What is your favorite material for loudspeakers?


So what is your preferred choice for loudspeaker cabinet materials and finish? Veneers, Laminates,Metals, Carbon, Solid hard woods, Partical board, birch plywood. Plastic coats,Plastic,Aluminum, Paint,Lacquers, French polish, Oil? So pick your cab material, veneer or other, finish choice what even you like? For me birch plywood with veneer and french polish. Whats your choice?
128x128johnk
Baltic Birch layered with MDF is an excellent material for turntable plinths, particularly the Lenco. It is easy to work with, affordable, readily available and best of all, it has properties which absorb vibration. This is evident in analog playback- pace and rhythm, defined, articulate bass.
I have never used it for any other applications, i.e. speaker cabinets. But, I can only guess that it has similar qualities with regards to speaker construction which I find to be so desirable.
HDF (high density as opposed to medium) with laminate inside and out. Bracing is very important.
Interesting. . . in most cases, Baltic Birch is not from the Baltic region. . . it usually denotes a somewhat hiher grade birch ply from Russia, Bielorus, or China. Finnish birch instead. . . is a different kettle of fish. One of the highest grade materials I have found is from Finnish fabricator UPM, which can be sourced in thicknesses up to 50MM:
http://w3.upm-kymmene.com/upm/internet/cms/upmcms.nsf/$all/af4c54532110776dc22570ba00304034?OpenDocument&qm=menu,4,5,1&smtitle=Plywood
Material uses outdoors bonding agents and has 21 plies on the 1 inch thick product. This appears to be higher grade material than what is usually called 'baltic' or 'marine' plywood. G.