• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Do ALL speaker enclosures benefit from damping material? I’m wondering if these enclosures need it…

angelaudio

angelaudio

Super Member
Hey folks,

Just got these massive speakers with Wharfedale HS/CR3/2 crossovers, Wharfedale super 3 tweeters and goldwood mids and woofers. The speakers are two pieces with the bottom being the bass reflex enclosure and the top section being the mid&tweeter enclosure. These have no damping material whatsoever and I am considering putting some inside the bass enclosure at the very least but since they appear that they never had any type of damping material inside I’m wondering whether that’s the way this particular enclosure was intended to be used, without damping. Any input is appreciated. Thank you.
5E834F96-A454-4597-8460-D0F7B45552F5.jpeg 8A615F53-6229-4A52-87AE-BD0A61DE20B7.jpeg
 
Register to hide this ad
My initial thought is "yes", but I am not familiar with those speakers. Curious to learn more about them. They look very serious!
 
ACHiPo said:
My initial thought is "yes", but I am not familiar with those speakers. Curious to learn more about them. They look very serious!
Click to expand...
They are huge and pretty gnarly. The woofer is a 15” Goldwood GW-1588 and the mid is Goldwood GW-8028. The sound is pretty well balanced in my opinion. Sounds best with the mid and tweeter controls turned fully open. The crossover frequency is 800 and 5000hz. I hav never had 3 ways this massive and I am enjoying the heck out of them so far. I don’t even have them properly placed in a corner but they sound good nonetheless. Here’s another angle 23745C73-96CE-4E10-9120-4CD9628C03BD.png
that’s how the original owner had them placed, but they are too massive for my listening room so I have them in my garage for now until I can afford a bigger house :idea:
 
Are these bass reflex cabs or sealed ???
Altec recommended inside top, back and one side.
Bozak infinite baffle recommended all sides and
a curtain down the middle.
 
Most ported type speakers had something on the back, sometimes on the sides.
Usually cotton batting or thick felt. Some newer speakers I've seen with egg krate foam on the back, and sometimes sides, top and bottom. Sealed speakers tend to have a lot more stuff'n. I would start with the back panels and go from there and play with it. Cotton or synthetic batting is pretty cheap.
 
I don’t got much. Since some drivers have been replaced, someone has been in there. I’ve never seen a Wharfedale without some type of batting. It wouldn’t take much to put some original drivers in there.

Biggles
 
Since the only parallel cabinet panels are the top and bottom, I'd say some internal bracing of those massive and otherwise unsupported panels would be paramount to any damping. Damping won't hurt, but it wouldn't be my first priority.

Pretty obvious the home brew builder was going for a look and apparently knew little about cabinet construction.

Wonder what drivers were used in the original build?

Goldwood is a pretty clear indication of someone replacing what they found in them with the cheapest things they could source to both make noise and fill the holes.
 
Horns and tapered quarter wave pipes need little, if any damping. Vented and ported speakers usually have some to damp standing waves between parallel walls. Before acoustic suspension speakers appeared and then monster amps became affordable, it was generally accepted you were trying to get the most sound possible out of your speaker, so damping was applied judiciously to lower only the most annoying resonances.
While acoustic suspension speakers actually need stuffing to work properly, with other designs, over damping can make a speaker sound lifeless. So try adding in moderate amounts and see if it helps, adding or removing as seems best. And be prepared to adjust after listening for a while. Since you have a pair, modify one and compare to the stock one, keeping them as close to the same location as possible so you aren't actually evaluating room location.
 
angelaudio said:
Way cool, thanks Doc! The woofs are 15’s
Click to expand...

I’ve got an old Wharfedale 15”, it works. But it needs basic repairs, spider has come loose. It’s old though, 1950s. You’re welcome to that as well, if you’re interested. But finding a mate might prove difficult.

Biggles
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom