acoustic treatments

[donaldekelly]

I have 170s and a Hsu Stf-2 in an approximately 12x24x8 room. I am thinking the next upgrade to make is room dynamics. (If you think I am wrong let me know, maybe Audyssey is what I need on a better receiver than my old Yamaha HTR 5540?).

Any suggestions for cheap, decent looking and effective treatments? With high WAF?

A few helpful articles:
http://www.audioholics.com/room-acou...listening-room
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/canada_..._acoustics.htm
http://forums.naimaudio.com/topic/di...tics-treatment

I did search here on the forum but didn't find much so far.

I am not trying to make the perfect room, but think my room is yanking the SPLs all over the place. Upper bass exaggeration on an Ascend (I think this is what I hear)? Probably the room.

Thanks

[donaldekelly]

A very helpful discussion about whether room acoustics or equipment were messing the sound up - has lots of suggestions for room treatments:

http://forum.ascendacoustics.com/sho...rra-1-L-C-R%29 - see FirstReflect's posts

And the link he shared for free room acoustics analysis http://www.gikacoustics.com/acoustic-advice/

[donaldekelly]

Some more helpful links

http://www.decware.com/paper39.htm - nice summary
http://realtraps.com/art_basics.htm - the basics
http://realtraps.com/videos.htm - not very exciting but a lot of info
http://audiophilereview.com/room-aco...your-room.html - importance of room treatments

My somewhat uninformed conclusion is that room treatment is important but often impractical.

Bass is what is needed to control most - and that takes thick corner traps - expensive and low WAF unless you have a large room and budget. Even mid frequencies take some money and room space. Upper frequencies are easier to control.

So, if you don't have the WAF (and landlord or self approval factor either) for bass traps you can't do that much. Maybe some curtains, a rug, some side panels but room treatment, while important, is often impractical.

Please interrupt this soliloquy of semi-ignorance if you know better.

[donaldekelly]

After some sleep and further reading - it seems that Gik has some affordable and workable products that might have enough WAF to work. And the free consult option for expert advice on what is needed.

Custom designed art absorption panels, bass traps that don't take over your room, and one can start with a $200-300 investment and add more later.

As for information - the Gik site seems to cover all the basics. http://www.gikacoustics.com/

I am sure there are other good companies but Gik seems to get good reviews from this and other boards.

[natetg57]

I measured my room before and after I installed three corner bass traps. The bass traps helped with some of the ringing and smoothed out the peaks a bit.

[donaldekelly]

I measured my room before and after I installed three corner bass traps. The bass traps helped with some of the ringing and smoothed out the peaks a bit.

Which brand?

I have heard good things about GIK and REAL TRAPS. Some other companies are either more expensive or not as good quality. But I am only going on hearsay - not on professional reviews or hearing them. There probably are some other companies worth looking at.

Just ordered a monster trap from GIK and plan to get some Tri Traps (corner traps) soon.

[natetg57]

Which brand?

I made them myself. They are stacked triangles of mineral wool with a thin wooden frame and covered in fabric. The two in the back of the room are doubling as speaker stands for now. 20140818_064152-1~2.jpg

[donaldekelly]

Cool

I guess most people don't bother unless they have a recording studio. Then your income would depend on hearing things accurately. Seems like a good idea even for listening - to get the most out of your Ascends. From what I read.

Still waiting on my monster trap and trying to convince my wife that some corner traps will be a good idea.

[N Boros]

Cool

I guess most people don't bother unless they have a recording studio. Then your income would depend on hearing things accurately. Seems like a good idea even for listening - to get the most out of your Ascends. From what I read.

Still waiting on my monster trap and trying to convince my wife that some corner traps will be a good idea.

I just got a new issue of Sound and Vision and thought that this theater in the picture in the link was a spotlight theater in the middle of the magazine, where they often spend more money on making the room look great, than the equipment.

http://www.soundandvision.com/conten...room-treatment

I was surprised after reading the first paragraph that it was just an article for the panels from VIC acoustic. I hope within the next couple years to be able to lengthen a spare bedroom in my basement to turn it into a dedicated theater room and at that point look into acoustically treating the room. If VIC acoustic is not that much more than GIK panels (not more than double), I may spend the extra money and go with them. I really like the looks of them.

[donaldekelly]

Real Traps has options too. And a lot of info. I think their "bare traps" are cheaper than their other offerings.