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Why MDF so Bad???

Hi everyone,
I've been reading left and right about how bad MDF seems to be for equipement racks. Everyone seems to agree that MDF shelves will color the music badly. The only thing I wonder is why do many speaker companies use MDF in their speakers?

Also, does MDF sound bad in every thickness? Did someone try to use 1 inch thick MDF shelves?

I'm very curious about MDF so I'm getting a woodsmith to build a 5 shelf equipement rack made of 1 inch thick MDF (only 1 inch thick MDF will be used for the whole unit). The shelves will be fixed to the frame. The whole rack will be assembled using high strength glue only. No nails nor screws will be used. The rack will be veneered with 1/28" thick mahogany wood (no paper backing)... Also, the back of the rack will be reinforced by MDF braces... The overall rack will be as rigid as possible.

One more thing, the rack will sit on the same kind of spike Verity Audio uses on their Parsifal encores (I guess I want the rack construction to be as close to a speaker cabinet as possible)...

I'm getting this rack made as an experiment, not as my definitive rack.

Any opinions as to what I should expect from this rack (sonic qualities)?

I was also thinking to use some sound absorbing material under each shelves and on the inside of the sidewalls to try lowering sound reflection (am I off the track here?)...

One last question, any thoughts as to how I could improve this rack (please don't recommend to throw the rack out the window and get a brand name rack)?

If anyone is interested, I will be able to post some pics when the rack is ready...

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks ahead
lgregoir
tphalieros
39 posts
 
High and low density fiberboard sound harsh!
If you want naturally musical sound and good looks use solid maple. Musical instruments are made of this wood. Have you heard a violin ever made from HDF ? That should tell you something.
redwoodgarden
150 posts
 
Violins are made of solid wood to provide their own beautiful unique overtones. The purpose of speakers is to provide NO ADDED OVTERTONES, but rather to reproduce sound as recorded and NOTHING ELSE. HDF does not sound harsh; it sounds like hitting a rock with your hand. This means that no extra resonance is added. A violin made out of HDF would sound dead which is bad for violins, but great for speaker cabinets.
tphalieros
39 posts
 
Every rule has its notable exception, this is a fact that confuses the rigid. At least 2 top success manufacturers use solid wood and no MDF in their speakers and the results are spectacular!. SONUS FABER and SHUN MOOK with their BELLA VOCE speaker.
redwoodgarden
150 posts
 
The Sonus Faber Mahler Speaker made with Brazillian Rosewood is beautiful. There is no question about that. Some people with lots of money and good taste prefer speakers made with pure wood. If solid wood is thick enough, it could approach the sonic advantage of HIGH DENSITY (not medium density) FIBER. The point was the pure science sonic comparison between HDF and solid wood. HDF is the winner even if it is cheap and ugly.
mikepowellaudio's avatar
mikepowellaudio
138 posts
 
MDF is a high profit material. That is why it is used....
Just like anything mass produced, there are so many levels odf distribution, speakers need to be made as inexpensive as possible...
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