Simple Explanation

Unwanted vibrations in a speaker’s box that color the sound.

Concise Technical Definition

Acoustic or mechanical resonances that occur in a loudspeaker enclosure due to its physical dimensions and material properties, often degrading the fidelity of the reproduced sound.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like tapping on a hollow wooden box—you hear a tone that wasn't part of the original sound.

Industry Usage Summary

Speaker enclosures are often braced and internally damped to reduce cabinet resonance, which can muddy or distort audio output; especially critical in high-fidelity audio and studio monitor design.

Engineering Shortcut

More bracing + damping = less box tone = cleaner sound.

Full Technical Explanation

Cabinet resonance refers to the natural tendency of a loudspeaker enclosure to vibrate at specific frequencies when excited by the energy from the drivers. These resonances can radiate sound that adds unintended coloration, distortion, or time smear to the speaker’s output. Materials, bracing, shape, and damping methods (like internal padding or constrained-layer damping) are used to suppress these effects, particularly in mid- and low-frequency regions where energy levels are highest.