806A bug screen removal?

**mikebond** · April 6th, 2009, 01:48 PM

If I'll remove bug screen on Altec 806A driver what will be changed? Does it improve VHF FR?
Regards, Mike

**oface1** · April 6th, 2009, 04:07 PM

Hey Mike,,,

I would leave them. They were there to keep the bugs out......

How well can you hear? Some have said they "heard" the differences, but like in all things audio, it is very subjective.......

Do you know someone with a set (800 series drivers) that has had there screens removed? If so, take your diaphragms over there and swap them out and see how it goes, you like the result, go for it.

If it were I, unless they were clogged with junk, I would rather not.

Have fun,

-chris

**rondo3000** · April 22nd, 2009, 01:13 PM

I removed mine, and heard extended very high frequency and less congestion during loud passages of music.

Ron

**Steve Mac** · April 22nd, 2009, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by rondo3000

I removed mine, and heard extended very high frequency and less congestion during loud passages of music.

Ron

I agree... +1

**RonSSS** · April 22nd, 2009, 02:41 PM

I agree +2.

The screen acts like a lens. Removing it gets rid of the phasey sound when listening in the near field.
Play some pink noise and move you head left to right and you will hear it.
Remove the screens and it largly goes away.

Ron

GM · April 22nd, 2009, 09:38 PM

Yeah, the audio version of a DLP's 'screen door' effect: [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_door_effect"]Screen-door effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

GM

**Panomaniac** · April 23rd, 2009, 07:05 PM

Funny! I used to slightly defocus DLP projectors to get rid of the screen door effect. Blend the pixels together, if you like. Everyone hated it. "Not sharp enough!". The pixel edges give an illusion of detail that isn't really there.

Wonder if the same applies to bug screens in CDs?

**oface1** · April 23rd, 2009, 09:53 PM

So I guess the general consensus is that removing the screens are an effective tweak/mod?

-chris

GM · April 23rd, 2009, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

Wonder if the same applies to bug screens in CDs?

Dunno, I removed mine back in '70 when I still had near perfect HF hearing. All I recall is that a 'veil' was removed from my better recordings for lack of a better description. Today, I seriously doubt I could tell the difference, my HF hearing is so rolled off, especially off axis. Then again, I can't stand to watch a friend's big Mits DLP RPTV for any length of time and most of my CDs sound very harsh up high, so who knows? Maybe the screens will mask some of the typical CD's harshness. Hmm......tightly stretching a piece nylon stocking across the exit might be worth trying.........

GM