Loudspeaker makers use engineered wood to avoid directional sound speed

Evidence

This variation of the speed of sound in materials such as wood can affect the acoustics of musical instruments made of wood and has particular implications for the design of loudspeaker cabinets, which are often made of wood. In general, loudspeaker manufacturers choose processed woods, such as plywood or MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which have a Young’s modulus that is independent of direction. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 65

This variation of the speed of sound in materials such as wood can affect the acoustics of musical instruments made of wood and has partic­ ular implications for the design of loudspeaker cabinets, which are often made of wood. In general, loudspeaker manufacturers choose processed woods, such as plywood or MDF (medium density fiberboard), which have a Young’s modulus that is independent of direction. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 42

Categorization

• XREF: Ties to the reader’s article on trees as infrastructure, where anisotropic wood properties are material knowledge for any wood-built resonant structure.
• SHARE: For a woodworker or audio hobbyist who cares about cabinet design choices.
• corroborated: 4 independent passages support this claim — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 65; David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 42