Fiber fill vs. fiberglass vs. wool vs lined cabinet walls

[Pallas]

Originally Posted by fastbike1

Bonded Logic Ultra Touch recycled denim has close to the same properties as fiberglass and is a lot easier to handle.

In the U.S. the best deal is order 6 rolls online from Home Depot.

I can't tell from the website - is are the thin HD rolls backed with anything, or are they suitable as is to use as loose fill?

[tvrgeek]

See my threads on stuffing tests. Summary: For a sealed box, I went back to plain old FG insulation packed pretty tight. Much tighter than I expected. Pillow stuffing was terrible. Cotton, wool, foam, and boutique stuffing worked about as well, but cost a lot more. All that hub-bub on activated carbon I consider just plain inappropriate as I want a speaker, not a de-humidifier. ( and my test showed it did not work anyway). I learned enough to not bother with more tests and no one else seemed willing to take up the next level, just argue with no facts. So I am back to working on other problems. Can't decide: Small three way with first order crossovers or another two way with the Satori and OM1.

[speakerdoctor]

Originally Posted by tvrgeek

See my threads on stuffing tests. Summary: For a sealed box, I went back to plain old FG insulation packed pretty tight. Much tighter than I expected. Pillow stuffing was terrible. Cotton, wool, foam, and boutique stuffing worked about as well, but cost a lot more. All that hub-bub on activated carbon I consider just plain inappropriate as I want a speaker, not a de-humidifier. ( and my test showed it did not work anyway). I learned enough to not bother with more tests and no one else seemed willing to take up the next level, just argue with no facts. So I am back to working on other problems. Can't decide: Small three way with first order crossovers or another two way with the Satori and OM1.

Readers take note of tvegeek's results with cotton.

Bonded Logic Ultra-touch is COTTON. I've tried cottan as well and got the same results as tvrgeek as far as bass LF extension is concerned.

Damping cabinet reflections is a WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION from cabinet volume enhancement via stuffing optimization.

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by speakerdoctor

The best stuffing material for sealed boxes is fiberglass. It has been shown in test after test. It does the best job of enhancing box volume (lower bass) and damping of reflections off the rear wall. My rule of thumb is use about 1 lb per cu. ft of volume to stuff. Get some wall insulation FG from your local HD or Lowes.
With regard to midrange drivers, you can also use FG. But, in the case of some of them (I know Seas for sure) the VC is exposed, use crimped polyester pillow stuffing available from a craft store. The PET isn't brittle like FG and thus won't break into small pieces that could get into the VC gap.

Agree totally , nasty to work with , but easily the most effective ...!!!

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by tvrgeek

See my threads on stuffing tests. Summary: For a sealed box, I went back to plain old FG insulation packed pretty tight. Much tighter than I expected. Pillow stuffing was terrible. Cotton, wool, foam, and boutique stuffing worked about as well, but cost a lot more. All that hub-bub on activated carbon I consider just plain inappropriate as I want a speaker, not a de-humidifier. ( and my test showed it did not work anyway). I learned enough to not bother with more tests and no one else seemed willing to take up the next level, just argue with no facts. So I am back to working on other problems. Can't decide: Small three way with first order crossovers or another two way with the Satori and OM1.

3 way ....

[CopperTop]

Do you really need stuffing and damping panels on the walls? Doesn't the stuffing do a pretty good job of absorbing the reflections as well as doing the resonant frequency thing? Commercial speakers I've looked in (not all that many admittedly) only seem to have stuffing or foam panels, but not both.

[Keriwena]

The stuffing is for the air, the damping is for the panels. They both vibrate, but have very different mass/stiffness ratios, or impedance. What works best for each is different. Sure, commercial speakers makers cut corners, but in DIY, optimising both is one of our cheaper thrills.

[speakerdoctor]

Originally Posted by CopperTop

Do you really need stuffing and damping panels on the walls? Doesn't the stuffing do a pretty good job of absorbing the reflections as well as doing the resonant frequency thing? Commercial speakers I've looked in (not all that many admittedly) only seem to have stuffing or foam panels, but not both.

Reread post #3.
I haven't seen both foam and stuffing in the same box either. I've seen foam blocks used to replace the use of stuffing (vintage Advents). Not quite as effective but certainly easier to work with as far as production worker safety is concerned.

[Pano]

Originally Posted by Pallas

I can't tell from the website - is are the thin HD rolls backed with anything, or are they suitable as is to use as loose fill?

The thin rolls have a foil backing. It pulls right off. The large batts have no backing and are a looser pack.

[Kooshball]

Originally Posted by speakerdoctor

Readers take note of tvegeek's results with cotton.

Bonded Logic Ultra-touch is COTTON. I've tried cottan as well and got the same results as tvrgeek as far as bass LF extension is concerned.

Damping cabinet reflections is a WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION from cabinet volume enhancement via stuffing optimization.

Is there a previous discussion regarding damping cabinet reflections? This was my originsl intent for the question but I may not have been clear...

Thx