Center Speaker Inside Entertainment Center

[Padge1]

I'm in the process of building an entertainment center, which includes a location for a center speaker. I've used speaker fabric to enclose the front opening. I have a Paradigm CC 370 center speaker, which has a rear port. There is a removable 1/4" piece of birch plywood on the back of the entertainment center (for added stability). Do I need to cut out the back of the center speaker compartment? My understanding is that you need some space behind a rear ported speaker, and if I keep the plywood in place, there will be aprox. 12" from the back of the speaker to the back of the cabinet. Note: If the plywood stays, there will be a small hole in the middle for the speaker wire to pass through.

 

[rded]

Before you remove the plywood, try to do some critical listening on the center speaker 1st and don't forget to run your eq or use an spl meter for level matching. If it sounds boomy and less detailed, put the port plugs in. If that doesn't solve the problem then remove the plywood. I've noticed that in my set up, after speakers are calibrated properly and the Room EQ is applied, there was no need for fort plug. Hope this helps.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

My center is rear ported and my credenza is closed in back and it seems just fine.

 

[lsiberian]

I'm in the process of building an entertainment center, which includes a location for a center speaker. I've used speaker fabric to enclose the front opening. I have a Paradigm CC 370 center speaker, which has a rear port. There is a removable 1/4" piece of birch plywood on the back of the entertainment center (for added stability). Do I need to cut out the back of the center speaker compartment? My understanding is that you need some space behind a rear ported speaker, and if I keep the plywood in place, there will be aprox. 12" from the back of the speaker to the back of the cabinet. Note: If the plywood stays, there will be a small hole in the middle for the speaker wire to pass through.

Why don't you just cut a port sized hole in the plywood?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

and tell the air it is only allowed to go there?

Why don't you just cut a port sized hole in the plywood?

 

[lsiberian]

and tell the air it is only allowed to go there?

Exactly it can't go anywhere else

 

[Padge1]

Great suggestions. I should start applying the finish next weekend, so I wanted to think this through before then, though not completely necessary. I like the idea of a port sized hole, and will start with that approach. If after completion, I'm not happy with the sound, I can always cut out the whole thing. I'll be back with the final solution in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the help.

 

[lsiberian]

Great suggestions. I should start applying the finish next weekend, so I wanted to think this through before then, though not completely necessary. I like the idea of a port sized hole, and will start with that approach. If after completion, I'm not happy with the sound, I can always cut out the whole thing. I'll be back with the final solution in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the help.

I honestly don't know of the effects but it can't hurt.

 

[jostenmeat]

Great suggestions. I should start applying the finish next weekend, so I wanted to think this through before then, though not completely necessary. I like the idea of a port sized hole, and will start with that approach. If after completion, I'm not happy with the sound, I can always cut out the whole thing. I'll be back with the final solution in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the help.

I would assume that taking the back out entirely would only help reduce the unwanted resonances of the enclosed space. In fact, you could take it further, and perhaps treat the space with broadband absorption. You wouldn't know till you tried if it was worth it to you.

 

[Padge1]

I would assume that taking the back out entirely would only help reduce the unwanted resonances of the enclosed space. In fact, you could take it further, and perhaps treat the space with broadband absorption. You wouldn't know till you tried if it was worth it to you.

It was the possible unwanted resonances that I was concerned with. The good thing is that my back piece is the last thing to be attached, and will be screwed in place. I will see what happens with just the port sized hole, and it might be just fine. If not, I'll cut out the entire space. That should solve the problem, but if I'm still not satisfied, I can add the broadband absorption. Thanks for the tip.