Protection from mice

[Carverpro 668]

I just picked up a low mileage mint pair of Cerwin Vegas 380 se's from 1990. I am replacing my Cv at-15's with the 380's.

These 380's absolutely pound on my Carver pm1.5a. Bass goes down to 25hz. Imo the best set of home speakers that Cerwin Vega has ever produced.  I have been waiting for years for the perfect set of 380's to come along.

Anyhow, just wondering if I can put a fine mesh Or something stronger over the rear ports to protect against mice getting in there. I dont want to take any chances. These are in my basement. 

Thanks

[oldtexasdog 2,456]

Adult mouse needs an opening the size of a dime. Younger ones smaller. Maybe a mouse trap behind each opening?

[BarryG 2,853]

Pretty sure they won’t go in there if your playing loud bass heavy music!  Spiders don’t look me the bass either! Lol Led Zeppelin at ear blistering volume sent the eight legged critters fleeing my room!

 

 

[itchitch 4,481]

I agree with Barry...

 

I have a pair of JBL EON's that are used a few times a year for parties etc...

They are stored, double boxed and bagged, in their original boxes. Last year I pulled them out and both speakers had rattles.

 

I tipped them upside down and could hear hard pieces moving around.

 

I pulled them apart and found a handful of dry dog food in each!

That was one busy mouse... the food is stored in the pantry two floors up and across the house.

Edited March 19, 2019 by itchitch

[Daddyjt 9,612]

I would solve the mouse problem, not the symptom of them getting in the speakers...

[Carverpro 668]

I dont care if they use my speakers to sleep and eat in as long as they dont start chewing on the wire or woofer surround...lol

Last year my uncle went to check on some cerwin vega pa gear he had stored in his garage for about a year. The mice got at it and made mince meat out of the woofers. 

I'm just curious if some balcony /deck screen over the ports would hurt bass response in any way?

3 minutes ago, Daddyjt said:

I would solve the mouse problem, not the symptom of them getting in the speakers...

Probably being a little paranoid on my part. I have seen the odd mouse down in my basement.  But I have been partying down there faithfully every Friday night for the last 3 years and have never seen any mouse droppings near my stereo. It's always been in the opposite side of the basement. These Vegas are 29 years old and in showroom condition.

[Bobby1970 1,451]

I always play loud, bass specially, rodents hate Led Zeppelin like Barry G said, they also hate Al Jarreau.. just keep playing I've been observing this for years..I hope this helps..

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1382668906001153

[Brian_at_HHH 2,691]

I can definitely understand your worry with them.  I'm about to put some sort of shield over the speaker of my new to me Sub, but mine isn't to protect from mice, it's to protect from the reason I don't ever worry about mice.  My in-house mouse removal service ensures my home is a mouse's worst nightmare.  Just look to the avatar x 5 - fullish teeth, claws, and lust for fresh mouse-meat on the paw.     

 

For the record, I actually had a mouse commit suicide rather than face the "monsters!"  It was surrounded by 3 of them, in the middle of the floor and squeaking it's last wishes.  Since the 3 monsters couldn't decide who got which part, the mouse made a dive for a return-air vent (under some furnature) that was not mouse-sized.  I found him there, months later - thoroughly mummified.

 

When not in use, my speakers actually have hard covers I've built to protect the speaker grills, which are highly desirable scratching posts, and I'm about to orient my sub from downfacing to frontfacing, where it will need some protection.   (Yes, I know downfacing is great, but where it needs to fit, that won't work).

[danowood 2,167]

I've heard steel wool is a deterrent. 

[dennismiller55 4,809]

mothballs

[johnrotten 1,092]

102dB sensitivity speakers on a PM-1.5a, Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brian_at_HHH 2,691]

3 minutes ago, dennismiller55 said:

mothballs

 

Just curious @dennismiller55 - are you suggesting putting the mothballs IN the speaker, or just behind it?

 

Most mothballs I've seen, recently, are hard, and I'd worry they might rattle (depending on the level of sound padding/insulation inside, of course)?

[dennismiller55 4,809]

I was joking.  But I have used mothballs in storage buildings to keep mice out.  I have also put them under the storage building to keep Skunks and other critters from nesting.  Another possible advantage:  The mothballs also keeps my wife out of the storage shed.  

[Brian_at_HHH 2,691]

Just now, dennismiller55 said:

I was joking.

 

Oops!  or should that be "Doh!!!!"   

 

It "seemed" plausible, and I've heard of stranger things...   

[Carverpro 668]

1 hour ago, johnrotten said:

102dB sensitivity speakers on a PM-1.5a, Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes...mixed with cold beer, herb and strobe lights and  you basically have your own personal concert!?

[Carverpro 668]

1 hour ago, johnrotten said:

102dB sensitivity speakers on a PM-1.5a, Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah having 600 clean watts on tap (4 ohms) gets very entertaining and comes in handy at times.

[Daddyjt 9,612]

1 hour ago, dennismiller55 said:

....The mothballs also keep my wife out of the storage shed.  

 

What do you have in there...? ????

[4krow 6,584]

I would buy a 'Tin Cat' mouse trap., and use an attractant that is put inside the trap. works every friggin time. You only think that you have one mouse. I'm betting 6 or more.

[kingman 662]

 

[MLB111 191]

4 hours ago, kingman said:

 

That is pretty good.  Bought a "humane" mouse trap once.  Set it up in the basement and never trapped one mouse.  Apparently they did not read the operations sheet and so did not understand how the process was to work.  Ended up going down at night with a lite and my trusty bb gun and went on safari.  Got em.  Also learned a valuable lesson about where to place bird feeders.

[BarryG 2,853]

5 hours ago, kingman said:

 

I must build one of these, might be good entertainment to watch!

[MLB111 191]

1 hour ago, BarryG said:

I must build one of these, might be good entertainment to watch!

Agree Barry but you might want to print a sheet of instructions for those little critters to follow.  LMAO

[Carverpro 668]

This is what I'm trying to protect. These babies look like they just came out of the box!?

$400?

[Brian_at_HHH 2,691]

3 hours ago, Carverpro said:

This is what I'm trying to protect. These babies look like they just came out of the box!?

 

You know, the thought of getting caught in one of those when you crank it up, ought to scare any mouse far more than my herd of cats do.  

 

I'm guessing that the port, on the back is located fairly low?  What about putting something around the port that might be either too slippery (aluminium foil?), or sticky (double sided tape) to just dissuade them from getting to the opening?  

 

Totally cool and impressive, BTW!  I'm sure the neighbours, the next county over, are impressed too!   

[Carverpro 668]

Yeah thanks. Each speaker has 2 ports in the back down low. I want to put some type of mesh screen over those ports...but not if it's going to hinder bass response.

...As far as the neighbors go...I used to run my cerwin Vega at15's up stairs in my living room. Every Friday night I would pound on them for about 5 hrs then shut it down...always before midnight.

...On the 3rd visit ( 3 separate days ), by the cops i was told that if they had to come back...they said they would kick my door in, take my equipment and fine me...lol. since then i put everything in the basement and everything has been fine for the last 3 years. I have only had a chance to run these 380's for about an hour. I fear even though they are in the basement...i may receive another visit from the boys in blue this weekend.?