"DEADENING" Detachable Speaker Models

[Boxhead]

Something I've noticed - particularly with boomboxes whose speakers detach: Some have very strong resonances, esp between 100 - 300 Hz dependng on size of the detachable speaks. A graphic EQ with a control within that range could simply be cut - but then you're cutting the music along with the vibration.

Do you think it's worth purchasing some of this: http://www.rumblemat.com/ (No - I do not represent this firm - I just cannot find the company I purchased some for my car from 8 years ago!)

Even the well-built boxes of the early 80s have some resonance, and I think they might sound better if the sound came from only the actual speaker cones, and not the speaker cabinets. You may need to actually boost the lowest bass freq. to compensate for the loss of sympathetic vibrations from the surrounding plastic.

 

[restocat]

Maybe for some boxes? I like the sound of my toshiba RT-S932 and Crown-950 as is.

What specific box are you working with that doesnt sound quite right?

 

[oldskool69]

Maybe for some boxes? I like the sound of my toshiba RT-S932 and Crown-950 as is.

What specific box are you working with that doesnt sound quite right?

You need to be careful...especially with wooden encloseures. Some dampening may be OK but more often than not the best way to tighten them up is to eliminate leakage. If it's a bass reflex box the the only air escaping should be out the port.

 

[Boxhead]

Maybe for some boxes? I like the sound of my toshiba RT-S932 and Crown-950 as is.

What specific box are you working with that doesnt sound quite right?

You need to be careful...especially with wooden encloseures. Some dampening may be OK but more often than not the best way to tighten them up is to eliminate leakage. If it's a bass reflex box the the only air escaping should be out the port.

Well, haven't come across any wooden boomboxes in my lifetime, most are made of plastic. The only metal parts are the speaker basket assemblies themselves.

 

[bibox]

Something I've noticed - particularly with boomboxes whose speakers detach: Some have very strong resonances, esp between 100 - 300 Hz dependng on size of the detachable speaks.

I picked up the box below over the weekend. It sounds great but the detachable side speakers do buzz . Makes me wonder if it would sound even better if they didn't? I've used damping materials like Dynamat before and that was my first thought for these. Yesterday I opened up one of the enclosures and made an interesting discovery. There is a provision for an internal brace for the sidewalls but no brace was ever installed. Basically there is a T-slot running front-to-back midway on each one. I guess JVC figured no one would notice/care if they were left out. There are also ribs running front to back on all the walls about 1/2" high & 5/8" apart from each other. You could add damping material but it would have to be cut into strips, about 20 per enclosure. If the enclosure is flexing there is less energy being directed out of the speaker driver itself. Some of the energy goes into making the sidewalls flex. Getting rid of that should improve the overall sound quality. Since I got the JVC for free I am going to use it as a guinea pig to experiment on. Maybe start a thread in the custom forum detailing what I come across when I try to "improve" it.

 

[71spud]

Well, haven't come across any wooden boomboxes in my lifetime, most are made of plastic. The only metal parts are the speaker basket assemblies themselves.

Actually alot of the early "3 piece" boomboxes had wooden speakers and center section bodies... painted black or silver to match the plastic/metal front sections....

 

[SINISTER]

Maybe for some boxes? I like the sound of my toshiba RT-S932 and Crown-950 as is.

What specific box are you working with that doesnt sound quite right?

You need to be careful...especially with wooden encloseures. Some dampening may be OK but more often than not the best way to tighten them up is to eliminate leakage. If it's a bass reflex box the the only air escaping should be out the port.

Well, haven't come across any wooden boomboxes in my lifetime, most are made of plastic. The only metal parts are the speaker basket assemblies themselves.

sanyo, yamaha are some 3 piece boxes that have vinear covered detachable speaker boxes HEAVY TOO!!! :sin:

 

[pulpbeats]

I've definitely noticed thin flexible plastic construction "coloring" the sound of a few units. I've always wondered what would something like dynamat do for these occurrences. I have a Sony RX-CS700 that almost produces a ringing sound. Sometime in the near future I will try and see what a deadening adhesive matting will do for the sound.