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Why are there so many wooden speakers?

I have noticed a problem within the speaker industry. 99% of speakers that come onto the marketplace are wooden, i.e MDF.
 
This is true of old speakers and new speakers. This is true of Dynaudio, B&W, Elac, Kef, revel, PMC, Focal, ATC the list goes on and on. This is a longstanding problem that has been deceiving audiophiles for decades and it requires a solution. 

The problem with a wooden box is that no matter what crossover or drivers you use, it will still sound like a wooden box. 
There is a limit to the sound you can get out of a wooden box so it is not possible to improve the sound just by using different drivers. Despite this, every year or two, the aforementioned companies put new speakers on the market claiming that they sound even better than what came before. In conclusion, we are being misled. 

I have no problem with MDF boxes per se. MDF is a good material to use. But if you want to make an even better speaker then you obviously need to use a better material. You cant use the same material and say you have made a better speaker. Thats false. 

Let's take the B&W 600 series for example. This is a series that has been going on for decades. 

Here is the latest speaker from their current series

https://www.bowerswilkins.com/home-audio/607

There is no mention of what wood is used but I'm pretty sure its MDF. All they talk about is their continuum woofer and dome tweeter that goes up to 38khz. No mention of even improvements to the crossover let alone the cabinet.

I believe that this has gone on for long enough and audiophiles deserve better treatment. I don't know if a class action lawsuit is the answer but something needs to change.
kenjit
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,499 posts
 
MDF is used because it is cheap, is easy to bend and machine, requires minimal CAPEX and no specialized knowledge to manipulate.  
If you want to compete in the high volume game, MDF or other wood material are inexpensive and the only way to compete.  
For instance, in an MDF cabinet, I can produce a Stand mount speaker that will be pretty good for $2k if I sell consumer direct as a small manufacturer.  It cost me more to paint a composite or carbon fiber cabinet than it costs me to produce a whole speaker in MDF.  
Material costs on advanced materials (fiberglass, carbon fiber) are very high or machine costs or mold costs for aluminum, casts for phenolic resin, etc... are all extremely expensive and then the cost to paint is dramatically higher.  

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
@highend666 I've heard and liked the Acora Granite very much. $38000 though...
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Granite rings like a bell, I think you mean synthetic granite, ATH @ Corian

VMPS STIII SE used that material 25 years ago, in the front baffle only.
It weighed over 550 lbs, with just a front baffle.

A whole tower (72") of Corian would weighs over 2000. lbs. @ 5/8" after bracing. That is why Brian C. didn’t do whole speakers or ATH @ Corian 25 years ago...BTW that stuff is used in a lot of Turntable plinths too, some like the sound some don't, it does have definite sonic signature, but behaves VERY well in the bass region.. It's different... I've tinkered with it a couple times with bookshelf (under 18" tall), worked very well.

Cost, build ability, just didn’t make sense. A TON...for one speaker. Who would pay for shipping? 2 tons just arrived at your door step, could you sigh for them please? ;-)
5,000.00 plus for materials and machine work, THEN putting it together. and delivering it, undamaged.

Lots of luck with that one. ;-)

Regards
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
LOL LOL LOL... 

THANKS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT!!!! 


millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
There is a limit to the sound you can get out of a wooden box so it is not possible to improve the sound just by using different drivers.
Well, no, there isn't. Because its not the box that makes the sound. Its the drivers AND the box. So improving drivers can indeed improve the sound even if the box stays the same. 

Also not only the box but the materials inside the box affect and are able to improve sound quality. Not to mention the shape of the box, its size, and construction. If the box is ported, sealed, transmission line or folded horn that will also affect the sound quality. So its possible to use the same drivers and have greater or lesser sound quality from the same wooden materials simply by changing the way they are used.  

You seem to be awfully concerned with speakers kenjit. I do hope you are getting this. Its really useful information if you want to understand them better.
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