Help with upgrading Monitor Audio BR2 speakers

[syncros]

Hi all
For my first post here i immediately need help.
I just bought new speakers, a pair of fronts and a center one. They are Monitor Audio BR2 and BRLCR. Yesterday i opened one of the fronts just to see what’s inside and the materials used. I was not impressed but for the price paid it is fair result. Now, i want to upgrade these speakers as much as possible without doing complete new speaker, new boxes and stuff.
First step would be changing that gray foam inside with something like lamb’s wool for dampening. After i would try to put additional bracing inside because when i knock on speakers they are not dead stiff. Latest i would like to do some changes to crossover like changing components for high quality ones.
I would need help and advice from you experienced folks here to put me to right direction.
Here are some pictures from front speakers






I would be very grateful for any help and advice.

[lsiberian]

It all depends how far you want to go.

Do at least add a 1/4" constraint layer(roofing felt) if possible.

[syncros]

As far as possible without doing a new box with new speakers

Adding constraint layer will get me more rigid box or? And after that should i put some damping layer inside and what?

[fbov]

syncros wrote:

Hi all
For my first post here i immediately need help....

First step would be changing that gray foam inside with something like lamb’s wool for dampening.

After i would try to put additional bracing inside because when i knock on speakers they are not dead stiff.

Latest i would like to do some changes to crossover like changing components for high quality ones.
I would need help and advice from you experienced folks here to put me to right direction.
...

Welcome! Nice looking set-up by the way (I looked at more than you posted.)

Your first step is a waste of time unless you think that grey foam is not accoustic absorbant (I think it is.). It looks like you could use a bit more, especially behind the brace, but this is fairly good for a ported box. Needless to say, keep the port entrance free and unobstructed, and please your ear

You will not retrofit a box and make it dead stiff, without enclosing it in another box with a damping layer between. You already have a window brace so I don't see room for bracing inside except to the baffle. You could gut the box inside and coat it with a damping layer, then reapply accoustic foam. You could glue new panels to the outside to stiffen things, but then you have to fix the ugly.

Upgrading components is one place to spend money, but it's debatable if you'd hear any difference. The iron-core choke may or may not affect the sound; if you can post a circuit diagram it would help those in the know (not me) and you'll need it to create the new XO if you do go with major replacements.

Compared with some commercial designs, those enclosure actually look pretty good!

HAve fun,
Frank

PS a couple definitions
- damping material absorbs vibrations already transmitted to the box
- accoustic foam absorb vibration in the air next to a surface, primarily to absorb the driver back wave and to reduce vibrations transmitted to the box.
- accoustic fill absorbs vibrations from the air in free space, is useful for tuning especially in sealed boxes, but must be kept away from the port.

A constraint layer is a sandwich of two stiff "bread" layers around a deformable-but-resistant damping layer. It is stiffer, heavier and thicker. In this case, one layer is the box: you spread the damping material on the inside, then cover that layer with stiff panels that are braced internally. You then install foam on the walls to absorb the back wave. The issue is that you've now changed box volume and so port tuning will change and I'd bet you'll want it re-optimized.