– Custom Door Panels for Speakers-
It’s possible that a new speaker you bought for your automobile that isn’t the factory model will not fit into the door panel. But don’t worry, you’ll be able to pull it off! Outlined in this article are ways to create custom door panels for speaker enclosures.
A decent audio system demands more than simply good speakers. You must properly place the speakers in order to generate a well-balanced sound stage, which is not always a simple challenge in today’s confined venues.
For improved imaging, we frequently have to restrict ourselves to changing factory placements. Building new door panels is one method to achieve this, but it’s a difficult task. There are, however, easier ways to achieve this purpose.
There are choices for using factory panels or grilles depending on the car.
How to Construct Custom Door Panels for Speakers
The construction method is straightforward and involves only a few tools. A DA sander and die-grinder will be your closest buddies if you have access to an air compressor.
You will save time while shaping and sanding the pieces because of this. If not, you can always sand it everything by hand in the old-fashioned manner. If you must hand sand, do it before the body filler has completely set.
Steps to Construct Custom Door Panels
Allow it to turn green, which is when the filler has reached the point where it is just beyond rubber. If you begin rough shaping immediately, the filler will roll off quickly and easily, allowing you to get the desired form faster and with less effort.
Here are the outlined steps as promised:
The Preparation
The first step to every project, big or small, is the preparation.
1. Remove the old speaker from the room. You’ll need to pull it out from the door panel and then cut the cables that connect it.
2. Measure the depth of your new speaker and the depth of the speaker space in your vehicle. Subtract the two measures and find the difference.
3. Decide where you want your new speaker enclosure to go on your door (usually the lower quarter portion of the door).
The Design and Measurement
Let’s begin the design process (we approximated dimensions used here).
4. Make two templates to use in the building of your speaker enclosure.
a. Cut a piece of poster board to fit the door panel’s whole width. This is your starting point.
b. Cut a piece of poster board to the size and shape of the area of the door panel where the speaker will be installed. We see here the higher template.
c. Trace around the speaker on the upper template and cut out the hole where you want the speaker to go.
5. Tape the templates to the door panel and check to see if any trim or factory mechanisms are blocking the speaker hole. To guarantee that there are no blockages, you may need to alter the location of the upper template.
6. Trace the upper template’s speaker hole onto the bottom template.
7. Remove the templates from the table and place them away.
8. Remove the door panel from the frame. You’ll need to start by removing all the trim and door hardware, then pry the door panel out.
9. Cut off the plastic sheet that covers the interior of the door with a scalpel.
Construction Begins
Get your tools ready:
10. For your door panel speaker, make a speaker pod.
a. Trace the templates onto two pieces of medium density fiberboard, one for each template.
b. Using a jigsaw, cut out the templates.
c. Screw the two boards together, but don’t completely sink the screws. A speaker pod serves as the foundation for your door panel assembly.
11. Place the speaker pod on the front of the door panel and continue drilling the screws so that they sink completely into the door panel, catching the door panel and holding the pod in place.
12. Make sure the new speaker enclosure door panel fits into your vehicle by testing it.
a. Place the door panel on the door with the speaker pod connected.
b. To ensure sure nothing catches, open and close the door many times.
13. Removing the door panel and separating it from the speaker pod is the next step.
14. Trace the speaker location onto the door panel using the speaker pod template, then cut away any parts of the door panel that are required for the new speaker to fit.
15. To guarantee a professional-looking speaker enclosure, sand all the rough edges of the speaker pod. Instead of two pieces, your speaker pod should look to be constructed of one.
16. To verify if the speaker fits, place it within the speaker’s enclosure. Sand the speaker hole.
Finishing
This last process involves smoothening and testing.
17. Make the grille for the speakers.
a. On a piece of Masonite, trace the upper-template face of the speaker pod.
b. Drill 20 tiny holes where the speaker will be in the Masonite.
c. Sand the drill holes to remove any extra Masonite that may have been left on the surface during the drilling operation.
d. Using spray glue, generously coat the Masonite.
e. Wrap black grille cloth around the Masonite.
18. Protect the speaker casing by covering it.
a. Cut a piece of vinyl and a piece of foam rubber padding to a size that is somewhat larger than the complete speaker pod you made.
b. Using spray glue, generously coat the speaker pod.
c. Wrap the padding over the full rear border of the pod, allowing approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm) extra.
d. Spray the padding with spray adhesive, then wrap the vinyl piece firmly around the pod, allowing about 1 inch (2.54 cm) of extra around the rear border.
e. Pull the vinyl over the back and use a staple gun to secure the edges.
f. Cut a hole for the speaker and trim any extra padding or vinyl using scissors.
19. Using Velcro, secure the speaker grille to the new door panel. The building of the speaker enclosure is now complete. You may now reconnect the door panel and insert the speaker.
That’s how to construct a speaker enclosure for a door panel. Run your palm through the finished project for offshoots and “tool it off.”
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FAQs on Custom Door Panels for Speakers
Go through this section for more information on custom door panels for speakers.
1. What Are Some DIY Car Audio Modifications?
Ans: “You can create speaker housings out of PVC pipe to place in the door behind the speaker to tighten it up or to get it out flush with the door if it’s truly recessed deep behind a grill, and you can cut the pipe at an angle to direct the speaker towards you.
Buy items, then replace the speakers, speaker cables, amplifiers, subwoofer, and equanimity with stronger, higher-quality wiring.”
2. What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Acoustic Foam in Speakers?
Ans: “These are the Pros:
a. Improves sound quality by dampening echo at shorter wavelengths (higher frequencies) (in proportion to foam thickness) and enclosure dimension-dependent internal standing waves when the foam thickness used is suitable.
b. Increases enclosure effective air volume until ideal packing density is attained – too much takes away internal air volume, as predicted – to improve bass at the lowest end. In typical undersized enclosures, increased effective air volume decreases acoustic air spring impedance (increases compliance).
c. Because connected foam can’t move with the vibrating air, it becomes more efficient at dampening standing waves at lower frequencies where microscopic foam mass would provide inadequate acoustic inertance (“inductive impedance”).
d. When anchored in the centre of the enclosure (to bracing or another structure), it dampens longer wavelength internal standing waves, where air movement is the strongest.
Now the Cons
a. The cost of the materials and the labor involved in installing it.
b. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from newly made plastic foams can hurt those who breathe them. Some people have complained of headaches and other symptoms.”
3. Tips for Getting the Best Sound Quality in Your Car?
Ans: “To get the best sound quality in your car, do this:
a. Replace the speakers that came with your vehicle.
b. Upgrade your head unit and get rid of the built-in DAC on your phone.
c. Amplifiers, Signal Processors, and equalizers should all be included.
d. Use high-resolution audio or high-quality music files.”
4. Can Home Theater Speakers Be Used in Car?
Ans: “Yes, although mostly with negative outcomes. High-sensitivity theater speakers, which are often huge box speakers with horns, such as Klipsch brand speakers, are the only type of house speakers that are suitable for automobile audio.
Car speakers should have a 4 ohm (or less) impedance, whereas house speakers have an 8 ohm impedance.”
5. Is It Difficult to Build Sound Panels for My Home Studio?
Ans: “Depending on your financial situation… So no, you just have to think beyond the box. There are several options available to you. Consider what they designed them for.
That being said, there are many odd-looking styrofoam (extruded mainly, I believe) panel type pieces that might work, but finding them in large enough quantities to make your own house is pure chance.”
6. What’s the Cheapest Way to Have a Car Stereo Installed?
Ans: “The cheapest method to have anything installed is to go to a search engine, type in what you’re looking for, and then install it yourself! A simple daily driver system is not nearly as difficult as retail establishments would have you believe.”
7. How Do I Use These Speakers?
Ans: “You’d need an amp, and they’re passive, so you’d need one.
Those connectors are normal on speakers, but I’d assume each to have a regular two-veined wire, so why are there three? On closer inspection, I notice four strands. (As well as an unrelated but intriguing trumpet.) Are you a gamer?)
So, the amp should have at least two pairs of outputs that look like speaker inputs, and all you have to do is link two “L” terminals and two “R” terminals with those cables, which appear like normal speaker wire to me. Speaker cables frequently include two identical strands.”
8. If You Slam Shut a Car Door, Does It Cause Any Damage?
Ans: “However, the more individuals who slam the automobile doors, the more likely you are to repair broken and worn-out parts. The paint of the automobile is one area that gets impacted.
The more the door is slammed shut, the more the paint peels away from the edges.”
9. Is It Good to Build a Home with Vboard?
Ans: “V Board is a type of material that is commonly used in interior design. These planks can’t be used to construct a house.
Everest offers rapicon panels (also known as solid wall panels) and other wall solutions that may be utilized for both interior and external walls in the construction of dwellings. Infill walls, dura walls, strong walls, and other types of walls are examples.
The only boards with a high MOR are Everest Heavy Duty boards, which fit within Type A Category IV and perform better than any other high-density-compressed board type.”
10. Does the Speaker’s Wire Affect the Sound Quality?
Ans: “There is no scientific evidence to support the (misleading) notion that “special” or “audiophile” speaker wires or pricey cable make a discernible difference when compared to inexpensive, decent quality speaker wire in the proper gauge.
Its unsubstantiated assertions 99.9% of the time, and the difference doesn’t really matter!”
We hope we have provided you with enough information to get started on that speaker project. Do well to share this article with your DIY community. They will most certainly appreciate it.
Best Regards!
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