Speaker Baffles, Necessary?

Marc Angeles · 08-08-2003, 09:18 PM

Are foam speaker baffles necessary. I noticed that when replacing my factory speakers, they were a little wet from the rain storm the night before. I just put in some aftermarket alpines in the doors and wonder if the water would damage them in any way. I am referring to the XTC brand found in Crutchfield that surrounds the rear of the speaker and repels any water or dust plus improves the sound somewhat.

Sean Me · 08-09-2003, 01:51 PM

Many people agree that although they do protect your speakers from water, using the xtc baffles may decrease your midbass response. This is because you are taking a speaker that is (probably) an infinite baffle design and making it play in a small enclsure. My suggestion is to get some and play around with them. Here are some ways I have seen them used, depending on the speaker in question you might have best result with any one of them.

1. Use baffles w/ or w/out polyfill inside
2. Use baffles w/ 2-3" hole cut in the back w/ or w/out polyfill
3. Take one baffle, cut it in half, use one half on each speaker on the top side, as a sort of "roof"

Wayne A. Pflughaupt · 08-10-2003, 07:35 PM

Quote:

...using the xtc baffles may decrease your midbass response. This is because you are taking a speaker that is (probably) an infinite baffle design and making it play in a small enclosure.

It took me less than two seconds to figure this out when I got some of the XTC baffles. I did exactly what Sean suggested: cut out the back and bottom half. That way they essentially formed a hood, so that any water dripping down from the window track would be deflected off the speaker.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt



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