in those cases.

Good explanation. Thanks bowtie.

 

[Jim West PA]

The gasket helps hold the edge of the foam to the basket, I always put them back. And for originality.

I don't know if I buy into

The gasket helps hold the edge of the foam to the basket,

The glue does a fine job on it's own. And, As I said, my Large Advents never had a gasket.

However. I do understand the

for originality

:yes:

 

[Jim West PA]

I have reformed a number of Boston Acoustic speakers that are gasket-less by design. I don't think you need one but I am a fan of replacing in kind unless proven otherwise. Some possible reasons to use a front gasket in a front mounted speaker.
To hide a sloppy looking glue job on the foam.
To hold the foam edge in place properly if the glue was not applied evenly.
It is an easy way to hold the freshly glued surrounds in place because you can clamp them easily.
Yes that buzz should be cured by trimming the gaskets which is done routinely in the pro shops. Sometimes that foam roll to gasket contact means that you have a replacement foam with too wide a roll which may or may nor affect the sound.
Nothing is simple is it?

All valid points/reasons Kahoona.
Although, as I told Raccoon, I don't buy into the gasket being there to help hold the surround. A proper glue job and or a small layer of glue over the surround edge could/would do that job.
I have a couple more pair of Baby Advents to re foam. I am going to leave them off and compare with ones that I did replace the gasket on.

Thanks for the tip on trimming back the gasket to get rid of the buzz.
Gotta love a Dremel tool at times.

 

[Wigwam Jones]

The gasket is also useful when speaker drivers are mounted under the baffle instead of on top of the baffle. I suspect that was their original intent, and it was just easier to make them that way, whether they were needed or not.

 

[Jim West PA]

The gasket is also useful when speaker drivers are mounted under the baffle instead of on top of the baffle. I suspect that was their original intent, and it was just easier to make them that way, whether they were needed or not.

That,wiggy, is exactly what my school of thought has always been on the subject.

 

[Chris Brown]

The Cerwin-Vega woofers I did a while back, it just wasn't practical to replace the gasket. It was attached to the frame more strongly than it was held together, so it disintegrated upon removal. The JBL 128H woofers from my 4412's that I did recently, the gasket came off much easier and thus I was able to re-attach them.

 

[allsmith]

Huw at Human Speakers told me those gaskets were only for shipping of the drivers. Since EPI and Genesis built there own drivers in house they did not need or use them. But other speaker companies that outsourced there drivers from another company or facility, they would most likely have the gaskets on them.

 

[leesonic]

Not really, not on speakers with the woofers mounted from the front. Of course, the gasket will hide the ugly bare steel frame on many speakers. There's no reason you can't make your own, on woofers 10" or less, there is a circle cutting tool available at most craft stores. They also sell foam sheets to make new gaskets. Here are some green ones I made earlier.

Lee.

 

[Jim West PA]

Nice work Lee.

For me though. It has nothing to do with looks. I could care less what a speaker looks like.
I think these are beautiful.:yes:


Only it's sound matters to me.

 

[Kahoona]

All valid points/reasons Kahoona.
Although, as I told Raccoon, I don't buy into the gasket being there to help hold the surround. A proper glue job and or a small layer of glue over the surround edge could/would do that job.
I have a couple more pair of Baby Advents to re foam. I am going to leave them off and compare with ones that I did replace the gasket on.

Thanks for the tip on trimming back the gasket to get rid of the buzz.
Gotta love a Dremel tool at times.

I agree. That is why I said "if the blue was not applied correctly" which can happen where manufacture is not up to snuff. I have to get a dremel!

 

[jsisk]

According to the owner's manual to my AR-90s, the external gasket on the speakers is to prevent the metal from reflecting light and thus being visable through the grill cloth.