mdf

home depot has 3/4" mdf and hdf. would high density be sonically better? what would you say? they are both around the same price.  for a new sub box.

                                                                                                   thanks!

High density particleboard weighs more and is denser.  Medium density fiberboard is considered sonically superior.  You can build enclosures as well as a lot of other things with HDP, but if given the choice of both for speaker enclosures, choose the MDF.

To put this in another perspective, look at fiberglass insulation.  What is the insulator, the fiberglass or the air between the fiberglass?  It is the air that insulates.  The fiberglass just creates air pockets.  Look at MDF with that same understanding....less dense fiberboard allows for the damping of sound waves because of the very nature of its lack of density.  There is more air within the board.

i did not know that. i though that useing hdp or hdf makes it more riged so it is able to absourb more vibrations. are you soure that is the case. i have heard that the more dense the bord the better. but wy would the air in the board make it more absourbent. but wouldent the air in the board make it more flexible so it would case the bord to need more bracing.

i used hdp or hdf (i dont now witch one) to build my box and it dose fine i still dont get why the mdf would be better. do you want the box to vibrate cuse i think it would. and i have used it on the back of one of my boxes and it vibrated alot so i had to put extra bracing on it. i really dont get wy it is better. i thought that it was better to have a more riged material. and mdf has a bad tendincy to chip and crack. so wy would you use a weaker material. if sombody could elaberate on this to help me and this guy thank you

Aaron  

You could use it if you were building an SPL vehicle, otherwise it's probably just more expensive, heavy, overkill.  Usually, mdf will do just fine.

Steve, I'd have to disagree with you, buddy.  You logic could lead others to believe that something less dense than mdf would be ideal.  Why don't we all just use the cardboard box our subs came in then, as the enclosure?  (Kidding, obviously.)  I'm assuming you meant that mdf is ideal for most situations.  If this is the case, then I agree on that point.

what about the power handling of the sub. if you build a box out of something that isent strong enough it will gust fall apart or crack. and what happens if you have a really big sub it will viberate the box to much if you make it out of something like mdf. so you have to use something more stronger and denser. i think that if you are runing a powerful sub you need a more sturdy material. but other then that you can gust use mdf. i still dont get wy you think it is better im about to do a seach and find out for my self but intell then i still would like to now from sombody of hear.

Aaron 

youngone-thats why you use bracing and corner bracing.

stevdart-thank you i understand. mdf absorbs. unlike hdf which is "packed" tighter and reflects more.