Home » Audio » Speaker » Particle Board?
Particle Board? [message #64851] Tue, 23 November 2010 18:00 Go to next message
Adveser is currently offline  Adveser
Messages: 434
Registered: July 2009
Location: USA
Illuminati (1st Degree)
So, in a week, I will finally be reunited with my boyhood pals, my good old Technics SB-A28's. If they actually arrive intact that is.

Naturally, they are made of yellow particle board. with that fake plastic stuff attached to the top of them.

Here's a pic of someone elses set:

http://www.tribemagazine.com/board/buy-sell-rent/137943-technics-speakers-model-sb-a28.html

Any opinions on how this affects the sound quality? They already have a cloth-like textile staple gunned to the inside of them (at the factory) so that is already done.

Do they lose some tonality and (articifical) colour being made this way? does partical board offer a more "accurate" (as in: doesn't alter the sound) material?

Any opinions are appreciated.


Re: Particle Board? [message #64852 is a reply to message #64851] Tue, 23 November 2010 18:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18671
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

To tell the truth, I've always liked the acoustics of MDF, and even some particle board or chip board products. Sure, there are some kinds of particle board that aren't good, for some of the same reasons that cheap plywood can be a problem - the potential to develop cracks or voids (with internal debris) that buzz when vibrated. But chip board that is bonded and compressed well is pretty good stuff, acoustically, because like MDF, it is characteristically non-resonant. It's a relatively homogenous collection of various fibers bonded together with glue.

As for the grilles, I prefer not to use them but I admit they can provide some protection and can even be attractive. I like the looks of raw drivers, but not everyone else does. However, there's no getting around the fact that the grille is not acoustically transparent, so it creates a self-reflection and this usually makes response anomalies. I wouldn't mind slight attenuation, but the x/4λ notches aren't good. Depending on the grille's acoustic resistance and its distance from the tweeter, response problems can range from mild to severe. Still, if the grilles are removable, you can decide when they're important to have on and when you'd rather take them off.

Re: Particle Board? [message #64856 is a reply to message #64851] Tue, 23 November 2010 19:44 Go to previous message
Adveser is currently offline  Adveser
Messages: 434
Registered: July 2009
Location: USA
Illuminati (1st Degree)
Thanks Wayne. I always thought they kind of lacked a sound, outside of the normal acoustics of a box. This works in my favor, so it's good to see that upgrading to alder or maple or something isn't going to do what I intend. If it has to have a sound, i'd prefer normal guitarwood, but this works out better without one.

I've had the grilles both on and off. Mostly off though. I think the technics line was pretty well made so not a lot of the huge problems from the past were integrated into the early 90's loudspeakers. It was basically the last great run of loudspeakers as a mainstream commercial entity.



Previous Topic: Great Computer Audio Setup
Next Topic: Game Chair Speakers
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Fri Mar 29 09:21:57 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