Thread: Speaker Baffles!

plastic baffles arent much better.. if you have room for the foam baffles you can go to your local auto store and get a small fibreglass kit. and just lay a thin layer inside to stiffen it up.. should get it hard as a rock and you can install with windows rolled down if you are pressed for space and form them to fit.

Hijach, you are thinking way to hard about this--- those baffles will seriously limit what your speakers are capable of--to test this, place a hand over your cell phone speaker while playing music-- this is exactly what those baffles are going to do to those nice components you will be putting in. some refer to this as a acoustic crossover(bad)..

all car audio speakers that cost more than $10 have taken into account the moisture in the door panels, and are durable enough that they will be able to take it.

and depending on the speaker(the magnet size on some is so large that it will block the air trying to exit the speaker- creating a even worse sound than a closed basket), creating a overhang around the speaker could funnel the sound back into itself, making it sound even worse than a closed baffle(cup your hands around your cell phone speaker-- same idea).

it is best not to use these.

I agree with soundman. In general, your speakers will sound better without baffles. They are designed taking into account the air space inside your doors. Unfortunately they do get exposed to elements rather easily. Even though they are designed for harsh enviroments, I believe some protection should be in order. This is why even stock speakers usually have some kind of baffle over them (usually some kind of louvered hard plastic). If they are not protected, over time the elements will have some effect on sound. Gunk could build up on voice coils or the surrounds could weaken. Granted this would probably take a couple years, but I like my speakers to last as long as possible (my 10 yr old Soundstream referrence components still sound great, even if they are only in my weekend car). What I suggest is, if you have the room, to build an overhang that gets installed somewhere 4-6" above the speaker. That way you are still diverting water around the speaker, but not affecting it acousticaly. If you can't do that, then use the foam baffle but cut away as much as you can from the sides, bottom and back, leaving just enough on top for an overhang. The foam should be soft enough and with enough open space surrounding the speaker there should be no negative acoustic effects.

Originally Posted by durwood

Some people use cut up tupperware containers for water shields but that seems like a decent price.

That's a great idea! Finally a use for all those containers that I can't find a lid for

besides water is that the only reason you were looking for a baffle? what kind of speaker and what kind of car,...what kind of crossover point, if any... in a full range setup a baffle will probally muddy your sound... but if crossed over the speaker wouldnt have much excursion.happening and most likely wouldnot be creating much air in the small enclosure. how about a little more info?