I was wondering.....is it necessary?

Question

on the subwoofer, the plastic on the front, called a dust cap? is that really necessary to have? can i take it off?

Answer 1

hubby says if you're talking about the meshy, grill stuff then no its not necessary for the speaker to function but protects the speaker from damage.

Answer 2

it's the dust cap, and it protects your voice coil from getting dust in it, and YES!! it's very important to have, or it would not be there.

it's a vital part of the speaker because it keeps contaminants and dust out of your voice coil, which can fry a speaker.

Answer 3

Well the first one in your link it has it's own Dust cap.  The one you pictured from infinity that too is one.  The first one you pictured has similar dust caps as most common woofers are having today.  Kenwood, JL Audio  (W7 series, and the w3v3's I believe as well...)

Re Audio x*x series woofers also.

So the question is is it necessary...Yes...The dust cap does exactly what it says it will do...Keeps the dust out of the voice coils and the motor assembly.  Also of course not just dust...but dirt and whatever else that can fall inside that can cause the motor and coils to rub and heat up which damages the woofer.

Also some dust caps depending on the shape and size can affect the sound and such.  So to remove it...it'll probably play fine...but you may hear a different sound that what it was normally making, and have the risk of things falling inside that may damage or cause probs with the sub.

See my reference and look up Dust Cap

Oh and on the PW3 Power acoustic sub the first one you provided has:

ABS plastic motor cover and gasket(SeeFeatures) (Dust Cap)  So it indeed is a dust cap.  Just not like ones you see here:

https://ssl.perfora.net/www.ficaraudio.c...

The Fi Car audio subs are amazing.  I own a BTL.  And its great for the price.

See here the Newer JL Audio W6v2:

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_subs....

It too has a dust cap...just doesnt look like it.  The ORIGINAL v1 version looks more like the fi car audio btl sub.

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6918/...

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_subs....