Proper Birch Ply is more expensive, stronger and more resilient to damage if caught on edges and corners etc… not 100% on lighter… MDF has very slightly better internal damping, but it can be made stronger with bracing which I use with birch ply as well 👍🏼

 

If you can hear a difference between a "properly" built enclosure made from MDF or birch plywood, You are a very special human.

To those that say they can hear a difference I say prove it.. It's just opinions.

I hear strong opinions on this a lot from people who have never built a enclosure in there life, Many times people parrot what read on forums rather than use personal experience.

 

This is an old discussion. MDF will give you better low end bass vs Birch Plywood. MDF is heavier and cheaper. Birch Plywood is expensive and light weight. Build your box out of Birch and use Mundorf Unicorn Tail. Thank you.

 

You cant just say birch. Its like saying aluminum is better than steel. And yes this is a well discussed topic

 

And why not? Other people seemed to have understood the sentiment of my question.

 

Use Birch and call it a day.

 

I doubt the difference is audible in a well built box, although I've never attempted an A/B comparison. Personally, after using MDF many times, I gave BB a try and I'll never use MDF again. The weight, screw holding, sawdust, & durability advantages outweigh the price for me.

 

Zero difference.
Birch is better for car enviroment

 

Thank you all! love you.

 

The ONLY advantage of MDF over BB would be density of the material lowering panel resonance in an equally sized and built box. That said, panel stiffness and resonance can also easily be addressed in a myriad of build techniques, while still taking advantage of BB's other excellent attributes.

 

So assuming a reputable builder is designing it, they'll know what to do and what to implement? I'm going to a renowned local shop and spending a pretty penny. I certainly trust their craftsmanship.

 

There's many YouTube videos regarding this. There's tests that many have performed including Sounds Good Stereo.

 

Well if it’s a reputable shop just ask them what they suggest.

That size of braces and bracing techniques depends on the size of the box …That said, bracing at the center of of the larger panels is always a good idea

Bracing can be as simple as glued and screwed dowels or more formidable hollowed out gussets,

You can also apply CLD to the inside panels at 50% coverage.

 

With standard car audio sized enclosures a properly built enclosure will not have any sonic difference because of the material used.

If you are talking high pressure SPL or large scale PA or 20+ cubic foot home theater enclosures then there's a measurable difference if the bracing is the same in both but even then a properly built BB enclosure will be much less weight even with additional bracing.

But if you trust the builder and tell them cost is not the concern and you want the best material for longevity and sound quality I'm betting they'll use real BB (if they can source it) like most high end builders.

Look at the flat pack enclosures from:
MBM-18 Roundover Series Flat Pack (Single Unit) Shipping Included – GSG Audio Design MBM-18 Roundover Series Flat Pack (Single Unit) Shipping Included

They're available in your choice of MDF or BB and they wouldn't offer the option if the SQ weren't equivalent.

 

As for Baltic birch VS Void free cabinet grade birch from a hardware store..

You would not hear a difference either.. Is the baltic nicer material? Yes.. But Like I said you would not pick up a difference by ear.

 

Ah, your original post suggested you were building a box. A shop would likely use bb ply. I use bb ply all the time and love it. I did a bb ply box for an SI 12” and wouldnt bother using it for enclosures again. If using proper cabinet making techniques mdf works great.

 

My biggest thing is the weight. I already have about 80lbs of deadening with an addition of a 70lb AGM in the trunk (of course the amps/subs). Shop estimated a 30% or so lighter weight. so really looking to any option to decrease payload.

 

Lightweight MDF is more flexible. That is not something you need in a sub box.

 

so which of these to get instead of mdf if HD or lowe's are the only options.

Columbia Forest Products 3/4 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. PureBond Birch Plywood 165921 - The Home Depot

Employ this Project Panels Whole Piece Birch Domestic Plywood for cabinets, furniture and other woodworking projects. Easy to use.

www.homedepot.com

or

PureBond 3/4 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Poplar Hardwood Plywood 5787 - The Home Depot

Visit The Home Depot to buy PureBond 23/32 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Poplar Plywood 770579

www.homedepot.com

 

I think for your 4 cu. ft. Plus box bb ply would make a big difference. It will still be heavy though.

 

Russian Birch is what you want. Try TH&H Hardwoods.

 

Neither one is birch ply wood. They are standard plywood with birch veneer on one or both sides. Mdf would be much better than either.

 

on left is 18 mm bb ply. Notice how many laminations. All laminations are void free. Right is standard softwood ply with a very thin hardwood veneer. This one is cherry.
when estimating cuts remember bb ply is metric so not exactly 5/8, 3/4” etc.
notice the knot in the regular ply. Bb ply has all imperfections replaced with football shaped patches of good birch.

 

I usually prefer to use real Baltic Birch or ApplePly in my speaker builds, but that's mainly due to its properties (like water resistance, less dust, can be finished, etc.). As others have noted, this topic has been discussed here often and it would be very hard for someone to blindly tell the difference between ply and MDF; assuming the box is properly built and finished.

Even before the war made BB scarce and expensive, I started to prefer using ApplePly. It's domestically (North America) produced, available in multiple outer ply options (Cherry, Walnut, Maple, White Oak, Teak, Birch — easy to finish), and in multiple thicknesses (1/4", 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1.5"). Not having to do and wait on glue-ups (two 3/4" sheets for 1.5") is a nice added bonus...the cabinets I made from the 1.5" stuff were very stout. Also runs close to the same $$$-wise as the real BB, at least it did the last time I checked the BB price (1-2 years ago).

 

BB is the go-to for box builders as it's cheaper and better at resisting water than MDF. MDF is heavier and less resonant. I feel it comes down to preference and application. Under rear truck seats where there's going to be water from people's shoes? Go BB. Going into a car trunk where there's no exposure to the elements? MDF. Sound wise, it's most likely going to be negligible and would come down to how well built/reinforced it is.

 

If you mean the homedepot birch, don't use that stuff since it's not true baltic birch. If you can get your hands on true Russian Baltic Birch Plywood that is 1" thick it's going to be twice as strong as mdf. SO in my experience 2" thick of mdf will be as solid as 1" thick of Russian Baltic Birch. I've gotten mine from a high end cabinet maker in the past but it's way harder to find these days since there are sanctions on Russia ever sense the invation. Other countries make the stuff but it is way more expensive now than it was 10 years ago. Gately audio makes high end custom russian baltic birch boxes and I'm sure if you sent them your plans they would make your baffle. My current box is from Gately and the quality is top notch.

 

amazing how 15 years later this exact same discussion is happening!

DIYMA baltic birch vs MDF discussion in 2010!

in case someone wants to know relative prices between regular plywood, Baltic Birch, MDF, MDF lite and marine plywood see attached. Note that a lot of this would be availability and location dependent but gives you a frame of reference. These prices are from Dec 2024 from a local specialty plywood supplier.

 

amazing how 15 years later this exact same discussion is happening!

DIYMA baltic birch vs MDF discussion in 2010!

in case someone wants to know relative prices between regular plywood, Baltic Birch, MDF, MDF lite and marine plywood see attached. Note that a lot of this would be availability and location dependent but gives you a frame of reference. These prices are from Dec 2024 from a local specialty plywood supplier.

That's surprisingly cheap for BB. I haven't purchased any for a few years.

 

and I found the document by Jon Whiteledge...

The Car Audio System Nobody Would Build, Part 5

 

When he mentions composites, he does not specify the components. Kevlar is 10 times stronger than steel. There are many composite materials and resins that can be used or combined with laminating methods to accomplish a strong enclosure. But that gets expensive quick. Would you hear a difference between wood and composite?