Speaker baffles - some advice please!

-westy- · 7 Mar 2011 at 11:49

Hello,

I'm currently doing a few bits and pieces to the mx5 - and one of the issues I'm having is that the current speakers make the doors rattle a lot.

So, I'm looking at fitting some baffles for the speakers, in the form of MDF rings.

Alas, I don't have any MDF knocking around at the moment, so am looking at using ply, or hardwood or similar.

Any advice to offer?

The aim of this is to keep costs down - I can't, and don't want to be spending a lot of cash on the car at the moment, so this is more of a learning curve.

Thanks

Pulsar_GTI · 7 Mar 2011 at 11:56

Just put some insulation foam strip round the back edge of the speaker where it presses / screwed against the door - This stuff http://www.greenconservationproduct...indow-Closed-Cell-Weather-Strip-p-16187-267-1 ... you can get this from B&Q, Homebase etc... £2 or something

BennyC · 7 Mar 2011 at 12:06

There are speaker baffles MDF rings on the auction site.

Participant · 7 Mar 2011 at 12:29

Birch ply is actually better than MDF for speaker baffles.

Other advice:

- Take the speaker out and use it to draw a template on the wood for the router.
- Decouple the speakers from the rings and the rings from the door using draught excluder, foam, rubber, etc.
- Use rubber washers where the screws go into the speaker.
- Take it slow and do a proper job, or you'll be doing it all again when the door card doesn't go back on.

phil675 · 7 Mar 2011 at 15:40

12mm thick MDF slab from Wickes, £10 Jigsaw from Homebase. Draw template on to wood, cut, job done

Don't forget to buy a health and safety kit though, mask is essential, earplugs are a godsend!

mejinks · 7 Mar 2011 at 16:06

Get them from the bay. So much less hassle tbh. Also, you should put some sound deadening on the door panels.

Participant · 7 Mar 2011 at 16:21

On sound deadening...if you're really short of cash and want to stop the outer door skin rattling, try a product such as Marley Sealant Tape (now Sealtite) from B&Q (or similar). It's normally used for waterproofing or repairing roofs.

It doesn't have the supposed acoustic properties of Dynamat etc., but it does perform a 'mass loading' function (i.e. the weight stops the panel flexing as much).

However, it's an MX5, so I presume weight is already at a premium. You don't want to go chucking loads of sound deadening into a car that thrives off being light.

Dup · 7 Mar 2011 at 16:22

mejinks said:
Get them from the bay. So much less hassle tbh. Also, you should put some sound deadening on the door panels.

This, or at least put something around the mounting area/baffles and reflection thingy behind the speaker.

I want to do similar, but will probably end up spending loads (I can't control myself!). My worry with the MX5 is weight but then it is a daily I suppose. Sound deadening costs a fortune tho!