MDF vs Plywood...

[slam 5,000+ posts]

As a serious spl competitor I us birch. But I use it for less weight. Most other competitors use mdf since they have metal cages. I have a double 2x4 for my cage. my spl vehicle is a 4 banger and I drive it to shows. so birch it is

 

[tommyk90 5,000+ posts]

Just read this, "The Loud Speaker Cookbook actually states marine grade plywood or sheet pvc is a superior material to mdf for sub enclosure construction. Both the plywood and sheet pvc would flex with the sub but remain air tight."True or not?

Notice that it says MARINE GRADE, meaning not the cheap-o shit from home depot.

Marine grade is more expensive than MDF, and depending on the construction possibly lighter.

Marine grade baltic birch comes to mind. That stuff is like $100 for a 4x4 sheet.

Also, sometimes enclosure flex IS good for spl oriented installs. But, once again, the only way to know for certain is to build and test.

I've built birch and MDF boxes and never correlated a difference in SPL. Though I've never built exactly identical boxes in both to really test the difference, if any.

 

[pr-festiva 10+ year member]

wouldnt the less amount of flex in the 11 ply box opposed to the mdf box mean you would need to retune

 

[mrogowski 5,000+ posts]

Baltic Birch plywood for the box; MDF for the bracing. MDF makes excellent bracing material because it is already compressed so there will be no movement in the cabinet at all.

 

[modskwod 10+ year member]

The book mentions Sheet PVC? I've never actually heard of anyone using that.

 

[SicAudio 5,000+ posts]

11 - 13 ply birch is far superior to mdf in every possible aspect

 

[mcsoul 10+ year member]

Are you sure you are not reading a section of the book geared towards all

weather applications? Because mdf turns into apple sauce when it gets wet.

 

[thehardknoxlife 10+ year member]

MDF is cheap. All other material suitable for box application is not. The price difference doesn't outweigh the gain. It's as simple as that.