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Leave it Open or Close it Off: A Listening/ Living Room Dilemma

We are doing a bit of remodeling and I have the option to add a pocket door to close off an open hallway in the rear left of the room. My setup is 2qty floor standers and 2qty REL S/510 subs. The room is 15x20 with an 8' ceiling. My speakers aim down the long wall. The room has a TV but it's mostly a listening room with minimal furnishings: 1 normal sofa and 1 end table behind the listening position. 

Here's what I'm thinking: if a 40hz soundwave is 28ft, wouldn't it be better to leave the hallway open so that the soundwave has more room to do its thing?

On the other hand I'm thinking having a decently sealed 3' wide solid-wood pocket door there instead of an open hallway might pressurize the room better?

Has anyone been in this situation or have enough knowledge about acoustics/ physics to know which would be the better choice? 

 

 

veerossi
barts's avatar
barts
712 posts
 

The rear wall of my listening room has a pocket door over my right shoulder and in the corner.  Its normally open for easy access to the laundry room and bathroom. That is all there is on that level.  

I don't think it affects the bass as much as it does the L/R balance.  

That's another vote for the door.  And as already stated get a good solid door with good hardware, otherwise you could create a buzzing monster at some freqs.

Regards,

barts 

bigwave1's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
bigwave1
235 posts
 

I would advise to listen, but leaving it open is an escape valve for pressure and bass. 

emergingsoul
1,114 posts
 

I would buy a puppy.

Pocket doors a really cool and there is flexibility.

Ever think about a pocket ceiling?

veerossi OP
169 posts
 

I'm going to move forward with it and will chime in again after it's done to follow up. The door will be a nice solid wood one- not one of those hollow ones.

Thank you all for your input. I appreciate it.

kokomo
10 posts
 

I think you’re making the right choice to install the doors. One thing I’ll add is that I find a real time analyzer app like Spectrum really useful for system setup—both for ensuring equal loudness from both sides and optimizing speaker placement. Spectrum is in the Apple App Store. It or something similar must be available for Android. 

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