That's the entire question, but there are more details.

I was just looking at the one shown in the CEPro article about 21 things to improve your business. It's a great design idea. But when the box is built into the ceiling or wall, with wires connected to spring terminals on the outside of the box, is there any way to service it other than ripping the wall open?

This is advertised as looking similar to small light fixtures, and again, it seems like a great idea. But you can service those small light fixtures up to a point. Is the James just in there forever?

Can you insert a link? I don't want to waste time searching for what you are talking about Ernie.

Uh, you service many speakers, Ernie?

The tweeter and mid range are a separate part from the woofer and box. The are to be installed before drywall....which is how mine are installed but you can remove them if you have access to the enclosure.


Drywall is cheap.....much cheaper than these speakers.

Shoo-ah!

[Link: cepro.com]

and then

[Link: jamesloudspeaker.com]

Haven't you been called on to do something you never thought of ahead of time? Or thought would not be needed, like service on a James? Wouldn't it be nice to have fed that into your subconscious ahead of time, so when the need arises, an idea is likely?

One of the reasons I can do the things I can is that I learned to learn way more than the minimum needed for the particular situation. If I even consider using James speakers, I want to know how to get them out for service, and looking at their appearance makes me wonder that first.

Agreed. It's an unconventional concept, possibly preventing future service without significant repairs.

I've had the same thoughts about Velodyne in wall subs and the Sonance invisible speakers. If the high voltage guys can't do it by law, why would we even consider it? The connections suffer from all the same possible modes of failure, random manufacturer QC issues are impossible to eliminate completely, so something is going to fail, at some point. 

I see it as a balance between functionality (serviceability) and form. It's a spectrum, and you have to pick some point on there. If you want to go high-form, you have to sacrifice some of the function. In this day and age though, anything like that with obvious service deficiencies would have to have special clauses in the contract if I were selling it, indemnifying me for the high repair cost in the unlikely event of issues. 

They have a selectable (I believe) protection circuit that protects the woofer from any damage. The mid/high module can be removed for service or repairs. Truthfully of the 3 times I've tested these speakers, twice the limiter kicked in and reduced the volume level to a much lower level. These speakers don't put out an ass kicking loud sound. They are the best in-ceiling speakers I have ever heard. I just see that limiter as a phone call from the customer asking why it's not loud enough. Again I think you can turn it on or off. Hell, I've had that call from a customer whos Sonos shut off because of thermal protection. The guy was driving 8" in-walls at 100% for 2 hours using the Connect:Amp.

Thats funny I have these in a couple rooms at home and had no idea why the volume kept cutting off.

I hate it.

They are awesome sounding speakers. truly amazing but the output is limited to just below rocking out.

I need rocking out.

I thought it was Rhapsody or my amps.

I get it now.

THIS is why it's helpful to know more about something than necessary to solve today's problem.

Neurorad, you now have a response to your totally dismissive question:


Science is about finding out about things. It's often done just to find out about things, not to, say, learn about servicing James speakers. And look -- some information came out that helps longshot, and may inform others as to whether they will use the James speakers or not. So, no, I don't service many speakers, but that is not a reason not to ask the question.

I believe you can shut it off but you put the speakers in risk of damaging the woofer. The mid/high range module is replaceable. But yes, it's extremely annoying and I too love to crank it from time to time. Again, these are the best sounding speakers I've ever heard! It would be advantageous to put a system in that would limit the max output of a zone. This way nobody is the wise,r of course, until they call asking to turn them up louder.

The only speakers I've had to service were either 1) blown by the customer/misuse or 2) the terminals had corroded and no longer conducted current. The limiter fixes one of those, but you still have spring terminals buried in the ceiling space that can corrode or go bad. 

James uses gold plated binding posts not cheap spring terminals.