Rain Shields & Speakers

We're Here · 10-31-2003, 04:02 AM

The WRX comes with speaker rain shields in the rear and (apparently) none in the front. Are these necessary? If they are, why aren't they installed in the front too? My Infinity Reference's have just arrived and the instructions say to avoid water or rain. I'd like to hear some thoughtful opinions on the subject. Thanks.

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AcquaCow · 10-31-2003, 03:13 PM

I keep meaning to get baffles for my front speakers, but I haven't really had much rain get in there. Depending on the materials used to make the speaker, it may or may not be damaged by water. Surely any paper cone speaker will be mostly destroyed by water, but most new cones tend to use either plastic/fiberglass/kevlar or some other composite. I've found the coating on these to be pretty water resistant. You also don't want water getting on your speaker terminals or lead wires as it can corrorode them after time. It's a good idea to try and do what you can to keep them dry.

You can buy XTC foam baffles from crutchfield for like $20 for 4 and customize them for your own needs. I'll probably go find my old ones and do this when I put my Focal's back in this weekend.

bcblues · 10-31-2003, 09:49 PM

I had the foam baffles installed when I had the shop install my diamond fronts. They sounded bass-less (is htat a word?). The tech told me that they needed more room to work in and recommended taking out the baffles. I did this and it DID pick up a little bit of mid-bass. But not much.

Almost all modern speaker cones are very water resistant or waterproof. And the place where they are installed is pretty dry to start with. If it were not, the water would run down and into the interior of the car, soaking the carpet.

c_hunter · 11-01-2003, 12:13 AM

The XTC baffles can make your speakers sound flat, since they restrict cone movement (by putting a cushion of air behind the speaker). However, you can cut a hole in them and alleviate the problem.

When I use them, I normally cut out the lower 20-30%. They will still be fine as rain shields, but not hurt sound.

Craig

AcquaCow · 11-01-2003, 12:58 AM

Yeah, I cut the bottom 1/2 off of my baffles...I just need to find them...

10-31-2003, 04:02 AM	#1
We're Here Scooby Newbie Member#: 6943 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Super Bowl XXXVIII Champions Vehicle: '04 05 STi (Sold) 02 WRX (Sold)	Rain Shields & Speakers The WRX comes with speaker rain shields in the rear and (apparently) none in the front. Are these necessary? If they are, why aren't they installed in the front too? My Infinity Reference's have just arrived and the instructions say to avoid water or rain. I'd like to hear some thoughtful opinions on the subject. Thanks. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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10-31-2003, 03:13 PM	#2
AcquaCow Scooby Guru Member#: 36838 Join Date: May 2003 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Oakton VA Vehicle: 2000 RS Sedan 2004 STi w/RS body swap	I keep meaning to get baffles for my front speakers, but I haven't really had much rain get in there. Depending on the materials used to make the speaker, it may or may not be damaged by water. Surely any paper cone speaker will be mostly destroyed by water, but most new cones tend to use either plastic/fiberglass/kevlar or some other composite. I've found the coating on these to be pretty water resistant. You also don't want water getting on your speaker terminals or lead wires as it can corrorode them after time. It's a good idea to try and do what you can to keep them dry. You can buy XTC foam baffles from crutchfield for like $20 for 4 and customize them for your own needs. I'll probably go find my old ones and do this when I put my Focal's back in this weekend.

10-31-2003, 09:49 PM	#3
bcblues Scooby Specialist Member#: 17256 Join Date: Apr 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: America's Outback Vehicle: 04 STi Blue w/ custom bug splat	I had the foam baffles installed when I had the shop install my diamond fronts. They sounded bass-less (is htat a word?). The tech told me that they needed more room to work in and recommended taking out the baffles. I did this and it DID pick up a little bit of mid-bass. But not much. Almost all modern speaker cones are very water resistant or waterproof. And the place where they are installed is pretty dry to start with. If it were not, the water would run down and into the interior of the car, soaking the carpet.

11-01-2003, 12:13 AM	#4
c_hunter Scooby Specialist Member#: 32434 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wmsbg, Virginia Vehicle: 05 Outback XT 5EAT Gold/Black	The XTC baffles can make your speakers sound flat, since they restrict cone movement (by putting a cushion of air behind the speaker). However, you can cut a hole in them and alleviate the problem. When I use them, I normally cut out the lower 20-30%. They will still be fine as rain shields, but not hurt sound. Craig

11-01-2003, 12:58 AM	#5
AcquaCow Scooby Guru Member#: 36838 Join Date: May 2003 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Oakton VA Vehicle: 2000 RS Sedan 2004 STi w/RS body swap	Yeah, I cut the bottom 1/2 off of my baffles...I just need to find them...