Ceramic tiles for panel damping?

[brianp]

Has anyone tried gluing ceramic tiles to the inside walls of speaker cabinets to damp resonances? If so, how did it work out?

I'm thinking it would be best to use an adhesive that remains rubbery/flexible after curing, and that sticks well both the tile and to PU-sealed wood. Recommendations?

[fbov]

I think you've just described a constraint layer damping system. Do a search on that. One disadvantage of tiles is they are very accoustically reflective, so unless it's a subwoofer, you'll want to add some sonic absorbant foam to them.
Frank

[Jeff B.]

I think you've just described a constraint layer damping system. Do a search on that. One disadvantage of tiles is they are very accoustically reflective, so unless it's a subwoofer, you'll want to add some sonic absorbant foam to them.
Frank

Right. The mass loading is good though. I did this with some Liquid Nails and some thick rubber floor tiles designed to reduce sound and vibration. They really made the knuckle test sound dead.

[dbe]

Has anyone tried gluing ceramic tiles to the inside walls of speaker cabinets to damp resonances? If so, how did it work out?

I'm thinking it would be best to use an adhesive that remains rubbery/flexible after curing, and that sticks well both the tile and to PU-sealed wood. Recommendations?

My method is to use the flooring adhesive recommended for the tile and a 1/4 inch notch trowel to apply the adhesive. Makes an incredibly deal panel.

Dave

[nordhaven]

tiles can look killer on the sides and top with a solid wood baffle to match! A construction adhesive like the PL products or even liquid nails works well. The grout lines should be grouted with a high laytex grout to match. go heavy with the adhesive do not leave any air pockets.

[brianp]

Thanks, all!

"Constrained layer" damping is precisely what I'm after.

I've laid a few tile floors, so am familiar with the adhesives and grouts for that application.

Tiles on the OUTSIDE of the box I hadn't though of. But now you've got me thinking of a tiled subwoofer/end table. That could look rather cool (maybe even a mosaic pattern?), and be non-resonant to boot.

[nordhaven]

Stop by your local tile specialty store and check out Italian and Japanese porcelain tiles! Your mind spinning with ideas.

[Andy_G]

I used some polished "synthetic granite" (for want of a better description)tiles on a bench top once. Seriously nice !

If you were really clever, you would find the tiles you want, then make sure the cabinet could be done with minimal or no cutting.

[Wolf]

I did that in my Scandivifias, I have a 12" ceramic tile in the bottom for mass-loading and a sortof counterweight. It was adhered with a polyurethane adhesive, and then truck-bed lined, floor-tiled, and lined with dampings. It is actually wedged into place, and will not move due to the cabinet shape even if the glue gives.
It worked for me!
Wolf

[MerlinWerks]

I've used "Hardi-Backer" cement board under layment with great success on the inside of cabinets.

[Ryan_M]

I've used some stuff before called "rhino-board" though I don't know what it is exactly. I used it for under ceramic tiles. IIRC it was only ~1/4 thick and heavy. I wonder if that would do anything to help.

[WayneN]

I had to put new shingles on my roof about 18 months ago and before I laid the shingles I did about 3/4 of the way up my roof with a water proof membrane called Bituthene Roof Membrane would this stuff work?
Peel-n-stick about 1/8" thick.

WayneN

[dbe]

I've used some stuff before called "rhino-board" though I don't know what it is exactly. I used it for under ceramic tiles. IIRC it was only ~1/4 thick and heavy. I wonder if that would do anything to help.

Just about all of the materials mentioned here wil help to build a dead cabinet. I (almost) always use a heavy, stiff material inside the LF and MF enclosures adhered with a gooey, resilient adhesive that does not dry out and become brittle. This allows the inner and outer panel to move a bit at their different resonant frequencies and turn cabinet resonance energy into heat.

Dave

[critofur]

I had to put new shingles on my roof about 18 months ago and before I laid the shingles I did about 3/4 of the way up my roof with a water proof membrane called Bituthene Roof Membrane would this stuff work?
Peel-n-stick about 1/8" thick.

WayneN

That will be much better for damping, than any adhesive which cures hard.

Any "self sealing" roof tape will remain pliable.

[brianp]

I had to put new shingles on my roof about 18 months ago and before I laid the shingles I did about 3/4 of the way up my roof with a water proof membrane called Bituthene Roof Membrane would this stuff work?
Peel-n-stick about 1/8" thick.

WayneN

I believe Harbeth uses something similar in their cabinets. They call it "bituminous damping sheets."