If your hills aren’t alive with the sound of music, you better be ready to take matters into your own hands. Say you have researched and purchased the best speaker for your living area to find that you have nowhere to house it. In this case, you must know how to make a speaker box. Below, we’ll show you how to do just that.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Speaker enclosures are necessary for the sound quality of a wide range of speakers, whether it be a mid-range driver or a premiere 12-inch subwoofer with a deep bass response.
- Making a basic speaker cabinet can be done at home with a handful of the right power tools.
- Enclosure designs and dimension information are typically found in the speaker’s manual for which you are looking to build a box.
And if this isn’t enough for you, we have a great article that shows you how to mount a speaker on the ceiling.
How to Make Boxes for Speakers
Having the correct type of enclosure for your speakers can do wonders for enhancing the sound quality. That’s why we’re going to show you how to make a speaker enclosure. It’s simple, affordable, and doesn’t take too much time to complete.
Insider Tip
If you are planning on fitting a speaker into a specific space, make sure to compare the measurements of the area and the external dimensions before constructing.
We also have a great resource that explains how to make Bluetooth speakers louder for those interested.
STEP 1 Figure Out the Speaker Box Dimensions
- Go to your speaker’s manual or contact the speaker manufacturer to confirm the right size for your particular speaker.
- Plenty of online calculators can help you measure what internal dimensions you need to bring out the best internal volume.
- Calculate both the internal and external dimensions.
STEP 2 Create the Speaker Cabinet Sides
- First, trace the length and width of each speaker enclosure side on medium-density particleboard. As you do this, draw circles for the speaker hole and any other holes you need for the speaker wires. A guide for this should be included in the speaker manual.
- Cut the sides with your jigsaw.
- Cut the circular speaker hole with a router.
- Create the wire holes with the electric drill.
- Use sandpaper to smooth any rough edges.
STEP 3 Insert Internal Bracing
- Screw-in the battens (these should be 1-inch x 1-inch wood blocks) to each interior edge of the speaker cabinet.
- Pre-drill all wire and screw holes.
STEP 4 Put Speaker Box Together
- Use wood glue on the edges of the speaker enclosure.
- Put it together using clamps to fasten the pieces tightly together.
- Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours.
STEP 5 Prepare Speaker Hole
- Mark and pre-drill the mounting holes for the speaker.
STEP 6 Seal Speaker Box
- Apply caulk to the internal seams of the box.
- Let the caulk cure for 24 hours.
For more DIY speaker projects, check out our articles on replacing your speakers in a car, how to fix a speaker, and how to recone speakers.
Warning
Making a speaker box that is too big or too small can dampen the internal volume and negate the effects of the speaker.
F.A.Q.S
How do I know what enclosure type is right for me?
Because the enclosure significantly affects a speaker’s sound quality, the type of enclosure always depends on the type and size of your speaker.
How can I make the speaker box sound louder?
The best thing to do is make sure the internal seams are completely sealed and free of sound leaks. You also can try filing the cabinet with polyfill.
Why do speaker drivers need to be enclosed?
Enclosures stop the rearward frequency response from interacting with the sound waves coming out the front. Otherwise, these competing soundwaves would ruin the audio.
STAT: You should cover 60% of the interior seams with braces. (source)
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