AudioNervosa

Specialists => Audiologists => Topic started by: steve on August 01, 2017, 10:27:34 AM

Title: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: steve on August 01, 2017, 10:27:34 AM
I have been using inexpensive treatments with great success.

I found fiberglass and bed pillows work nicely and are very economical. Some years ago, I did an analysis and found that fiberglass is within some 6db of the best treatments.

Pillows are great for spot locations like corners, floors, and corners. Place one or more where bass or treble boost is evident. Easy to move if needed as well. Walmart has nice pillows for $3.75 each.

Cheers
Steve

Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: richidoo on August 01, 2017, 11:34:11 AM
FG comes in rolls, you can stack the rolls into a column and make an extremely powerful corner bass treatment. The rolls are densely packed for shipping so VLF can be absorbed. I use recycled cotton this way, not as densely packed and it makes so much bass I end up taking half of it away. Then my wife says get those garbage bags out of my living room then I take the rest away. Rinse and repeat about twice a year.

When I read of people wrestling with midrange echo in today's modern architectural design with big open floorplan spaces, hardwood floors, grainte countertops, leather couches, tons of windows there's no plush left to knock down some of the midrange. Rather than experiment with expensive, professionally-produced absorption panels, it is easy to throw a bunch of quilts on the floor or hang on the walls. These allow covering a large percentage of the reflective surface, albeit temporarily, enough to let you hear whether damping will help with the midrange echo before investing in professionally made treatments.

One more: if you sit in a small room with your head close to the rear wall, consider getting a single 4 x 2 BAD panel from bhphoto.com.  These are 2" thick, and they sound fantastic even when your ears are inches away. BAD panel is combination of absorbtion and diffusion. (BAD = binary amplitude diffusion.) They're expensive to cover a whole room, but one pad in that key location, or for 1st reflection points (if you believe 1st reflection needs damping) is a good investment.
Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: steve on August 01, 2017, 01:59:26 PM
FG comes in rolls, you can stack the rolls into a column and make an extremely powerful corner bass treatment. The rolls are densely packed for shipping so VLF can be absorbed. I use recycled cotton this way, not as densely packed and it makes so much bass I end up taking half of it away. Then my wife says get those garbage bags out of my living room then I take the rest away. Rinse and repeat about twice a year.

When I read of people wrestling with midrange echo in today's modern architectural design with big open floorplan spaces, hardwood floors, grainte countertops, leather couches, tons of windows there's no plush left to knock down some of the midrange. Rather than experiment with expensive, professionally-produced absorption panels, it is easy to throw a bunch of quilts on the floor or hang on the walls. These allow covering a large percentage of the reflective surface, albeit temporarily, enough to let you hear whether damping will help with the midrange echo before investing in professionally made treatments.

One more: if you sit in a small room with your head close to the rear wall, consider getting a single 4 x 2 BAD panel from bhphoto.com.  These are 2" thick, and they sound fantastic even when your ears are inches away. BAD panel is combination of absorbtion and diffusion. (BAD = binary amplitude diffusion.) They're expensive to cover a whole room, but one pad in that key location, or for 1st reflection points (if you believe 1st reflection needs damping) is a good investment.

Great ideas Rich. Wish I had thought of some of those. And one can simply adjust the size of the quilt as well. All we have mentioned are inexpensive, great ways for even the novice to test without spending a dime, and can be used permanently as well.

I thought about mentioning acoustic tiles, for mid/highs. Inexpensive and can be placed at strategic locations. They do flake and break easy, but with careful attention, can work as well if one has some in storage.

Cheers

Steve
Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: HAL on August 11, 2017, 10:34:19 AM
I built two 1"x2" rectangular oak frames and suspended queen size comforters in them with fishing line.  Placed long ways against the two side walls one either side of the listening position.  Did a lot of slap echo reduction. 
Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: rollo on August 12, 2017, 08:30:40 AM
I built two 1"x2" rectangular oak frames and suspended queen size comforters in them with fishing line.  Placed long ways against the two side walls one either side of the listening position.  Did a lot of slap echo reduction.

   Interesting find Hal, thanks.

charles
Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: rollo on August 12, 2017, 08:34:34 AM
  Have Planars ? We have found that a dead front wall, side wall reflections damped and a diffused rear wall works wonders. Clg should absorb and floor reflect as well.


charles
Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: HAL on December 20, 2017, 09:52:30 AM
Started using that technique in 1984 when I got my Maggie IIB's and Sonex foam 4" panels.  Works very well.
Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: richidoo on December 20, 2017, 10:23:26 AM
Brian Lowe, inventor of Belleson regulators, once told me about his Maggie setup. He put the side edge of the panel all the way into the corner, and the other edge aimed out into the room. So the dipole waves reflected off the walls to arrive at listener approximately same time. The dipole null was aimed at the listener, so there was no direct sound! He adjusted the distance into the corner and the panel angle to taste. He said it looked weird, but it sounded good. I think he said he got the idea from Joe Grado, who was actually in the same room working his booth at the Charlotte CanFest. It's a cool idea, I'd like to hear that!
Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: richidoo on January 03, 2018, 07:48:23 AM
There's nothing wrong with Walmart

(https://i.imgflip.com/17dd4l.jpg)
Title: Re: Here are a couple of Room Treatment Suggestions
Post by: rollo on January 05, 2018, 08:49:33 AM
i find interesting the tweaks to "fix" planars.  in other words, just eliminate the rear sound and let them fire directly like normal speakers.  which is why i basically have never liked planars.  why not simply make front firing speakers and call it a day?  ;)

many people go on about how "open" they sound, w/that rear wave.  i have never heard a flat planar speaker sound good.  at the recent caf, many folks were raving about the gt audio works room; some saying it was "best sound of the show".  i wasn't one of them; i didn't think it was worst sound at the show that i heard, but it was much closer to that, than best sound, for my ears anyway.

the corner trick w/the maggies certainly sounds intriguing.

doug s.

   Doug have hear Analysis Planars ? For my ears the best Planar effort yet. The Analysis like ALL planars require lots of space around them. Not for the average person, if ones room is small setup is difficult. I'm talking 20.7 or 3.7. Obviously the 20 model requires more space.
   They need at least 8ft behind them to front wall. A minimum of 3ft to side walls. So IMO one needs a room at least 14x30. They also like the room divided into thirds. A treated dead front wall and a diffused rear wall. With tweeters on inside or outside first side wall reflections require treatment.
The biggest issue with Planar systems I have either owned, showed at CAF or just heard was power. They need current. Peak current of 30A minimum. SS or class "D" have been the go to amps. Tubes can be done however still current shy.
Special requirements for these babies.

charles