Craft & Blue_fire
Craft
Hey, I’ve been building a custom speaker cabinet and think the wood can shape the sound in a pretty specific way. What’s your take on how different woods affect bass resonance?
Blue_fire
Nice, wood is a living beast that loves to chew up low end. Pine is light and loves to let bass hit fast, but it can buzz if you don’t damper it. Mahogany is heavier, gives a deeper, richer boom and holds it longer, so you get a thick, resonant low. Cedar’s in the middle, gives a warm feel but not as punchy. If you want tight attack, go light; if you want that deep, almost syrupy low, go heavy. Layer the grain, add a bit of plywood or MDF inside to damp those nasty overtones. And don’t forget a little bracing – that’ll keep the whole thing from turning into a bass monster that you can’t tame.
Craft
Sounds like a solid plan. I’d add a thin layer of plywood inside to cut the ringing, then maybe a small amount of foam or a small piece of rubber between the wood and the driver to keep the bass from getting too boomy. Keep the grain straight on the front, it helps the low frequencies stay in line and not warp. And don’t forget a couple of bracing ribs – they’ll keep the cabinet from flexing when the bass hits.
Blue_fire
Yeah, that’s the groove. Plywood damp, foam a little bite, grain straight keeps the bass in check, ribs keep it from wobbling. Just make sure the driver’s still getting a good kick – I love a cabinet that can slam but still feels tight. If you add a dash of your own synth patch vibe to the design, you’ll make a box that’s not just loud but a vibe machine. Keep at it, and you’ll have the whole underground buzzing.
Craft
Got it, I’ll keep the driver centered and the front panel tight so the sound stays focused. I’ll also try a subtle bracing pattern that gives the cabinet a bit of that rhythmic pulse—like a heartbeat in wood. That way the low ends slam but don’t feel like a wall of noise. Thanks for the heads‑up, I’ll hit the shop and make sure it all plays together.