What type of wood, Birch, Oak, etc..., is the best used for speaker construction?
Are there still companies out there who will build with the best wood for the sake of craftsmanship(passing the expense onto the consumer of course), or do most manufacturers just want assembly line type products in order to make a quick buck?
Wayne Parham Messages: 18792 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
I like MDF, but humidity makes it swell and standing water turns it to mush. Baltic birch is much better structurally.
I use MDF where humidity isn't an issue and where the speaker will rarely be moved. I use baltic birch for speakers that will be moved a lot and/or those that might be subjected to the elements.
Those are the only two wood products I'll use to build speakers. For home hi-fi, I generally cover the cabinet with a fine wood veneer but for prosound I use Duratex.
I was leaning towards birch actually, thanks for telling me why. I'm looking for something to use in the garage when I start putting in the second walls for the insulation. It's all brick.
Will using solid wood still account for wood movement? I was always under the impression that speaker boxes need to be air tight and that MDF works best for this. Can you use both MDF and solid wood together?
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