mdf front door baffle width?

[basementgeek]

I have some 6.5" Focals in my front doors and used 3/4" mdf to make the baffle. Info on this board said at the time that 3/4 should be ok. I pulled the door panels off today and the speaker surrounds are slightly deformed on the top and bottom and have marks on them that seem to match the grill pattern.

I did cut that plastic ring thing from the door panel when I installed them and there are small burs left. I tried to shine a light in the grill to check the clearance but I can't see much. The doors have no damping yet.

Does anyone have 3/4" baffles or is everyone running 1/2"? Is the clearance really that tight?

 

[chuyler1]

I used 1/2" for my baffles (6.5" DLS Iridium drivers). Some speakers take up more surface space than others. The only reason I would recommend 3/4" would be if the speaker didn't fit in the 5x7 opening with 1/2".

 

[patmaz]

i have 1/2 in my doors,its a perfect fit...never had any troubles,no vibration,nothing,cheap price,about an hour job,perfect results...i run some jbl's,the component kit(damn i cant remember the number),they have really big magnet for a 6.5",and they fit just right....

 

[khaosman]

I can't remember what I used, but 3/4" should fit fine especially since you cut that plastic crap on the door panels.

 

[basementgeek]

I can't remember what I used, but 3/4" should fit fine especially since you cut that plastic crap on the door panels.

That's what I thougnt too but I'm not 100% sure. Maybe the driver extends far enough to touch? Further inspection shows that my door panel curves back slightly at the top of the grill and that might make the difference.

Either way, I think I'm putting 1/2" in tomorrow. Not ready to spend another grand on drivers just yet.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Poseur]

if you want to check you can shine a flashlight throughthe speaker grill and pop off your window switch panel to look down and see what's goingon. sound pretty obvious that yours do indeed touch. frame thickness etc might play a role in this. Is it on both sides or just one? I've found there's a bit more room onthe driver's side.

 

[basementgeek]

That was a good idea Poseur. (cheers2) I popped out the switches and though there does seem to be maybe 2/3 mm more space in the driver door, they still touched and caused damage to the surrounds! I'm kinda pissed cuz the guy I paid to put some of the stuff in came recommended from a friend and did nothing right! (pissed) I now do my own stuff!

So now I can say definitively, that Focal 165 KPs, 3/4 mdf baffle, and poorly cut P5 door do not mix!

Do you think the damage to the surrounds is gonna hurt the sound much?


That's the worst of it. There is a small puncture on the butyl. Should I look at getting them repaired? If so, it'll probably be an expensive lesson....(notcool)

 

[chuyler1]

I wouldn't bother getting them repaired. They don't look that bad. As long as they still sound OK you should be fine.

 

[Poseur]

Dang, man sorry to hear. looks like there's no real bad damage though, you should be alright. Will they clear if that guards are cutback more?

 

[basementgeek]

yeah.....it is teh suck! They still sound fine though, so I guess it's not the end of the world.

Under full excursion with a 9v battery, they would still touch even if I perfected my dremel skills. The burrs and rough edges did the damage and the grid actually presses on the surround on the top. Once I damp the doors I don't think I could even get the panel back on.

I'm suprised they sounded how they did given those conditions. So 1/2 will def be going in.....then I'm gonna tackle some kick pods when it warms up a bit!