G4 Cube Speaker Driver Paint Color?

[campbellashe]

Anyone else try to paint these? I'm replacing the surround part (rot as seen in the picture below) and in the process I want to paint the metal driver piece. I've cleaned them off pretty well. Waiting on my surround from suspension replacement from Ali-Express. Thinking about using spray paint but wondering if anyone else has used a specific type and color match to the original?

Also, anyone know where or how to get a replacement grill cover -- these didn't come with the pair. Is it possible to 3d print in clear acrylic? or source them somewhere else?

 

[beach_cruiser92]

Hey - which surround sizes did you purchase? I'm needing to do the same. Looks like there are a few that are within close spec of these, but not exact?

Here's a photo of mine. The color looks like a white with a hint of silver mixed in - but very slightly. Automotive touch up paint would be perfect for this application.

Maybe this? https://everestautomotivemarket.com...wagen-silver-white-l82?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

[Byrd]

The paint matches the G4 casing - a close match to repaint would be a cool off white. In Australia a common roof colour is "Surfmist" in Colorbond steel, and a close match IMO if looking for spray paint.

 

[campbellashe]

I first bought surrounds from Amazon, but they are rubber and are too big (2 inch size) and don't sit flat in the driver. I'm waiting on some from Aliexpress -- seems like the only place to get them. There was a link that I saw from Europe as well. I'll see what they are like and post a link if they indeed fit. I know the external diameter is 50mm.

 

[bibilit]

IIRC the grill cover was an option, and many were lost. My set has one out of two.

 

[beach_cruiser92]

That’s interesting. I have both. Frankly the speakers look better without… imo.

 

[campbellashe]

My surrounds arrived; they are rubber not foam.

Got from:
Ali-Express "2pcs 2"/2.5"/3"/3.5" Inch Speaker Foam Folded Edge Ring Woofer Repair Side Surround Circle Replacement Parts 50-90mm/1.97"-3.54"

Wondering if I should buy the Foam ones instead.

Here is a picture of the new rubber black surround -- placed on driver but not glued -- with a iMac G4 speaker (white surround) for comparison. The iMac G4 white speaker is a white rubber material. The rounded part is not quite aligned the same. I don't have an original of the G4 Cube speaker however. There was a black paper like ring around the outside of the rubber surround on the original G4 Cube speaker that I had to destroy to get the rotted foam off.

Anyone else have a better site to get the surround from... I saw an online merchant in the Netherlands that had appropriate replacements, but alas does not ship to the States right now.

 

[campbellashe]

This Dutch merchant has the right part; but unable to ship to US. I don't know of any US merchants that specify the part as this merchant does.

https://www.speakerrepairshop.nl/en...-een-conusmaat-van-3-5-cm-f201/a-101-20000032

This is a good review of the repair process:
https://www.cocoadelica.co.uk/blog/reviving-apple-pro-speakers

And this is another discussion of the same process...
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/cube-speakers.2180053/

 

[campbellashe]

I finally got around to fix them. Did a pretty terrible job of the gluing with glue smeared all over the place. But.. they sound much better.

Also 3D printed the 3 hole plastic grille cover on the speakers -- sent it away to JLCPCB to print it -- not optically pure but not bad.
Used the 3D file provided here (thanks to rwingnut) https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6801827




Painted the Driver with Krylon Fusion All-in-one paint and primer "Matte Glacier Gray"... a bit darker than OG but not bad.