Eminence foam-in-place gaskets

[Radian]

I see PE is now stocking drivers using Eminence's new FIP gasket technology.

Anyone have anything to report? How squishy / firm is the material? Promising?

It look's great.

In fact, I almost didn't recognize the updated DVC 385-88 at first glance.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Link?

[Radian]

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=295-190

Revised:

vs.

Previously:



LAB 12 got the new gasket too:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=290-570

[sine143]

3015lf has the new gastkets as well.

just blew one up

[Charles Jenkinson]

Of the two 3012HO's I bought in the fall of 2011, one has the early gasket and the other the later. The revised gasket material compresses more.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

The revised gasket material compresses more.

You have to be careful with that. The first generation Deltalite II has neoprene gaskets that compressed so much that you had to re-torque the fasteners after a day or so or they'd leak. Those gaskets were replaced by cardboard with a thin neoprene outer layer. I'd keep an eye on these new fandangled gaskets.

[Charles Jenkinson]

I did wonder about needing to re-torque the driver screws specifically on that gasket - I won't be putting the cab back on the same day the driver goes in anyway. More than that I was slightly peeved I have two drivers that are different, but I imagine there ain't any effect on performance. The new gasket is also segmented (in it's full depth), perhaps so they can cut more out of the sheet of foam if it's all in pieces rather than a solid ring, and there was a 1mm gap at one point on the perimeter of the gasket - it would have definitely leaked air through. I blobbed into it with the hot glue to fill it - they seemed like similar stiffness materials. I'll take a picture later.

[Charles Jenkinson]

As discussed. Gap of over 1mm.

[Charles Jenkinson]

Having just installed my pair of drivers, one of which is this above type referred, these new foam gaskets 'feel like they want to' fully compress, so the machined speaker housing is pulled up, touching against the baffle, similar to an o-ring groove type sealed joint. If it is intentional, it's a different gasket design philosophy from the previous thick card layer plus thin neoprene layer gasket which won't fully compress. The difference in position of the speaker on these 3012HO's is (I estimate) about 3 to 4 mm less gasket compression for the old type.

It would be useful to have a definitive statement from Eminence about the speaker fitting and gasket design philosophy so people are aware of what Bill says about the gasket relaxing and the screws requiring re-tightening. i.e. if you can screw it down hard from the start, everyone's a winner, but that might mean hurricane or T-nuts & (machine) screws may be preferred over the recex or coach (wood type) screws and the taking it carefully in stages approach.

[Bryson]

Well, my BP102 has the same gasket. When I feel it's tight enough, i'ts sucked all the way down, basket on the wood. They are pretty soft. I don't hear any cone slap, not sure that I could tell, but I do hear what I would call a MOOOOW at high volumes, not at the limiter, but playing loud. I took the driver out and don't see any evidence of the cone hitting wood, I think it would mark the surround if it did. I can't tell if it's leaking air, or if the driver is funky.