OK I got fed up with the water in my MB Quartz, so decided I would take a little proactivity and get some of the XTC foam baffles to protect it against moisture.

Now the question I have is what is the correct way to install these suckers? Should I install them whole? (ie. don't put any holes in them except for the little slits, even if that, for the speaker wires). I have heard that you should cut out the bottom of the baffles to allow the mid range drivers more access to free air.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

Most will cut out the bottom half of the cup, leaving a top hat to protect from falling water.

 

best thing to try first is sealed. in other words, make a small slit so u can send the wire to the mid. then put some dacron(cotton pillow stuffing will do) in there and mount the mid. see how it sounds. most likely the bass will be nice and punchy and tight. the main reason ppl say freeair is that its true. door speakers are meant to be mounted in the doors, which arent sealed. so the manufacturers usually optimize the mids to work in that environment.

regardless, try the sealed method using stuffing, if possible, and u will probably not ever want to go back to freeair mounted mids