[glynnw]

I initially ordered a pair of black tinted X5s, but substituted plain finish when the black proved problematic during manufacture.  I have wanted to have them painted, but do not wish to disassemble speaker.  Then a couple of weeks ago someone mentioned wrapping their speakers which made sense to me.  So one afternoon they were picked up and returned the next afternoon as a matte black finish.  While a bit more stark than I anticipated, the color change accomplishes the goal of helping the speakers to visually disappear.  With most of my system black, the speakers just become another dark blob.  And the color can be peeled off.  Or painted on?

[Big Red Machine]

I want to know more. Did you drop all the drivers out and just have the front panel wrapped?

[Early B.]

I want to know more. Did you drop all the drivers out and just have the front panel wrapped?

Yeah, that's cool. We need details. What does something like that cost?

[glynnw]

Nothing was disassembled.  Cost was $200 including pickup and delivery.  They had to do some careful work around the tweeter, but unless you look from a couple of inches away it looks perfect. I considered a shiny black, but the one they had looked like a cheap paint job.  And they assured me it is easy to remove.

[Big Red Machine]

My concern was them cutting and potentially damaging the underside surface so your only choice going forward was a wrap. I assumed dropping out the drivers would avoid that. Interesting. I was going to look into wrapping my Wilsons at one time. My A/C company uses a top notch wrap company for their trucks and I wrote down the info a while back.

So they only wrapped the front panel and into the seam between the metal frame and front plate is covered?

Also, if you have any partial laminate openings do they cover over or are they emphasized?

[jtwrace]

My concern was them cutting and potentially damaging the underside surface so your only choice going forward was a wrap.

Yes, that is indeed the issue with wrapping.  There is no way to avoid the seams without cutting on the substrate which will now have marks of the X-Acto Knife. 

[TF1216]

I would guess they used knifeless tape to avoid scratching any surface.

[Big Red Machine]

Also, what kind of edge did they give you around the large drivers? I run without grills and want to know what I can ask for.

[glynnw]

Wrap around large drivers is just tucked into area not shown when dust covers in place .

(Also, if you have any partial laminate openings do they cover over or are they emphasized?)   ????

[Big Red Machine]

Wrap around large drivers is just tucked into area not shown when dust covers in place .

(Also, if you have any partial laminate openings do they cover over or are they emphasized?)   ????

I have some spots where the laminated panel has some voids, like a knot was pulled out. Since it is stacked plys of wood there are some small sections where the laminates are not whole and smooth. There are a few and they are small and only 1/8 deep max. I was wondering if you had those as well and the wrap just covered them up without emphasizing the surface irregularities.

[DaveC113]

I did all the clear bra and some other vinyl on my car, saved me thousands of dollars but was far more labor than I though it would be! Any decent installer will not leave knife marks on whatever they are wrapping. There are ways around it. That said, removing the drivers is very easy and I'd definitely do that 1st, it makes it both easier to wrap and it'll look a little better with the wrap tucked under.

In any case, good thinking and a good idea, and yes you can remove it pretty easily if you ever want to change it. 

[Big Red Machine]

I think the tweeter is mounted to the metal back panel and would slip out of the front panel. I'd like to remove the front panel and have that wrapped completely. I'll look into it some more.

[glynnw]

Can't say that I ever noticed any holes in the laminate layers, but looking at vinyl it all seems smooth.

[Jprod]

I have some spots where the laminated panel has some voids, like a knot was pulled out. Since it is stacked plys of wood there are some small sections where the laminates are not whole and smooth. There are a few and they are small and only 1/8 deep max. I was wondering if you had those as well and the wrap just covered them up without emphasizing the surface irregularities.

I have a few of them on my speakers - it’s normal ( talked to Clayton about it ). I think it adds some beauty and uniqueness to the speaker