[plakius]

Your my hero .... came out a little on the crooked side ... but whatever

[nickbee]

So when will spare back covers be available? Where would you order one?

[Bleach Injected]

Originally Posted by nickbee

So when will spare back covers be available? Where would you order one?

BlackBerry online store? *shrugs*

[dmoffitt]

ROFFLE at B(l)o(w)se joke!! This seems to be a good idea, you might want to consider a very very fine "grille cloth" glued to the inside cover to keep out larger particles of dust, something acoustically transparent like speaker cloth would be ideal.

[dshearon]

Good thinking..... it is Amazing the difference it makes... just a tip for anyone getting ready to do this..

use a small piece of sctoch tape and place it over the spoet you want to drill.... this allows you to mark the places you want to drill with a sharpie (so they are aligned right) and it will also keep the drill bit from sliding and scratching the case....

[tsquare2112]

I would suggest trying an exacto blade to actually "drill" the holes. I have done this numerous times with plastic items, just twist the round exacto blade holder around in your hands, it will lessen the cracking issue, will take longer, but should give a great clean hole.

[gsxr150]

Anyone else did this? I'm going to do it for sure! Just need to wait for the replacement phone...my end button was sticking.

[SanFrancisco]

Not sure, but would a heated needle or small nail make good starter holes.

Ditto on using a Dremel tool. Some bits can do drilling and at a high enough speed.

I'm gonna check out the sound difference with the cover on and off. Seems RIM designed it to work with that Bose tunnel concept.

But you know what? I don't really care that much about getting good sound out of that little speaker. It seems to work pretty well when I play videos for people, but it's not like I want it to play all that well out of the speaker. I'll use headphones instead.

Interesting concept though.

Sympathies to the member who stripped mined his cover when trying to put holes into it. Any video of the effort.

[SanFrancisco]

Originally Posted by Bleach Injected

The speaker on the Pearl is not bad, so I don't know why RIM decided to have it output the way it does. Music sounds muffled due to this. It sounds far better with the battery cover off. So, after thinking about it at work last night, I went home and drilled holes in the battery cover directly over the speaker.

Image of the battery cover is attached.

Very professional job. But I think other members may not posses your mechanical skills?

[Lex Luthor]

As soon as there are replacement backings readily available I will attempt this mod. (Nitty can be kinda clumsy at times )

[joystik]

wow i just now noticed that there are no vents where the spearkers are located.. great idea..i will be doing the same.

[joystik]

there is a big difference between cover with holes.. and no cover at all.

What would sound better a ported subwoofer box, or a subwoofer without a box..?

[SanFrancisco]

Well, I pulled the cover off, closed my eyes and attempted to do a sound test with cover on, cover off. I could not find any difference, at least not enough to justify breaking out the drill.

The concept is cool though and I like the professional job he did making it look like that is how the 8100 arrived out of the box.

[gsxr150]

Originally Posted by SanFrancisco

Well, I pulled the cover off, closed my eyes and attempted to do a sound test with cover on, cover off. I could not find any difference, at least not enough to justify breaking out the drill.

The concept is cool though and I like the professional job he did making it look like that is how the 8100 arrived out of the box.

What??? It's a huge difference! Esp if you ever want to jam a tune while getting ready to go out. Turn the phone around and then listen...

[joystik]

Originally Posted by joystik

there is a big difference between cover with holes.. and no cover at all.

What would sound better a ported subwoofer box, or a subwoofer without a box..?

^^as i mentioned above... i dont think pulling the cover off will do justice.

[BES admin]

I tried the cover on and cover off test with my eyes closed. No major difference in sound clarity or quality.

[SanFrancisco]

Originally Posted by gsxr150

What??? It's a huge difference! Esp if you ever want to jam a tune while getting ready to go out. Turn the phone around and then listen...

I hear you [pun intended], but with my headphones, 200 watt desktop sound systems and other stereo devices, listening to my Pearl play music through that little speaker does nothing for me.

And like I said before, I am impressed with its sound out of the box, so much so I don't feel like tweaking it.

But I think the concept is totally cool. And I was tempted to put the holes in it because it looks like it should work and adds a nice touch.

[GMK]

As I said earlier in this thread. The 8100 is designed to vent the sound out of the top of the unit. Thats what that open slot does. It also makes it very directional - up. If inserted in a vertical case (oh where are you holster??) it would direct the sound up like it should, not through the back like my 7105t. I also felt that if you hold the 8100 with the top facing toward you the sound was better than the back being off and the back facing you.

I would do the mod in a heartbeat if I thought it would improve function but at this moment I like the way the sound is channeled.

BTW, for those interested in the mod, the best way to put holes in plastic is to start it by using a hot pin to melt it first and then clean it up with a Dremel and a burr, not a drill. The high speed dremel will friction burn the hole and you'll need to keep the burr clean. good luck.

[gsxr150]

Originally Posted by BES admin

I tried the cover on and cover off test with my eyes closed. No major difference in sound clarity or quality.

And what about volume?

[tazeat]

I just got my phone today i can definately see why you would do this... A shame Im not that brave.... As long as I am within my 14 days :P