Speaker terminals on a sealed enclosure

[stryfe]

I'm about to start building my sealed enclosure. I picked up a speaker terminal plate but noticed there's really no way to make the push terminals themselves airtight.

Would this "air leak" negatively affect the sub enclosure? Should I just run wires directly from the sub outside the box, and seal the penetration point?

 

[xplorer03]

i usually drill a hole in the box, pull the wires through, tie the speaker wire in a loose not inside the box so it cant pull out, then liquid nail around the hole.

 

[merlin12volt]

I may be a newbie on here but have over 15 years of install experience. The negative effect you will see by not sealing it will be virtually impossible to hear audibly.

It could be seen on a well tuned RTA or the like though. If your heart is set on using the terminals instead of just drilling a hole pulling the wire through and sealing it back up (as stated above and done on most custom boxes), you can use a thin bead of caulk around the inside of the opening on the terminal strip or thin weather stripping around it and then put it on the box.

The best way/ and for the best results, drill the hole and pull the wires through. Seal it back up and make sure to let the caulk cure before installing the subs. Some caulks used expel a vapor that can destroy the surround on a certain types of subs.

 

[aznboi3644]

audibly...doubt you can hear the difference...maybe and impedance plot will show the air leak but it is indiscernible by ear

 

[BigBoom]

i like using bolts as lil makeshift terminals for my boxes. easy enough and cheap as well

 

[stryfe]

Thanks for the input. Box is built with no terminal plate.