Plywood for speaker box is not only a protective frame for the internal circuit system but also a layer that minimizes or eliminates unwanted noise during use. Currently, when choosing plywood for speaker box, careful attention should be paid to durability, sound insulation/filtering ability, weight and aesthetics. Fiber Wood would like to provide information about the 3 leading types of speaker box wood material today: Birch plywood, pine plywood, oak veneer plywood. Let’s learn about the characteristics and price list of each type
The musical instrument manufacturing industry is always making continuous progress, requiring product quality to keep up with the pace of development. Therefore, the application of industrial wood to make speaker boxes appears. It must meet the prerequisites such as: lightweight – sturdy – good sound insulation – aesthetic surface
Plywood is nearly the best material for speaker box, which is used to make the outer frame of the speaker’s circuit system. It is made from many thin layers of veneer wood, pressed together with glue under high pressure. The wood layers are arranged perpendicular or parallel to each other. With this structure, it has high durability and good bearing capacity, helping to protect the internal circuit system perfectly. Surface treatment and high pressure during the production process also help the wooden board to prevent termites and mold, absolutely avoiding warping and shrinkage
What criteria must plywood be used to make speaker boxes meet?
The main role of the speaker box is to control sound waves and create resonance. The speaker box helps to minimize sound distortion and at the same time makes the sound more resonant. In addition, the speaker box also has the function of protecting the internal circuit system from dust, water and impact. Therefore, the best material for speaker box must satisfy the following criteria :
- Minimizes shrinkage, warping and external agents, this helps increase the life of internal microcircuits
- Easy to process and assemble, to flexibly change the shape and size of the speaker box to suit each purpose of use
- Good sound insulation helps the speaker produce clearer sound, especially important for recording studio or stage speakers
- Beautiful flat surface, few defects and dead eyes to optimize aesthetics
Types of plywood for speaker box and characteristics of each type:
Instrument made of wood is more and more familiar because that industrial wood material can simultaneously filter sound, create resonance, distribute sound evenly and protect the speakers optimally. Let’s learn about the types of industrial wood used to make wooden speaker box:
Poplar plywood
Poplar plywood is the most trusted choice for wooden speaker box materials because of its balance between durability and superior aesthetics.
Characteristics of poplar plywood :
- High durability, good load-bearing capacity, limited shrinkage and warping, suitable for protecting internal microcircuits
- Heat and moisture resistant, resistant to termites and mold
- Good sound filtering ability, evenly distributed sound
- Even white wood grain increases the aesthetics of the speaker box, easy to color according to personal preference
Birch plywood
To save more costs but still want to ensure quality, birch plywood is an ideal choice for wooden speaker box
Features of birch plywood :
- The durability and hardness of Birch sheets is similar to Poplar sheets, less prone to warping or cracking, high stability
- High sound absorption capacity, creating resonant sound
- Birch plywood is easy to process, cut or drill holes. Can be freely adjusted in shape and size to suit the speaker
- The surface is smooth, light in color, usually cream or slightly yellowish. Suitable for veneer coating or leaving natural wood grain
Oak plywood
Oak plywood (Oak plywood), is also one of the most popular types of wood popular in speaker boxes
Features of Oak Plywood :
- Very high durability, good resistance to force and abrasion, harder much harder than pine and birch, scratch resistant
- Light brown to dark brown color, with characteristic wood grain, clear and beautiful
- Best moisture resistance of the three, highly water and humidity resistant, less warping
- More difficult to process due to hardness, but the finished surface is very beautiful and luxurious
Price comparison table between different types of plywood
The price list below compares the price range of the best wood material for speaker box with the same thickness from 5 – 25mm, sheet size 1220mm – 2440mm at Fiber Wood:
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POPLAR PLYWOOD (CARB P2, ISO)
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Standard
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Thickness
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Selling price before discount
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Board size: 1220mmx2440mm (4ftx8ft)
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5,2mm
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12,8$ - 13,2$
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15mm
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24,5$ - 25$
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18mm
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26,3$ - 27$
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BIRCH PLYWOOD (CARB P2, ISO)
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Standard
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Thickness
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Selling price before discount
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Board size: 1220mmx2440mm (4ftx8ft)
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5,2mm
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12,2$ - 13$
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15mm
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24$ - 25,5$
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18mm
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25,8$ - 27,5$
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See detailed prices of veneer coated plywood for speaker box!
The price list is for reference only, because the selling price may change depending on the quality of the board, time, area and plywood market,…In addition, the selling price may also change due to other costs such as taxes, shipping costs, installation and construction costs,…
Production process of plywood for speaker box
In order to ensure the market is provided with the best quality and most perfect products, each plywood for speaker box is strictly managed and inspected based on standards and modern machinery. The process includes the following
- Select high quality wood
- Sanding and repairing wooden surfaces
- Wood is sliced into thin layers
- Stack layers of wood on top of each other with perpendicular wood grains to increase durability and strength
- Press the wood layers together with specialized glue under high pressure and temperature, forming a sturdy panel
- Cut, join and process panels to create speaker cabinets with desired size and shape
- Finishing and testing the product
Should I use plywood for speaker box or a plastic speaker box?
Currently, there are many materials that can replace plywood to make speaker boxes, one of which is plastic. Both of them have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the needs of customers. Here, Fiber Wood would like to provide some information about the pros and cons of these two materials:
Plastic speaker box
Wooden speaker box
Advantages
- Lightweight, safer for families with pets, the elderly or young children
- Low cost because plastic production cost is cheaper than wood production and easy to process
- Good sound insulation due to the hard structure and toughness of the wood during use
- High durability, good volume control
- If well preserved, the structure and properties of wood do not change over time
- Excellent screw and nail holding ability
- Less affected by water, average life span 10-15 years under good storage conditions.
- Luxurious design, optimizing aesthetics for space
Disadvantages
- Over a long period of use, the structure of the plastic shell will gradually become brittle over time, making it very easy to crack or be severely damaged
- Damage that may affect the quality sound, making it difficult to speaker repair
- Sound control and filtering less sound than industrial wood case
- Does not achieve the same aesthetic effect as wooden speaker cabinets
- Heavy weight, can be dangerous, should be placed in safe and secure locations
- High cost due to high manufacturing
- Can be easily repaired
It can be seen that if we consider the advantages and disadvantages, the speaker box from industrial wood has a distinct advantage thanks to the superior properties
How to preserve wooden speaker?
Preserving wooden speaker box properly not only helps increase the lifespan of the speakers, but also optimizes and fully exploits the functionality and aesthetics of the speakers
Avoid direct sunlight
Keep the speaker out of direct sunlight, as sunlight can cause fading and excessive heat can cause the wood to expand, causing the wood to crack
Store in a dry place
High humidity can create favorable conditions for bacteria and mold to grow and develop. In addition, the speaker also has an electronic circuit system inside, so if placed in a humid environment, it can lead to internal circuit short circuit. Keep the speaker in a dry and cool place, avoid placing it near water sources or areas with high humidity
Clean gently, do not use strong detergents
Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe away dust and dirt from the speaker surface. Avoid using harsh detergents that may erode the paint or wood surface. Do not use rough, hard cleaning tools as they may scratch and mar the surface of the board
Avoid strong impacts and place in a safe location
Impacts can break or crack the wood and severely damage the microcircuits inside the speaker. Most wooden speaker box are quite heavy, so they should be placed in a sturdy location to ensure safety for yourself and your family
Periodic maintenance
If possible, use a specialized wood conditioner to maintain the shine and protect the wood surface from drying out and cracking. Also regularly check the inside and outside to detect early damage or sound quality errors
Hopefully, with the above sharing of Fiber Wood about plywood for speaker box, which helps customers choose the best material for speaker box, serving their needs, your musical needs and preferences. For more information about plywood as well as receive a quote with appropriate discount, please contact directly with us.
