Is MDF or plywood better for speaker cabinets?

[djn]

I'm starting a new full range speaker project and want to know what is better for cabinets MDF or good plywood.

 

[carlthess40]

Buy you just asked a very debated question
I’m sure you will get 100’s of answers on this

 

[John Busch]

You can combine the two... simple.. recommend the baffle plate be MDF..Top, bottom & back ply.. sides MDF. Mixing it up, mixes up resonances. Simple. YMMV!

 

[synonymous]

I think that the idea is to make sure that the resonances are pushed up with adequate bracing. Regardless of what materials you use. You can always double the face (baffle), and other surfaces until satisfaction is achieved..

Use what your knee jerk reaction tells you.
Enjoyment is the most important part for sure

 

[vinylkid58]

Geezuzz, everyone knows plywood is better.

jeff

 

[Face]

Whatever you have access to and prefer working with.

I have access to Baltic Birch and many exotic hardwoods locally, so I never use MDF anymore. Plus, I hate MDF dust.

 

[Oneminde]

I will make a comment for you to reflect on.

Acoustic instruments produce music while loudspeakers reproduce music. The former must resonate to amplify and the later should not resonate, it should be inert. The former have have low damping factor and the later should have high damping factor.

damping factor values - audio qualia

 

[planet10]

We only use MDF for things like spacers (disimilar material) or bases & such. Quality plywood has significant advantages. But actual box design and execution play significant roles too.

I have seen (& have) some very nice solid wood speakers. Not for the builder faint of heart. Stranded/fossilized bamboo plywood is the best sheet material we have used.

Next up would be constrained layer boxes.

dave

 

[djn]

I came across this while looking density specs. Looks interesting

I really like bamboo thought.


Noiseless Plywood – dB Engineering

 

[wiseoldtech]

Of course the opinions vary.
The stuff I've built is with MDF, along with bracing.
In my opinion, the box should not add/subtract any sounds that the speakers put out, the box is only there to support the speakers, and eliminate rear reflections.

 

[Zuhl]

MDF works just fine as long as you have proper bracing. How you build your cabinets is more important than the material.

 

[scottjoplin]

Ply is nicer to work with. It's easy to stop the sound from the rear of the drivers getting out, the question then becomes what do you do with it now it's trapped inside?

 

[Galu]

. . .what do you do with it now it's trapped inside?

Why trap the sound inside? What about a plywood, sand-filled, open baffle!

 

[scottjoplin]

You are, of course, moving part way towards a logical conclusion, however, the OP did mention something about speaker cabinets.......

 

[JonSnell Electronic]

Whatever you have access to and prefer working with.

I have access to Baltic Birch and many exotic hardwoods locally, so I never use MDF anymore. Plus, I hate MDF dust.

MDF is a carcinogen. The dust is very dangerous! Use ply wood everytime.

 

[djn]

I've read in the past that 13 ply Baltic birch is the one to use. Any thought. I don't like carcinogens.

 

[planet10]

13 ply BB is 18mm. It is avaialble in a range of construction quality. We used lots & lots of it (and 15, 12mm) but switched over when we found the quality of the BB we were getting was getting poorer*, we switched to the Murphy Ply birch plywood which was of a higher quality. A quality Baltic core which they skin with maple veneeres (sp ominal 18mm gets 15 plies).

*(BB can come from Finland, the Baltic States, Russia & China (list in our experience shows a general decrease in quality).

The BB we were getting did not cost a whole lot more than decent MDF.

You spent big bucks on the drivers, don’t skimp on the final box.

PlybooStrand Bamboo Plywood and Veneer | Plyboo

dave

 

[Face]

I'm looking forward to picking up a sheet of this to work with. The veneer on the top and bottom match the end grain.

 

[mlwebb]

planet10 - Agree with you on the BB quality declining, my favorite (although it has gotten expensive), is State's Appleply. (both States Ind. and Murphy are in my home town)

Another interesting material is PaperStone - in black would look nice as a baffle.

Good materials are easier to work with than the cheaper stuff - flatter, consistent thickness, etc.

Michael

 

[Bigun]

MDF is a carcinogen. The dust is very dangerous! Use ply wood everytime.

I can’t stand mdf, I will not use it for DIY due to the dust plus weight plus wear and tear on tools. It’s banned from my house, not even in store-bought furniture, baseboard trim etc. Bloody horrible stuff.