Any idea how to replace a missing metal speaker grille?

Submitted by surfrock66 t3_z2zfb3 in DIY

I have 5 in-ceiling FM52 JBL speakers from when my house was built (~1997). When we bought the house in 2012 one of the white grilles was missing and we have just dealt with it. The concept of replacing the speakers has come up, but they still sound fine, there is just attention on how they look. We contacted JBL but they were discontinued in 2001 and there are none on Ebay. I would be happy replacing multiple grilles if I could, but from what I'm seeing it is very expensive. Does anyone have a DIY solution for a custom speaker grille; I have templates from the other ones, so I am considering replacing the metal mesh with a frame and a stretched fabric of some kind, but I'm spitballing with no idea of what is possible (outside of a brief Google search which produced results for different kinds of speakers with fabric fronts)

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flosco78 t1_ixj6x7e wrote

You could remove the other covers

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surfrock66 OP t1_ixj73tv wrote

Replying to flosco78 (#638,268)

They are currently all down now as I have been researching the grill, it does not meet wife approval factor. I figure anything I have to do I will have to do to all of them to match.

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MortalGlitter t1_ixjapdh wrote

I'm not an audiophile so be aware I'm coming at this from a "what would I do here" angle.

If you have a grill pattern to work with, I would use a decorative metal grill like this stuff and craft custom grills. Make enough to cover all of them and it will probably look much better than the standard black fabric typically used. They're rattle can paintable as well if you like the pattern but not the finish.

I've used this stuff to make custom HVAC air return covers and it looks far better than the standard sized grills.

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surfrock66 OP t1_ixjbf0b wrote

Replying to CMDR_Grapist (#638,546)

I think this is close to the solution, but I can't staple gun to them, it is a plastic frame. I think I will have to make some sort of rectangular frame then stretch the fabric over it so I can insert it in the slots.

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surfrock66 OP t1_ixjbiuj wrote

Replying to MortalGlitter (#638,650)

The main trick is that it's a plastic speaker in the old grills inserted into a rectangular slut that goes around. I am thinking to pull this off I would have to cut a rectangle and then bend the edges so it fits in the frame which is where I'm a little worried it's going to fall apart

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Cavemanjoe47 t1_ixji8ou wrote

Find someone near you with a 3D printer, since they're plastic, and take them one of the other ones to take measurements from. Probably cheaper than you'd find it on eBay, anyway.

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username2020202020 t1_ixjurtx wrote

Take a picture of one. I did read getting one 3d printed which is a good idea. But depending on the install type I think a new custom cover could look nice on all of them. Would take some work but you would have the creative freedom to do whatever you want really. Wood frame with bent mesh could look nice if you figure out how to mount it.

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sowhatofittt t1_ixjw9zi wrote

Get a bunch of nylons and cut the end off and make it tight. Fabric and elastic.

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doitsidewayz t1_ixk0uue wrote

Boat speaker grills are usually white....

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Dr_lovelick t1_ixk3uun wrote

What about maybe cutting a metal kitchen strainer to the size, and paint it! Get a small roll of window screen and cut it to size?? Or find an old metal screen or storm door . That criss cross metal may do the trick? Just some off the top ideas

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ekjustice t1_ixkbgp3 wrote

You might take a look at the variety of Bath and Kitchen exhaust vent covers. There are a number of styles and colors and they shouldn't affect sound from the speaker.

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gotBooched t1_ixkj4wd wrote

Look up a speaker conpany called Proficient

They have these grills called Neomagnets

I’m sure you can find one that will fit right over top. Inexpensive, quick, easy solution. It will just sit over top of the whole speaker. Looks great when done.

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Nap39 t1_ixkl9af wrote

I have a NOS round JBL wall/ceiling lounged speaker out in my shed. I’ll take a look at it tomorrow if you like. If the grille fits the whole thing is yours.

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surfrock66 OP t1_ixklpy8 wrote

Replying to Nap39 (#643,825)

Wow, thanks, the grille (or grill? Spelling for this was weird when I googled) is 10 x 6 7/16 rectangle, lemme know and I can get you info over DM, figure out shipping, etc

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chuckisduck t1_ixle7l0 wrote

If the speakers are 20 years old, it may be a good time to replace them. We had higher end JBLs in the roof for surround sound, but the heat of the attic really wore them out.

Replaced them with $70 set monoprice speakers and the sound quality was noticably better. I built an insulated box to protect this one a little more from heat cycling.

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gimvaainl t1_ixlxidm wrote

Replying to surfrock66 (#638,724)

Hot glue. It is amazing. There are different kinds, too, but really, whatever should be fine for this. I would pick a cloth I like, hot glue them to the "hoop", and never question it.

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Long-Advertising-743 t1_ixlxkvl wrote

Hello friend, today you are lucky that there are cheap design solutions. I have two options to suggest you, the first is a single piece that you can order from anyone who makes 3D designs that you can print, just give them the measurements or take photos, or bring the speaker. He can do it for you quickly and you could replace the whole thing to leave them all the same, I mean, with the same style. Here you could replicate those of the original by replacing the fabric it has with a grid made of the same plastic as the 3D extruder, you could even put the JBL logo on it and in one corner your mini "SurfRock66" logo, how do you see yourself with that model? ..wouldn't that be cool? Then you can paint them with any spray and in the color you want, even metallic and give it your personal touch. The other is to ask for the same thing but without the grille, just a support that can be mounted on the second piece and that could be embedded or screwed to the first part of the ceiling. You should only glue the fabric inside (not just any will work, I warn you, some fabrics with a lot of cotton or closed mesh end up making the sound shine due to its absorption of waves) and then you stick the logo. It is a little more difficult but close to reality. Look for any 3D printing design workshop and you will surely be able to solve your problem. There are more ways (DIY) but obviously they depend on your manual ability and knowledge, and if you have asked for help it is because you are not sure that it will work out for you.

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davidmlewisjr t1_ixm9t0u wrote

Replying to surfrock66 (#638,288)

There is a company, McNichols, that supplies perforated metals to industry. They have patterns that match what some speaker manufacturers used.

Their products, and similar, from other vendors, are sold by McMaster-Carr in “convenient” sizes to all sorts of people.

If you like the way the speakers you have sound, then you need to be aware that putting something not designed for speaker “grill” application in front of them will possibly change the way they sound.

Now for the crux of the thing… pointing a speaker down to the floor is generally non-ideal. Surround speakers work best pointed out into the room, not down at the carpet. Maybe check out current speaker products… for the future.

Good luck with your quest.

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surfrock66 OP t1_ixn112i wrote

Replying to davidmlewisjr (#650,142)

Yea this is a multi-pronged project with a lot of strange needs.

  1. My daughter's room is over it, and there's no insulation over these. At a minimum, we wanted sound dampening over them.

  2. They are super old, and maybe we could justify replacing them, but ultimately they have decent range and sound pretty good.

  3. If we took the in-wall wiring and made little outlet-cover plugs and dropped some speakers below the ceiling, we could aim them better and solve the sound insulation problem.

  4. Wife's tolerance for new/patched ceiling holes is 0 and to be fair mine is close to 0, I hate ceiling texturing and it never looks right.

  5. We have a theater room upstairs with proper sound...this is mostly the "kids watching youtube and playing switch" room. It's super long and NOT optimal sound.

  6. The budget for any project work is influenced by the fact that we're about to put a bid in for a 170k 15 acre property to develop into a retirement home.

​

I think the first attempt will be to make a metal rectangle (1/16 thick, 1/4 wide) and try to stretch some fabric over it, then slot it into the speakers. That plus some fiberglass insulation rectangles over the speakers will PROBABLY maximize results with the amount of budget we want to invest.

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No-Yogurtcloset7985 t1_ixqmonr wrote

If they are the kind that just slip up into a channel around the speaker I'm almost positive I have a few I'll send you one. Post a pic of one of the grilles you have and where they go into the speaker

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