Front Enclosure Design - Material Question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Front Enclosure Design - Material Question
Okay. Just in the planning stages. I'm going to attempt to create some new enclosures for my Infinity Kappa Components I have up front. Right now they are in the factory Bose enclosure which is plastic. Problem is they aren't sealed and I'm not real happy with the way they turned out. I'll probably use cardboard to templete the first stages, and am curious as to what would be a good material to do the final product in?
Here are some thoughts, feel free to add your opinions.
If anyone has done this, feel free to post pics and comments.
Here are some thoughts, feel free to add your opinions.
If anyone has done this, feel free to post pics and comments.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (R94 LT 1)
MDF is the ideal material for speaker enclosures. All the major manufacturers of quality Home and Auto speaker cabinets use it. It is the most effective sound deadening material and will give you a natural warm sound. Fibreglass is to resonant, particle board is to course, plywood to course as well. You can get it at home depot cheap, it shapes easy, and you can router it to sink in speakers and round edges. Use liquid nails to glue it together. 1/2" is ok for speakers but use 3/4" or 1" for subs
92TripleBlack
92TripleBlack
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (92TripleBlack)
MDF is the ideal material for speaker enclosures. All the major manufacturers of quality Home and Auto speaker cabinets use it. It is the most effective sound deadening material and will give you a natural warm sound. Fibreglass is to resonant, particle board is to course, plywood to course as well. You can get it at home depot cheap, it shapes easy, and you can router it to sink in speakers and round edges. Use liquid nails to glue it together. 1/2" is ok for speakers but use 3/4" or 1" for subs
92TripleBlack
92TripleBlack
Well
, if I had looked above, you spelt it out! Thanks! [Modified by R94 LT 1, 8:23 PM 10/30/2001]
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (R94 LT 1)
MDF=Medium density fiberboard. Its sold near the particle board. It is itself a very fine version of particle board. Particle board is made up of splinters and glue, MDF is sawdust and glue. If you go to Home Depot or similar they should be able to point it out. HD labels it MDF. It is also suprisingly heavy. My sub box which is 3/4 and is about 30x20x6 weighs about 50 lbs for the box alone. Close to 100 with sub, speakers, amps and wires.
92TripleBlack :cheers:
92TripleBlack :cheers:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (92TripleBlack)
Do you know if it comes thinner than 1/2"? That front area is very tight! The thicker the material the less room for the speakers. I guess I should have noted, I'm "trying" to keep in under the factory speaker grill. If I do manage to come up with something I'll defiantely let everyone know. It's probably going to be my "winter" project.
Add another question. Should I completely seal the speakers in or try and port the bass like the BLOWS did?
Add another question. Should I completely seal the speakers in or try and port the bass like the BLOWS did?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (R94 LT 1)
Answer one: I don't know if it comes smaller than 1/2 inch. You wouldn't want to go much smaller because it will loose its integrity. I am planning on doing this myself in the next few weekends.
Answer two: Seal them. Speakers this small don't make bass. They will sound better. I's throw in some polyfill for good measure.
92TripleBlack
Answer two: Seal them. Speakers this small don't make bass. They will sound better. I's throw in some polyfill for good measure.
92TripleBlack
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (92TripleBlack)
Answer one: I don't know if it comes smaller than 1/2 inch. You wouldn't want to go much smaller because it will loose its integrity. I am planning on doing this myself in the next few weekends.
Answer two: Seal them. Speakers this small don't make bass. They will sound better. I's throw in some polyfill for good measure.
92TripleBlack
Answer two: Seal them. Speakers this small don't make bass. They will sound better. I's throw in some polyfill for good measure.
92TripleBlack
Anyone else out there that's messed with this?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,302
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (R94 LT 1)
Since you are making an enclosure for your front speakers, and I assume they are in your door (even if they are in your dash, this applies), use fiberglass. You will not need to make it quite as thick, and it will be A LOT easier to shape it the way you need to rather than trying to cut wood.
Believe me, I am an MDF lover. However, many high end subwoofer enclosures have be made entirely of fiberglass. It is extremely stiff and strong, but the main benefit is that it can be shaped. If you have experience w/ FG, use it! :yesnod: :cheers:
Believe me, I am an MDF lover. However, many high end subwoofer enclosures have be made entirely of fiberglass. It is extremely stiff and strong, but the main benefit is that it can be shaped. If you have experience w/ FG, use it! :yesnod: :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (R94 LT 1)
Not in the door, they are between the floor board and the rail under the door. They come in a pod there. I'm no good with glass and besides, MDF gives you a warmer sound anyway. The advantage of glass is that it would be thinner and therefore smaller and lighter but not substantially so for a single mid and that it can be molded into custom shapes. This is the one big advantage of the glass but I should be ok with the MDF. I'm gonna look tomorrow as its raining today.
92TripleBlack :cheers:
92TripleBlack :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 3,020
Likes: 0
From: Union City CA
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (Glock'94)
Here you go -
MDF, and I agree, sound is very good!
I made my rear hatch cover out of the same stuff -Bass is now so much better!
Speed-racer
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 253
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Front Enclosure Design - Material Question (Speed-Racer)
That looks nice, but our front ones aren't quite that easy. I did use MDF. Here's a link to the work I did on mine.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=215852
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=215852