Cabinets as a major contributor to sound can be a rabbit hole depending on the manufacrurers approach. ATC mids and tweeters do not even use the cabinet interior- cabinets are just a "baffle holder". Use of variable density MDF can make such cabients nearly inert- especially at low frequency where the woofer is working. (in ATC"s case, the LF crossover is at 380Hz) .
Are carbon fiber speaker cabinets inherently better than wood or metal ones
There seems to be a pretty big jump in speaker prices when moving to carbon fiber cabinetry when all else is equal (or what seems like equal). Is this because it is able to be molded into more acoustically correct shapes or simple the characteristics of the material?
Showing 3 responses by lonemountain
@bdp24 I'm with you. Adding mass/bracing to loudspeakers dramatically helps sound, especially when you're aware of the resonant frequencies you are trying to avoid. Carbon fiber is for looks, not speaker structure- especially when variable density MDF is available for cheap (and is 95% of the time the actual cabinet with a carbon fiber veneer). Ideas about rounded/elliptical cabinets or rooms- these are all mistakes to be avoided at all costs. |
Years ago I worked for Jon Dahlquist as a his rep in Chicago. He developed a series of loudspeakers called DQM that used Magnat drivers inside a revolutionary cabinet (to me anyway) using a double wall of variable density MDF with a layer of Nextel sprayed in between these two sheets. About as inert as I had experienced up until that point. Was the late 80s I think??? Well ahead of most, the idea of using the best drivers possible and an inert box. |