I have built a pair of speakers using 5-1/4" driver (Tang band W5-2143). The driver is currently flush mounted (actually protruding slightly at about 1mm or so).
But cosmetically I am a little unhappy with how they turned out.
I am thinking of gluing a plank of solid wood on top of the baffle, rounding off the edge of speaker hole and the outer edges. This would make the driver mounting recessed. I've read that this is a bad idea for tweeter due to diffraction, but what about for 5-1/4" full range driver?
But cosmetically I am a little unhappy with how they turned out.
I am thinking of gluing a plank of solid wood on top of the baffle, rounding off the edge of speaker hole and the outer edges. This would make the driver mounting recessed. I've read that this is a bad idea for tweeter due to diffraction, but what about for 5-1/4" full range driver?
There are 2 problems.
The boxes are finished with high pressure laminate, the corners are very hard and sharp. I am afraid to bend down near them. Rounding them off at this stage might ruin the laminate. Also the edges are full of screws, I don’t know how much I can shave off.
Then I also messed up one of the speaker hole.
Adding a slab of wood in front would solve both problems. But it needs to have some thickness to it so that I have a round enough edges.
Another way I can think of is to add 2 slabs of wood on both sides, then glue another layer of laminate or leather in front. The problem is I don’t know how to cut a neat circular hole neatly on materials like those.
Edit: there is one more way, that is to mount the speaker on the wood in front. The wood have to be something like 1” thick and I would need to go through the ordeal of cutting a flush mount speaker hole again. Certainly possible but I find this extremely unappealing. 😀
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Yeah, I historically false baffled a 'recessed' driver [tweeter or not] and if the round over begins at least 45 deg [90 deg included] and increases with increasing distance, then no diffraction issues worthy of the name since the driver is otherwise beaming at these frequencies [looks real professional too].
FWIW, I front mount[ed] any drivers I could and velcro ['d] the cosmetic baffle on.
GM
FWIW, I front mount[ed] any drivers I could and velcro ['d] the cosmetic baffle on.
GM
Hi,
If the opening for the recessed mounting is generously widened and rounded, there are no adverse effects. The recessed mounting even offers a nice opportunity to decouple the driver from the front baffle if the driver´s magnet rests on some sort of post and if contact to the baffle is only with a gasket, to remain airtight. I prefer sorbothane for this.
All the best
Mattes
If the opening for the recessed mounting is generously widened and rounded, there are no adverse effects. The recessed mounting even offers a nice opportunity to decouple the driver from the front baffle if the driver´s magnet rests on some sort of post and if contact to the baffle is only with a gasket, to remain airtight. I prefer sorbothane for this.
All the best
Mattes
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Nice work Mattes.
Navyblue,
Looks like you can proceed with your idea without adverse effects. Good luck!
Navyblue,
Looks like you can proceed with your idea without adverse effects. Good luck!