Which materials are user to create speakers?

Question

which materials are best to create the outside of a speaker

Answer 1

Manufacturers often still use chipboard in cheap speakers, as it costs less than MDF. MDF comes in a range of thicknesses - the thicker it is, the more it costs. The thicker it is, the more rigid it is though, especially if it braced internally to reduce the amount of vibration the cabinet emits in response to the music going through the speaker drivers.

Heavily braced MDF cabinets can sound good, but cost more than a basic box with a single shelf brace across its middle. Personally, in the speakers I've built, I've had better results with marine birch ply, as it's more rigid than MDF of the same thickness, but it costs a fair amount more than MDF.

It is also possible to use metal, glass, perspex, concrete, resin, corian and any other number of materials to make speaker cabinets, but all are more expensive to make than chipboard or MDF.

Some of the best speakers have no box around them at all. There are the classic Quad 57 electrostatics and panels such as Magneplanars (have a look on the web for more info). I've used Magneplanars and Quads, and they have a transparency unmatched by boxed loudspeakers (in my experience), but that's another story...

Answer 2

Most manufacturers use MDF (medium Density Fiberboard) due to it's consistency and excellent damping qualities. A good, affordable speaker will often use 5/8 inch on the front baffle and rear along with 1/2 or larger on the sides and be internally braced with thick pieces of MDF.

For the outside finished part, most manufacturers use either high quality vinyl wrap or wood veneers of various types.

Answer 3

Most speaker manufacturers and home brew speaker builders (such as myself) use MDF (medium density fiberboard). From my experience at least, it cuts good and doesn't loose big chunks while cutting it. It also glues together good, and is very solid from an acoustical stand point. At one time, plywood and particle-board were very commonly used and were good back then. But, particle-board wasn't very easy to cut and glue. It could loose big chunks while cutting and didn't always glue together solidly. It also wasn't as solid as MDF. Plywood was much easier to work with, but you had to carefully choose a really good grade of it for speaker boxes. That could get expensive. Those are probably some reasons why MDF is common nowadays. Again, from my experience, I find MDF easier to work with. And its retail price is reasonable. By the way, after you've sanded the box smooth and painted it, MDF looks better than Particle-board ever could. Should you decide to put some sort of vinyl or real wood veneer on it, MDF is much easier to do that to than plywood or particle-board.

Answer 4

Well, scientifically speaking, the Earth warms up and cools naturally on its own. So part of the whole global warming scenario is actually a natural cycle. It's why we've had ice ages in the past. However, as far as protecting the ozone layer and not speeding up the rate at which GW happens .... That would be pollution reduction. Basically, you'd want to stop burning carbon based substances for energy for one. Also the reduction of things like freon and so fourth helps too.

Answer 5

Nearly every company uses wood because of the way it handles harmonics, resonance, and it looks good too.

Some others have played around with plastics, glass, metal, look at some of the designs from Bang and Olufsen to what's possible.
Everyone dabbles but moves back to wood in the end, the composites of the inner cones, design and the electronics change more between manufacturers than cabinet design.

The type, weight, thickness and shape of a wooden cabinet can still have a huge effect sound quality.

Answer 6

As above, for most of us, a good solid wooden cabinet, internally braced will be what you want. As long is the cabinet doesn't resonate, you're on the right track.

The ultimate is probably the Eggleston Works 'Ivy' speakers - the cabinet is solid Italian marble. They do cost £75,000 a pair, though...

Answer 7

Nothing can beat the wooden cabinet..
It gives you the good sond quality,no unnecessary vibration...