Simple Explanation

The flat front board of a speaker where the drivers are mounted, separating front and rear sound waves.

Concise Technical Definition

A structural panel in a speaker cabinet designed to hold drivers and prevent front and rear sound wave interference by creating directional sound output.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like a wall that keeps the front and back of a wave from crashing into each other—like cupping your hands around a megaphone to make the sound go forward.

Industry Usage Summary

Baffles are critical in speaker design to prevent phase cancellation and improve sound clarity by directing audio forward. Their shape and material can influence sound diffraction and dispersion.

Engineering Shortcut

Baffle = Mounting Surface + Acoustic Barrier.

Full Technical Explanation

A baffle is the part of a loudspeaker enclosure—usually the front face—onto which the drivers (woofers, tweeters, etc.) are mounted. Its main role is to acoustically isolate the front and rear sound waves produced by the driver, preventing cancellation (especially at lower frequencies). It also influences the speaker’s radiation pattern and diffraction effects. Baffle size, placement, and edge treatment are key factors in shaping overall sound directivity and tonal character.