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Why are there so many wooden speakers?

I have noticed a problem within the speaker industry. 99% of speakers that come onto the marketplace are wooden, i.e MDF.
 
This is true of old speakers and new speakers. This is true of Dynaudio, B&W, Elac, Kef, revel, PMC, Focal, ATC the list goes on and on. This is a longstanding problem that has been deceiving audiophiles for decades and it requires a solution. 

The problem with a wooden box is that no matter what crossover or drivers you use, it will still sound like a wooden box. 
There is a limit to the sound you can get out of a wooden box so it is not possible to improve the sound just by using different drivers. Despite this, every year or two, the aforementioned companies put new speakers on the market claiming that they sound even better than what came before. In conclusion, we are being misled. 

I have no problem with MDF boxes per se. MDF is a good material to use. But if you want to make an even better speaker then you obviously need to use a better material. You cant use the same material and say you have made a better speaker. Thats false. 

Let's take the B&W 600 series for example. This is a series that has been going on for decades. 

Here is the latest speaker from their current series

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/home-audio/607

There is no mention of what wood is used but I'm pretty sure its MDF. All they talk about is their continuum woofer and dome tweeter that goes up to 38khz. No mention of even improvements to the crossover let alone the cabinet.

I believe that this has gone on for long enough and audiophiles deserve better treatment. I don't know if a class action lawsuit is the answer but something needs to change.
kenjit

Showing 1 response by timlub

timlub
2,043 posts
 
@kenjit 
I wouldn't mind spending time with you discussing speaker design at some point.  Many of your arguments are valid, but if a manufacturer decided to build a no compromise cabinet,  very few could afford it.  I am grateful for plywood and mdf.  They allow me to build high quality cabinets that are affordable.  I have been very strongly contemplating going into manufacturing again.  I've been out of it for 35 years.  Just recently I've experimented with light weight concrete composites.  Vermiculite and styrene beads.  In the end, I have abandoned this idea.  In fact, I have been working with lighter wood products and using extensive bracing and deadening technics to built a very lightweight, strong and inert box.  It may not be as inert as I would like,  but I've done a few lightweight boxes that have produced very satisfying bass that can be handled much easier by an old geaser like me than your typical box..... It has been said all over.  Construction time,  Construction cost, Parts cost, time involved.... everything is a factor.  In the end,  The purchaser has to pay and the manufacturers are constantly juggling that cost vs selling price.  It isn't that a better cabinet can't be made or anyone wants to deny you.  I would suggest that you may fund a manufacturers development cost and I'm sure that you could get any type cabinet built that your hearts desire. Of course that isn't practical.... and practical is what this is all about.  Good Listening,  Tim (timlub)
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