Can you add internal bracing to commercial speaker?

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Joined 2022
My question is

can you add internal bracing to an already made pair of speakers?
would it alter the sound in a bad way or in a way the speaker designer didn’t have in mind?

i was thinking of adding low mass aluminum rods inside in a cross pattern to increase stiffness of the cabinet.

im assuming it would ruin the sound of the speaker the way it was designed from the woofer selection and crossover the designer used?


thanks!
 
Hard to do a really good job with adding really good bracing, but as much as we could do (most of the time), just single point braces like Geddes, adding bracing was one of the steps we would take to make a commercial loudspeaker better.

dave

whos Geddes?

would adding the single point braces shift the resonant freq up higher?

thanks!
 
Years ago, when I repaired and upgraded my floorstanding Advent Maestro speakers, I added in a wood brace just above the woofer, in the center of the enclosure, from front to back.
Simple, stiffened up the front/back panels nicely since it's an air-suspension/sealed box.
Bass is clean, plenty of lows, I'm happy with the results.
 
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I wouldn't say it changes box tuning, but cabinets tend to resonate. They shouldn't necessarily, so it isn't right to think that cabinet vibrations are supposed to be there.

However, people often find they are disappointed after bracing a speaker that they already like. Sure, if you then proceed to do it properly and fix all issues it will come good again, but this is difficult to do and perhaps only worth it if the speaker is suited to you and your room in other ways.

Maybe try something reversible at first.
 
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What is the make of the speakers you intend to modify?
If DIY, give details.
Use the kind of foam tube used in HVAC ducts to cover the rods.

Sticking foam to the internal walls can also reduce resonance, use a weak glue, so it is easy to remove.
 
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I meant the foam tubes used for covering / insulating copper tubes used in HVAC installations, particularly to split A/C outdoor units from the indoor units.
Or something like that to cover the aluminum rods you want to use for bracing.
Use foam sheets for the inside walls, with weak glue.
 
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would adding the single point braces shift the resonant freq up higher?
Dr Earl Geddes.

Tappan-braces.gif


dave
 
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