How do you stop house guest from damaging your speakers?


Over the years I have had many adult guest coming to my house and curious about my speakers though I never mention to them I’m an audiophile. Most of the time they will lean close to the speaker, looking at the driver, maybe occasionally touching the cabinet or knocking on the cabinet. But in other times I’ve had guest touching drivers gently as well and I usually just tell them to stop to prevent them from damaging the driver when I see them doing that.

Yesterday I had a little sit down with a few guests and one of them wanted to play my Blade 2. Out of nowhere, while the music is playing he stood up and walked to the speaker and knocked on the side driver woofer and asked “are these speakers too?” It was probably 3 or 4 consecutive hard knock on the woofer while the woofer is playing, and you guys can already imagine my facial expression. I don’t want to blame the guest as the blade’s woofer doesn’t look like regular woofer and I can’t expect guests to have knowledge of how not to damage speakers, but man, that really hurts when I saw that happen.

I inspected the driver afterward and it seems like all is good and the driver survived. I don’t remember if I heard distortion while the music is playing but to my knowledge this would easily fall into the abuse category for an audiophile.

I’m wondering, do I attach a label to say do not touch on those drivers? Do I tell guests not to physically touch the speakers? 

bwang29

Put a big ass "DO NOT TOUCH or COME NEAR" sign.

Imo some of the actions by the guests you mentioned are just rude, adults should know better. But my experience suggests some people just love to touch at things that are new to them. 

This hobby and owning gears has really taught me to appreciate beauties with just my eyes. 

A good musical experience is one of the purest and most genuine human experience. It's hard to explain to people that haven't experienced it. But some of us audiophiles know this and develop a bond with our gears especially our speakers. Like man and dog. Or you can say, our companion. 

It's not to be touched when not necessary. Not many can understand this. It's the same thing when people buy their brand new iPhones, they treasure it like a piece of gem. The different is some people stop caring after 2 weeks. Some never stop caring. 

If someone would have touched my Joule Electra VZN100's, I wouldn't have to say anything. Of course they wouldn't have been able to hear me against the own screaming. 

Had to eventually sell them as I was worried my little guy might seriously hurt himself even though he knew what those huge glowing tubes meant. Hell, he loved slowly turning that big variac till the meter read good. Budding audiophile...

We had friend guests over for a weekend. At the end of that weekend I had a punched in phase plug on a mid-woofer. I looked at the teenage girl and said it was her, why, because you just know. I take paper and tape it around the speakers in my HT room.

No one is allowed in my high-end room.

Put “Do Not Touch” tabletop sign(s) out near speakers with small print indicating any person(s)  not adhering to the “No Touch” policy assumes liability for any damages incurred!