Home » Sponsored » Pi Speakers » Best Cabinet Material?
Best Cabinet Material? [message #34383] Tue, 11 December 2001 06:41 Go to next message
Garland is currently offline  Garland
Messages: 269
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
I am getting ready to pick up the materials I'll need to build a pair of Theater 4 Pi's and was wondering what the general concensus is concerning the best material to use for the cab's. I've used MDF and find it is not the easiest material to join and finish. Some consider plywoods to have good sonic attributes while others recommend steering clear of plywood and using MDF or particle board.
Ultimately I plan on finishing the cabinets in wood veneer.
Thanks for any ones' comments and recommendations!

Garland

1" 15ply void free russian birch [message #34384 is a reply to message #34383] Tue, 11 December 2001 07:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
replay is currently offline  replay
Messages: 284
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
it is sold at specialty wood suppliers, comes in 5'x5' sheets. expect to pay $30.00 US a sheet.

cheers,

george

Re: 1" 15ply void free russian birch [message #34385 is a reply to message #34384] Tue, 11 December 2001 09:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Garland is currently offline  Garland
Messages: 269
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
Hey George, where do you live? Around here in the Boston Ma area all I can find is 3/4" 13 ply @ $109 for 4'x 8' or $69 for 60" x 60"! I may use this, but it gets pretty pricey. What would your second choice be? Also what bracing did you use?
Thanks!

Garland

Loudspeaker wood stock: Hardwoods, plywoods and particle boards [message #34386 is a reply to message #34385] Tue, 11 December 2001 14:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18676
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
We generally build cabinets smaller than 3 cubic feet using MDF and those larger with baltic birch plywood. We use real wood veneers but never a solid hardwood because it tends to be resonant.
Re: 1" 15ply void free russian birch [message #34387 is a reply to message #34385] Tue, 11 December 2001 16:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
replay is currently offline  replay
Messages: 284
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
hi garland, look in the yellow pages for wood specialists, the places where cabinetmakers buy their stock, forget home depot and similiar outlets. i did not brace my cabinets, they are as solid as concrete woth zero flex. if i was building 7 pi cabinets then 2"x1" bracing would be used, but my cabinets are small and i found no need.

cheers,

george

huge structural difference between 1" and 3/4" [message #34388 is a reply to message #34386] Tue, 11 December 2001 16:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
replay is currently offline  replay
Messages: 284
Registered: May 2009
Grand Master
my 7 pi's were built with 3/4" ply and there is some flex thus the need for bracing, but the 1" ply is worth every penny because of it's extra strength. bracing makes a 3/4" cabinet solid but 1" is now my thickness of choice. my 4 pi's were made with 1" wood and they truly are "rock" monitors.

cheers,

george

Re: Best Cabinet Material? [message #34389 is a reply to message #34383] Tue, 11 December 2001 16:21 Go to previous message
BillEpstein is currently offline  BillEpstein
Messages: 886
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
Listen to Replay. Every metro area has a distributor that sells to small cabinet shops. Hardwood plywood, MDF that is already veneered, sheet goods that have plastic or cellulose honey combs between MDF and the various Russian and Baltic Birch.
In regard to bracing, I was amazed at the difference a couple of braces made in the little 2 cu ft box for the sub. From thoommmp to thunk. Much deader with.
Previous Topic: three pi bass reflex Thermionic
Next Topic: Duplicate post from high eff.; idea for get-together
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Fri Apr 19 17:18:55 CDT 2024

Sponsoring Organizations

DIY Audio Projects
DIY Audio Projects
OddWatt Audio
OddWatt Audio
Pi Speakers
Pi Speakers
Prosound Shootout
Prosound Shootout
Smith & Larson Audio
Smith & Larson Audio
Tubes For Amps
TubesForAmps.com

Lone Star Audiofest