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WOOD PHI offers a number of woods for the construction of loudspeaker enclosures. Below is a list of woods we have used, with some notes as to the tonal and mechanical character of these woods. Using tone woods for loudspeakers and in particular referring to the tonal characteristics of woods may sound alarming to those committed to neutrality in sound. The truth is that any material one may use for the construction of a loudspeaker has some kind of sonic signature. This does not mean that reproduction would be coloured - we, at PHI, are probably as committed to tonal neutrality as any audiophile and our loudspeakers are constructed with this as our foremost requirement. But, all things being equal, one might as well know the character of the material one chooses.
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Kiaat An excellent value local wood known for its durability, look and stability. Sonically it falls in the walnut and maple fold, with a clean and transparent sound, slightly favouring high frequencies. |
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African Rosewood, Bubinga
One of the best value woods that one can obtain locally. Shares some excellent tonal characteristics with "real" rosewoods such as a slightly dark and woody sound mildly accentuating lower and middle frequencies. |
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Afrormosia
Wonderfully dark wood in a medium to high price range. Similar in sound to Merbau - rich and resinous, though perhaps slightly more favouring of the upper mids than the latter.. |
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Beech
Beautiful strong light coloured wood that finishes perfectly. Tonally "powdery" and "midsy". |
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Birch
An old favourite in loudspeaker building, particularly in the form of plywood. Lively sound. |
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Burmog
Even-grained wood with similar tonal and mechanical characteristics to mahogany, favouring mids and upper mids. |
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Iroko
Even-grained wood with similar tonal and mechanical characteristics to mahogany. Beautiful yellow colour that turns to a rich brown as it ages. |
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Jacaranda
A very soft and light wood. Inexpensive, but has some surprisingly attractive patterns and a good neutral sound. |
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Maple, Birdseye Maple
Probably one of the best looking and sounding lighter woods. Difficult to find wood with as many "eyes" as this piece, but well worth the search. Somewhat expensive. Sound described as transparent and "silvery". |
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Merbau
Very attractive dark resinous wood. Medium-priced but becoming rare now. Rich sounding. |
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Oukoume
Soft, light coloured wood with similar characteristics to birch. Even-grained and silky. Relatively inexpensive. Lively sound. |
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Padauk
Stunning reddish wood - similar to rosewoods in tone, though perhaps less rich sounding. Medium to high price. |
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Panga-panga, Partridge wood
Stunning dark and very underrated wood. Tonally neutral to slightly bright, but hard and difficult to work with. Not expensive, but should be. |
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Pau Marfim
Very nice light coloured wood with very little figuration or texture that's not particularly expensive. Dense and hard with a punchy and brilliant sound. |
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Poplar
Inexpensive soft light wood more suitable for the inside of loudspeaker enclosures. Clean and lively sound in such an application. |
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Purple Heart
Even textured dense wood with an exceptional purple colour. Excellent tone wood - smooth sounding with a slight favouring of middle and higher frequencies. |
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Sapele
Forward mahogany-like sound, slightly favouring middle frequencies. Excellent workability, even grain. Beautiful dark colour but with little or no figuration. Medium-high price. |
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Walnut
Wonderfully figured chocolaty brown wood with a sound similar to Maple: clean and transparent, perhaps slightly favouring mids, upper mids and highs. Somewhat expensive. |
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