How modern speaker fabric is giving vintage speakers a new lease of life
Do you ever catch yourself thinking that everything used to be better? If we’re honest, it’s often nostalgia – that rose-tinted haze of emotions and memories – that makes the past seem more appealing than it really was. But sometimes, just sometimes, things truly were better. Or at least more beautiful and impressive.
Take audio equipment, for example. These days, we’re surrounded by compact, app-controlled, “smart” speakers delivering digitally “optimised” sound. Sure, it’s amazing what these pint-sized gadgets can produce in terms of sound volume, but let’s face it: HomePods, Sonos Ones, and Ikea Symfonisks are more about booming bass for the casual MP3 listener than delivering the kind of sound that gets audiophiles genuinely excited.
No wonder, then, that those of us old enough to remember can’t help but feel a pang of joy when we see a proper vintage HiFi system with its classic tower of components and serious speakers – especially if we actually listen. That’s when we crave the richer, more spacious, and lifelike sound that only a physical audio source and a quality setup with well-positioned speakers can deliver. Sorry, but no „sound-optimised“ smart speaker tucked into the corner of a room can replicate that magic.
It’s been decades now since the HiFi world was all-analogue. Cast your mind back to the early 1980s, for instance, when Sansui was marketing its “Intelligent Super Compo” system. The setup included servo amp, tuner, turntable, dual cassette deck, an optional equalizer, and even a “program timer” – all housed in a glass-door rack on wheels. A pair of S930 three-way speakers completed the package, and you had a state-of-the-art HiFi system that made your friends eat their hearts out. It wasn’t cheap, of course – Sansui was a top-quality brand, not a budget option – but it was worth it. No wonder Sansui’s vintage gems are highly prized by collectors and audiophiles alike nowadays.
Anyone lucky enough to own such a complete HiFi system in good condition knows they have a treasure on their hands. Take Emanuel Lakoutsis from Thessaloniki, Greece, for example. In his living room, you’ll find a well-preserved Sansui “Intelligent Super Compo.” But after 40 years, the speaker grilles on his S930s were looking worse for wear – a common weak point for vintage speakers. Back then, manufacturers often skimped on the fabric, meaning many speakers that still sound fantastic now look anything but, with sagging, torn, or threadbare grilles spoiling the aesthetic.
Sure, you could just remove the grilles entirely, but that would compromise the original look and leave the delicate speaker cones exposed to dust and damage. So, Emanuel decided to restore them with our Standard speaker fabric. After a quick consultation, he found the perfect choice, and within days, he was ready to get to work.
Using spray adhesive and following our YouTube tutorial, Emanuel carefully replaced the old fabric with a high-quality acoustic cloth. He then reattached the original red trim and Sansui logos. The result? A Sansui “Intelligent Super Compo” that looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor – a testament to the value of investing in OEM-quality speaker cloth when restoring beloved vintage gear.
As always, our speaker fabrics don’t just look the part. They offer outstanding acoustic transparency, excellent opacity, and flawless texture, while their elasticity makes them easy to install without wrinkles or stretching. With the right speaker fabric, even decades-old HiFi equipment can be spruced up for the digital age – and with minimal effort and cost.
And the cherry on top? Thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can now browse those old Sansui brochures online and relive a golden era of audio. Sometimes, the past really does have its charms.