Ian: I've never been a fan of a screwed down baffle. The two pairs of 4343's I've owned had their upper baffle sections removed some unknown number of times. The screw holes were deeply recessed into the wood and after a while the screw threads get stripped out. Removable rear panels remind me of most of Altec's cabinets, not made near as well as JBL's. The enclosure integrity is always at stake. Sealing tape is required and it just seems like a hassle.Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie
Consider this option - My baffle is very similar to the one you posted in this and other threads on the 4344. Between the compression driver and the woofer cutout there sits the big obstacle of the mid-base box. You can however take the driver/horn in hand and reach around the mid-base box. If one lacks the arm strength to lift/hold it into place until the screws are installed there's another little trick I learned from other projects. With one hand put the horn in position and using the other hand reach thru the cutout and stand it up under the hole. Take two pieces if 1/4-20 threaded rod with an "L" bent on one end and insert them thru two of the 4 mounting holes in the baffle and screw them into the horn. Then use the rods to pull the assembly up into place. Put the two opposite screws in, remove the rods and install the other two screws. The 2405 presents no problems with your baffle layout.
Is all of this anal - maybe to some. Building a box with all panels glued and screwed solid and doing business thru the baffle cutouts is always a better choice. Looking at everything JBL made I'm sure that this method was their first choice. If you don't have strong kids with long arms to help you can always bend up a couple pieces of threaded rod and do it by yourself. Coz the kids aren't always home I have rods too.
Take a close look at my 4351 baffle layout and see if you can figure out how I can get the 2440 and 2405 in and out of the cabinet, based on where they are located relative to the mid-base box and the duct tubes.
Not trying to be a smart ass but if there's anyway you can get around building an enclosure with removable panels - you should do it. My 4351's were a challenge in this arena. Rick