Acoustic stuffing / filling material

[spammoj]

Hello DIYers

 

Building some LXminis and looking for local sources of acoustic filling. The plans suggest using a product called Acousta-Stuf which is described as follows: "Acousta-Stuf, a synthetic material made from crimped fibers". There have been some reports of this material 'settling' over time as it will be placed in a vertical pipe section.

 

Any ideas for local alternatives?

 

Jaycar has the following, but I'm wondering if there are more stable products that may work better and be less prone to settling.

 

https://www.jaycar.com.au/650gsm-acrylic-speaker-dampening-material/p/AX3694

[Wozza_Lee]

I always use a yoga matt from target on the backs and walls of all my speakers. Works great, heaps cheaper than buying EVA or purposes built products. I just use contact adhesive to attach. 

 

Then i buy acrillic foam (as your link to jaycar) from lincraft or just buy cheapo pillows from a local $2 shop and pull the stuffing out. 

 

If its filled well ie it shouldn't be loose it shouldn't really settle much. 

 

Not that i open speaker's up to check

[oohms]

earthwool from bunnings is great as stuffing

Edited January 15, 2020 by oohms

[Ihearmusic]

I used the jaycar stuffing and hade some spare in the shed for a few years.

I just used it in another build, still as fluffy like the day I bought it.

deffenetly no settling with this stuff

Edited January 15, 2020 by Ihearmusic

[spammoj]

Thanks all, I'll give the Jaycar stuffing a go.

 

Earthwool seems interesting, but I'd end up with heaps of excess.

[audiofeline]

22 hours ago, spamnoj said:

...Building some LXminis and looking for local sources of acoustic filling. The plans suggest using a product called Acousta-Stuf which is described as follows: "Acousta-Stuf, a synthetic material made from crimped fibers". There have been some reports of this material 'settling' over time as it will be placed in a vertical pipe section....

If the pipe is wooden you could fix the filling at the top with a couple of staples to prevent gravity settling it down.

[A9X]

3 hours ago, audiofeline said:

If the pipe is wooden you could fix the filling at the top with a couple of staples to prevent gravity settling it down.

That's what I do; staples, some offcut cotton fabric to position it and hold it in place. I use matrix type bracing in all of my boxes and do this do that stuffing on the rear walls doesn't fall forward over time to the rear of the driver cones, or block the path between the driver and port openings.

 

It's not going to settle in the LXMinis. Just fill it to the density described in the plans and you'll be sweet.

[RankStranger]

22 hours ago, Wozza_Lee said:

I always use a yoga matt from target on the backs and walls of all my speakers. Works great, heaps cheaper than buying EVA or purposes built products. I just use contact adhesive to attach. 

 

Then i buy acrillic foam (as your link to jaycar) from lincraft or just buy cheapo pillows from a local $2 shop and pull the stuffing out. 

 

If its filled well ie it shouldn't be loose it shouldn't really settle much. 

 

Not that i open speaker's up to check

Do you find the yoga mat makes a difference on BR cabinets? I have a 60L cabinet with matrix bracing housing a 8”FR with a 2”ish port. I was going to do the Jaycar stuffing but I still have the opportunity to do yoga mats too

[A9X]

23 hours ago, Wozza_Lee said:

I always use a yoga matt from target on the backs and walls of all my speakers.

Last I checked, you can't breathe through yoga mats, so they're useless acoustically.

[RankStranger]

36 minutes ago, A9X said:

Last I checked, you can't breathe through yoga mats, so they're useless acoustically.

The cheap $5 ones at Kmart and I presume Target are 3mm porous foam. Probably not as good for yoga but may be ok acoustically

[A9X]

10 hours ago, RankStranger said:

The cheap $5 ones at Kmart and I presume Target are 3mm porous foam. Probably not as good for yoga but may be ok acoustically

Thanks for that. Might be worth a few $ to test, but am still dubious of the efficacy compared to rockwool etc. Happy to be wrong and have something else to use.

[RankStranger]

6 hours ago, A9X said:

Thanks for that. Might be worth a few $ to test, but am still dubious of the efficacy compared to rockwool etc. Happy to be wrong and have something else to use.

After a lot of reading I’ve found many differing opinions on what works “best”. What I think I will do, based on what little consensus I can find, is line the inside of the box with cotton felt packing blankets sold here: https://www.jjdavies.com.au/removalist-felt-packing-felt, with a double layer behind the driver, and then weave/suspend some of the jaycar padding as centrally as possible in the speaker within the matrix bracing. Total cost will probably be about $60, which isn’t too onerous. 

 

The place linked above has 2 densities of 450GSM felt, one at 5mm thick and the other at 11mm. I’m thinking the 11mm type will be better to cover more frequencies than the 5mm but I’m happy to be corrected if I’m thinking at it wrong

[Wozza_Lee]

Sorry missed your post. 

 

The matt i use are the kmart ones that are probably 15mm thick costs $7 each and one goes quite a long way.

 

I use these on the back wall and directly reflective surfaces to try to reduce too much bounce back through the driver (no idea if it works but it makes me feel better that im trying).

 

I use this WITH traditional stuffing as a duel density type arrangement with the filling in the centre of the box and then the matt lining the walls. 

 

Iv never done a A/B comparison but started doing it after the first few builds. My projects like most have gotten better over time and if this contributes or not i honestly couldn't say.

 

The logic is there at least.