Internal versus External Mounting of Speakers

[Sounder]

Just received my GPA 604-8K's. Talk about heavy metal....

What are the advantages/disadvantage of internal mounting versus external mounting of the speakers to the box?

The exterior rim has an extremely thick gasket suggesting an internal mount is preferred.

Thanks.

[Todd W. White]

The Altec/GPA frames are designed for either method of mounting.

For years, Altec's speakers were rear-mounted. In professional, service-oriented situations, it was often easier to pull the speakers out from the front of the enclosure, rather than open the back of the cabinet to pull them out from the back.

Unfortunately, the older frames didn't have enough strength to be mounted from the front, because as soon as you cranked them down enough to hold it firmly (after a LOT of hand-filing to allow the ribs around the lip of the frame to set flush), the cone would be pushed out of alignment and start rubbing in the voice coil.

So, Altec re-designed their frames to be able to do both. Enlarging them made them stronger, too.

Personally, in a home environment, I would prefer front mounting. Bill's new enclosure series will have front-mounting, but the speakers will be recessed even with the front of the enclosure for a smoother appearance. This also prevents you from having to have box with a back, which can leak air...

[Sounder]

I'm confused. By a REAR MOUNTED do you mean that the speaker rim sits BEHIND the front baffle? That's what the Altec lit shows, anyway, for rear mount. How then, would one be able to pull them out through the front as you say, above?

[Todd W. White]

Rear mounting is where the speaker is mounted to the inside surface of the baffle board. It has to be removed through the rear of the cabinet.

Front mounting is where the speaker is lowered into the opening in the baffle board through the front. It can be removed without opening the back of the cabinet.

[Sounder]

Todd, thanks for the clarification. I like front mounting since it will be much easier for me to accomplish with my speaker design. Also, in perusing some Altec literature they state that "front mounting is recommended for best performance."

I am still wondering why they put that enormously thick gasket where it probably won't be used. Why not package it unattached and let the end user install it on the side where it would do the most good?

John

[Tenorman]

I prefer front mounting. In this way there is no need for a removable back. The cabinet can then be made as a stronger one-piece unit.

And any access or "service" that must be done can be done through the woofer hole.

I have not rear mounted a driver in many years.