In acoustic suspension the box volume modifies Q (damping). In a pure infinite baffle only the driver's Q plays a role. Normally the box volume and woofer are selected to match in order to get the best out of the combo or combined Q (so this difference is not critical)
In an infinite baffle there is NO rearward sound energy reverberating and causing peaks and nulls in the forward sound field. (In a conventional box speaker the reverberant energy off the rear walls behind the speaker cancels or enhances the forward sound energy that reaches the listener creating a highly bumpy sound field in the bass or less than 500 Hz. In open back panels and dipoles this effect can occur in the mid range - creating an airy or spaced out impression - this is how the ear interpretes comb filtering or a highly "notched" sound field).
In an infinite baffle there is also no edge diffraction occuring as the sound geometrically spreads from the driver and then suddenly encounters the edge of the speaker box and diffracts around it ( think a pure clean bow wave from a boat hitting a pier and creating secondary waves off the pier - after the wave hits the pier or goes around it there is no longer a clean signal)
Therefore an infinite baffle will give an almost perfect sound field (in theory)!
A box speaker mounted in a wall is a sort of hybrid. It approximates an infinite baffle in that there is no rear energy to clutter the forward sound field (i.e. approaches a perfect sound field). However, the box volume is still used to modify the woofer Q to achieve a desired system Q... so the bass response of the driver may be enhanced at what is often regarded as negligible expense to the transient response)
In an infinite baffle there is NO rearward sound energy reverberating and causing peaks and nulls in the forward sound field. (In a conventional box speaker the reverberant energy off the rear walls behind the speaker cancels or enhances the forward sound energy that reaches the listener creating a highly bumpy sound field in the bass or less than 500 Hz. In open back panels and dipoles this effect can occur in the mid range - creating an airy or spaced out impression - this is how the ear interpretes comb filtering or a highly "notched" sound field).
In an infinite baffle there is also no edge diffraction occuring as the sound geometrically spreads from the driver and then suddenly encounters the edge of the speaker box and diffracts around it ( think a pure clean bow wave from a boat hitting a pier and creating secondary waves off the pier - after the wave hits the pier or goes around it there is no longer a clean signal)
Therefore an infinite baffle will give an almost perfect sound field (in theory)!
A box speaker mounted in a wall is a sort of hybrid. It approximates an infinite baffle in that there is no rear energy to clutter the forward sound field (i.e. approaches a perfect sound field). However, the box volume is still used to modify the woofer Q to achieve a desired system Q... so the bass response of the driver may be enhanced at what is often regarded as negligible expense to the transient response)