Speaker box questions

mustangman65_79 · 09-23-2002, 09:31 AM

Well, since no one at RHC will answer this, here ya go

Here's something thats been puzzling me for years.

Why are boxes made of Press board, rather then plywood, does it make a diff?

jj_jonathon · 09-23-2002, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mustangman65_79
Well, since no one at RHC will answer this, here ya go

Here's something thats been puzzling me for years.

Why are boxes made of Press board, rather then plywood, does it make a diff?

lol, ive done a couple homemade boxes out of plywood...they sound like crap...might have something to do with resonance..

tireburner163 · 09-25-2002, 12:32 AM

Simple. Plywood is too porous, you need a denser material. That's why most boxes are made out of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). Actully lead would make a killer speaker box.....but that's not very pratical is it.

mustangman65_79 · 09-25-2002, 07:36 AM

So, the more dense it is, the better it sounds?! Cool, sign me up for a gold box then please

wjfawb0 · 09-25-2002, 10:53 PM

The MDF (multi density fiberboard) is packed together small wood particles. The structure makes it more sound deadening. It doesn't resonate as easily as plywood. Plywood is larger chunks and flakes of wood which can resonate more easily. When I first started building boxes, I used plywood, cause I had a bunch. The boxes sounded bad. Rattled, vibrated buzzed when pushing lots of bass. The MDF sounds deeper and is quieter. Also, pack about 1 lb of polyfil (polyester in bags at wal-mart in crafts section) per cubic foot of your box. This deepens the sound by changing the medium inside the box. Makes the box seem bigger than it is. Leaks, like old, unplugged screw holes in boxes and leaky jopints also degrade sound quality. I always use some type of rtv or silicone caulk to seal all the joints of my boxes. These things can really improve the sound of a sub box.
-wjfawb0

tireburner163 · 09-27-2002, 12:15 AM

yea, if you going with a sealed box(non-ported) make sure the seal the inside up good with silicon. But make sure to let it dry for 24 hours before installing the sub. The vapors that it lets off while drying can eat away at sub surrounds. Once you have the sub installed, press down on the cone. It should take at least 5 seconds for it to come back up. If it pops back up quickly....you've got a air leak.

09-23-2002, 09:31 AM	#1
mustangman65_79 My poor 79 RIP Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Suisun City, Posts: 2,320	Speaker box questions Well, since no one at RHC will answer this, here ya go Here's something thats been puzzling me for years. Why are boxes made of Press board, rather then plywood, does it make a diff? __________________ '84 mustang GT turbo '85 LTD '89 Camaro Irocz z28 '94 Lightning '96 Trans am

09-25-2002, 12:32 AM	#3
tireburner163 It's a lot like a race car Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 4,130	Simple. Plywood is too porous, you need a denser material. That's why most boxes are made out of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). Actully lead would make a killer speaker box.....but that's not very pratical is it. __________________ 1987 Buick T-type 1998 HD Electra Elide

09-25-2002, 07:36 AM	#4
mustangman65_79 My poor 79 RIP Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Suisun City, Posts: 2,320	So, the more dense it is, the better it sounds?! Cool, sign me up for a gold box then please __________________ '84 mustang GT turbo '85 LTD '89 Camaro Irocz z28 '94 Lightning '96 Trans am

09-25-2002, 10:53 PM	#5
wjfawb0 Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 24	The MDF (multi density fiberboard) is packed together small wood particles. The structure makes it more sound deadening. It doesn't resonate as easily as plywood. Plywood is larger chunks and flakes of wood which can resonate more easily. When I first started building boxes, I used plywood, cause I had a bunch. The boxes sounded bad. Rattled, vibrated buzzed when pushing lots of bass. The MDF sounds deeper and is quieter. Also, pack about 1 lb of polyfil (polyester in bags at wal-mart in crafts section) per cubic foot of your box. This deepens the sound by changing the medium inside the box. Makes the box seem bigger than it is. Leaks, like old, unplugged screw holes in boxes and leaky jopints also degrade sound quality. I always use some type of rtv or silicone caulk to seal all the joints of my boxes. These things can really improve the sound of a sub box. -wjfawb0 __________________ 2003 DSG Cobra 455rwhp 462rwtq

09-27-2002, 12:15 AM	#6
tireburner163 It's a lot like a race car Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 4,130	yea, if you going with a sealed box(non-ported) make sure the seal the inside up good with silicon. But make sure to let it dry for 24 hours before installing the sub. The vapors that it lets off while drying can eat away at sub surrounds. Once you have the sub installed, press down on the cone. It should take at least 5 seconds for it to come back up. If it pops back up quickly....you've got a air leak. __________________ 1987 Buick T-type 1998 HD Electra Elide

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
mach 460 data cable (line out or speaker driver)?	jishead	Audio, Security, & Electronics	0	08-12-2004 01:20 AM
speedy density to mass air questions	thdrcat	Windsor Power	3	09-25-2003 09:20 PM
Just got a 98, have some questions?	98GTNewbie	Modular Madness	5	08-30-2003 12:41 AM
Nitrous Questions for 99GT	Swarzkopf	Modular Madness	8	01-08-2002 10:16 AM
S/R Questions	DAMION	Racer's Club House	1	09-30-1999 11:02 AM