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.

wow. You are brave man. Its a great idea, but i just dont know if i could bring myself to do it. My hats off to you, though its very well done.

Man you're insane...................hats off to your buddy, damn good job!!!!

Absolutely brilliant! ...and brave. I admire that 'hell-for-leather' approach.

Great job. Did it make a huge difference ? or just a little

If the phone is laying on a counter (or unmodified holster for that matter), I'd imagine it would make little to no difference. Being in your pocket, it may help.

It sounds a whole lot better. It's as if someone turned up the volume a bit, and improved the EQ on both ends. I did a side-by-side comparison with my roommate's Pearl. It's an improvement all around, for sure.

Very cool... I may have to do this... but i'll wait until there are replacement battery covers available from somewhere in case I screw it up ;) lol.

-olly

I like this idea!!! did you drill away or use a guide? I' think I'll break out my dremel and micro bits this weekend!

Looks good! Nitty likes!!

Can you please try the phone outdoors with this mod? I'd like to know if it picks up more noise; wind, cars, etc.

Agreed, very cool mod, but I would also wait until someone has a replacement cover, just in case.

guess you're not returning yours!

Done. It was pretty windy here today as I walked to the mall. No new noise interference to speak of, with and/or without the hands-free set that comes with it.

I used an Exacto to poke guide holes about where I wanted them, then drilled away with a 1/16" bit.

I had no intention of doing that anyway :D

I guess that's why people complain about the sound. I am surprise that they did not add vents or holes where the speaker is at.

When I get my 8100, I wait until there's a replacement battery cover for it and than add holes to it.

Yeah, I messed mine up. LOL

First set of holes went fine, next ones did not. I tried to fix it with an Xacto, but then the back cracked. I now have a square cut out of the back of mine, and some hairline cracks on that side. Sucks, but it won't be visible to the untrained eye, and I'll be less worried about scratching it. :p

They did. Look at the top of the 8100. The open slot is where the sound comes out. Take the cover off and you will see how the sound tunnels kind of like Bose speakers (no I'm not comparing the quality, just the technology).

As soon as I read the first post I played a tune and while it was playing I pulled the cover. I feel that the sound is better, with the cover on than off.

Comparable quality, I would say.

No highs, no lows; must be Bose.

I may try this. Any ideas for a design that will work and look good, while avoiding the Blackberry text?

Mine has seven holes. Just omit the one that goes through the logo.

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

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

BlackBerry online store? *shrugs*

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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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..?

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...

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

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

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.

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.

And what about volume?

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