Candy Red F150 FX4

Hello

Could someone tell me the pros or cons to installing MDF around the speakers in in the doors?

Is it worth it? Does it make a difference to the sound of the speakers?

What size of MDF is usually used 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch?

Thanks

troutspinner

Rings or MDF will create a solid mounting point around the whole speaker eliminating any flex. You are also stiffening the mounting area helping to eliminate vibrations into the door panels. A bad mount will make the best speaker sound dull, losing bass hit and tone. With a solid mount, you will get what you pay for.

I learned this one first hand, I installed my Heilx speakers in my Screw by just directly mounting them to the door panel and did some sound deadening. After reading advice here and DIYMA, I decided to give 3/4" MDF a try and was I glad I did. It made a very noticeable difference in the mids and gave it that extra "touch" to sound like a high end install.

As for negatives. If you have moisture issues, MDF will hold moisture but I know in my truck I never had those issues. You could use composite material, i.e., a cutting board if you are worried about moisture but I would be more concerned about protecting the speaker from moisture well before a ring.

FWIW, MDF is cheap and very easy to work with. I HIGHLY recommend using it.

Candy Red F150 FX4

Thanks for the info. I will have to do this when I install my speakers.

Does anyone have any pictures of how the MDF gets mounted on the door?

Thanks again for your help.

Candy Red F150 FX4

Thanks for the info. I will have to do this when I install my speakers.

Let's just say I want to mount some 6x9 speakers. Will any MDF mount for a 6X9 speaker work or does it have to be custom fit to every vehicle?

Does anyone have any pictures of how the MDF gets mounted on the door?

Thanks again for your help.

king nothing

MDF in the doors is not a good idea. It is used to adapt from one size speaker to another or space a speaker out from the door for clearance issues. If you are replacing your speakers with the same size you won't need it. Plastic cutting boards are a better option because they won't absorb moisture. I have seen MDF swell so bad it has warped speakers and cracked speaker baskets

Robert8252

You can buy sheets of ABS plastic. Got a sheet with enough for all 4 doors for $30. Also current gen f150 have shallow mounting depths so adding 1/2" baffles will allow a bigger speaker motor to fit. 6x9s will require you to cut the door as we'll. Nothing compares to a good 6.5" set of component speakers up front.

And the point of any speaker install is to completely block the rear sound waves from entering the listening area. You will see tons of sound deadener inside doors for this very reason. You get a lot better performance out of speaker this way as well.

Z7What

Only time I have seen MDF used in the doors when replacing speakers is when installing a different size speaker. My old truck has 5X7s from the factory, when I had my system installed I replaced the 5X7s with 5.25" components. The installer made MDF "adapters" to install them. They were painted before the install to prevent moisture from messing them up.

Wayne

Candy Red F150 FX4

Where is the best place to buy a sheet of this plastic that you guys are talking about?

Robert8252

I didn't have anywhere local. Ordered mine from tapplastics.
http://www.tapplastics.com/product/p...abs_sheets/524

01f1502wd

Ive used sheets of thicker plastic from Lowes to make see-through panels in my desktop computer. It has held up pretty good to me kicking it and accidentially knocking it over, or even during a move.