Today’s tip was initiated by inSync reader Mike H who asks: “Is there any inexpensive way to shield studio reference monitors so they do not interfere with and distort a computer monitor?”
Speaker shielding is deceptively simple. You mount an identical magnet onto the back of the speaker’s magnet backwards. In other words, with the pole piece (see WFTD above pole piece) facing out away from the speaker cone. The external magnetic fields will cancel each other, but there is no degradation of speaker performance because the voice coil (see WFTD archive voice coil) of the speaker only interacts with the main magnet it is in close proximity with. The most difficult job is getting a magnet that is an exact match. Occasionally, you can talk a manufacturer into selling you a couple of blown speakers, for the magnets (or feel free to blow your own). The easiest solution is to buy shielded replacement drivers. Some manufacturers will also “upgrade” your speakers to have shielding, but they are usually just installing shielded replacement drivers that have the dual magnet set up noted above. If your time has any value you will find one of those solutions the most cost effective.