Speakers are tight, there is no play, this is dense foam, not the squishhy stuff. I got the idea originally from other speakers I had over the years that were sealed cabinet designs, the difference with my application is I don't fully compress the foam by screwing the speakers down tight.
I also have heard (don't know if it's true or not) that Merlin Music is tweaking their speakers by adjusting the amount of pressure or torque used on the screws to secure the speakers to the cabinet or at least they're experimenting with it.
I've seen some very cool and pricey acrylic open baffle designs on the net. Maybe that might be plausible way to go, similar to the Linkwitz Labs Orion with their crossover. I think that would be an awesome DIY project and apparently lot of people feel open baffle is superior to box designs.
I do have vinyl, don't laugh, but I'm using a Technics 1210MK5G "Grandmaster" turntable with an AudioTechnica 150MLX MM cartridge. Music is everywhere, outside the speakers, below the speakers, behind the speakers. Even if most people out here are using megabuck belt drive TT's, they can certainly afford a measly $600 for a Technics MK5G and see what the excitement is all about or buy a tricked out one from KABusa.com. As for phono stages, to my ears, I prefer Manley Labs or Graham Slee Reflex Era Gold at the fraction of the cost. The Graham Slee products provide astonishingly great sound and a bargain price.