Should I insulate around a speaker in a cabinet.

[Timh]

I am currently contemplating mounting my centre speaker into my cabinet to allow my screen to come lower and to also please the Mrs. I am sure I have seen on some photo installs, some insulating materiel around the speaker's built into cabinets.(why do this)
If this is correct what type of material should I be using? or am I best just leaving it clear in the cabinet.
Here is a photo of what I have done so far, I do have some black speaker cloth to finish it off but I may use grey if someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks for any help.

[Timh]

And another phot further back.

[Paul D]

Yes, it helps to stop the speaker sounding "Boxy".

Imagine if you got a small speaker "Unit" and placed it in a bucket. The sound would change, because the reflections echo-ing off the bucket walls.

When you pack around the speaker "in" the cabinet, the packing absorbs the sound coming from all around the "speakers" cabinet. This helps stop sound colouration etc.

Hope that helps

Ps Great me advising you, when i have yet to pack my own cabinets!

[Timh]

Thank's Paul, now I understand the reason for insulating the cabinet.
I dont suppose you could recommend a certain type of material?

Thank's again.

[ReTrO]

Tim: Most types of stiff foam will do the job. Something like that found in travel cases for eqipment is good, the fairly dense grey stuff (not your brain! ).

It helps if it is thick as it will stop to speaker from moving also.

Is it rear ported at all?

[Timh]

Luckily it is front ported, I have used Rockwool for now. I still need to give it a test though.

[ReTrO]

That should do the job Tim. I'd think about putting the rockwool in some sort of bag thouhg to stop it getting everywhere (like your eyes etc), it can be an irritant.

[Timh]

That should do the job Tim. I'd think about putting the rockwool in some sort of bag thouhg to stop it getting everywhere (like your eyes etc), it can be an irritant.

Thank's Retro, I will have to look into it.