Fiberglassing Speaker Baffles

[chartman18 10+ year member]

I was browsing the Crutchfield car audio site for reference uses (they are overpriced obviously) and I came across some XTC Speaker Baffles. Here is a link to them: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bmry80XVvzn/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=762&avf=N

Now, after reading the reviews from the customers, it seems they say or describe it as if the 'foam' enclosure is '*******' the sound/vocals, thus making them sound muffled and such.

Well, I was thinking, what if I fiberglassed the inside or outside of it, creating a more dense, but sturdy enclosure around the speaker. I guess my question is, will it be ok, with the cubic feet (less than a foot) and no port. I know the lows will sound better, but I just need to know if it will give the speakers an all-around better sound and performance, not to mention protection (such as dirt, water, etc).

What do you guys think, and if its a go, Im going to try a part of this sometime next week or 2 weeks after I buy some 'template' speaker baffles from them.

Opinions/thoughts?

Thanks.

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[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

im no professional mind you, but i wouldnt use em.

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

I understand you wouldnt use the speaker baffles itself, but I mean if I fiberglassed the baffles, and use the fiberglass as an enclosure, kind of like a regular box/fiberglass enclosure made for 6x9 speakers and such. Wouldnt this (fiberglass) improve the sound and bass? Something tells me it will.

More thoughts?

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

I wold say since most mids are meant for IB use , you would get crappy mid and nothing remotely close to mid bass response in such a small enclosure. You would be better served by proper door deadening //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

I wold say since most mids are meant for IB use , you would get crappy mid and nothing remotely close to mid bass response in such a small enclosure. You would be better served by proper door deadening //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Hey, thanks for the input. I guess the idea wouldnt really work then. Just trying to think of new things to do. I already sound-deadened (Xtreme Dynamat, torch, properly installed) my whole car, I was just trying to make more of whatever I can, lol. Some reason, the rear speakers, I just dont like seeing them visible from the trunk area when I lean down to look, so Im trying to think of way to conceal that without a use for wood or whatnot.

Thanks alot for the help and opinions guys.

PS: Whats 'IB'?

 

[acold7dusta 10+ year member]

infinite baffle, such as using trunk or door space as an "enclosure"

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

Oh I see, so basically my speakers already have an 'enclosure' since its all sound-deadened and such? So the subwoofers and such are the only audio components that truly need a enclosure/box because it cant use 'infinity baffle' correct to get the bass effect, correct? Am I catching on, lol.

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Technically IB is a form of enclosure , just a very large one. Some components work well in enclosures . It really depends on the speakers itself . If you got subs in the trunk and it's sealed , and speakers in the rear deck. Odds are the rear deck speakers won't last long with the abuse the subs are gonna put them through . The air is gonna find the path of least resistance to escape //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[dkguitarist 5,000+ posts]

Technically IB is a form of enclosure , just a very large one. Some components work well in enclosures . It really depends on the speakers itself . If you got subs in the trunk and it's sealed , and speakers in the rear deck. Odds are the rear deck speakers won't last long with the abuse the subs are gonna put them through . The air is gonna find the path of least resistance to escape //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

i already found that out with my stock 6x9's. they sound like the surround is shredded and make a "buzzing" sound on any heavy bass but they still work.

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

Wow, thats something I'd never think of in the audio department. But wouldnt my seats being down help the 'air/sound' escape my trunk with my subs facing towards the cabin. I have the seats down always whenever theres no 3rd or 4th passenger inside, and for show. Does this mean my speakers shouldnt be too abused at all. I understand the abuse part, but say I did have my rear seats up, and included the XTC foam baffle, would that help protect the speaker itself from being abused by the subwoofers?

(This is a very interesting discussion and learning tip for me. :-D )

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

If your seats are down , you should be fine . I doubt foam baffles would help . //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

Haha, alright. Good thing the seats are down. So no to foam baffles? Alright, thanks for all the help guys. You all are great!

 

[dbornotdb 10+ year member]

The speaker baffles I use are plastic, not foam.

I only really use them in door builds where an 8 was used in conjuction with mids.

Since the 8 was using the airspace built into the door, the mid had to be seperated so it wouldn't explode like dude said his 6x9's did.

 

[chartman18 10+ year member]

How do they sound in a plastic enclosure with a 8" sub next to it in the doors?

 

[dbornotdb 10+ year member]

How do they sound in a plastic enclosure with a 8" sub next to it in the doors?

Loud and clear.