Windows in a listening room

To avoid too much noise, you can use noise absorbing curtains They  are a revolutionary environmental noise blanket system to cope with the growing noise pollution problem in the construction site.

A couple of years ago, I changed the four curtains in my room because they let in too much light. The new blackout curtains were made of much heavier materials. It did not occur to me that the new curtains would have an effect on the sound system, but they did. The imaging became more focused and detailed. I thought that the acoustics in this room was damped well. I was very wrong, and it shows that you could never let your guard down. There is always something to upgrade. Damn this hobby. 

Following  geoffkait's advice, I got in touch with Marigo Audio Lab (marigoaudio@frontier.com)  and at Ron Hedrich's  suggestion ordered 4 of his SD-51 Superdots (black, 2" dia), which at $187.20 delivered were not cheap. But I installed them today and they do make an improvement in the room's response. I'm very happy with the result.

Marigo large white dots on window and Hunter Douglas fabric vertical blinds is the way to go for best sound. 

Look at my system’ page. I use a half sheet of (Dacron) hung behind my thin curtain. Low cost, high value. Can't tell it's there.

I used to have a media room in my basement, fantastic  to listen to my  stereo  or watch a movie in 7.1.Now I moved have a town house with cathedral  ceilings and a balcony. The room is like a concert hall,the windows have vertical shades and it's no problem. 

steakster  If people are reading this it work it can be hard to view a video. BUT WHY AREN'T THEY WORKING?

Do a little research emcdade, it is amazing what electricity, heat and lighting can do for a dungeon these days. Some even have wall to wall carpeting. Me personally, I prefer the nicer Persian carpet. Roll up the carpet, roll out the rack, do a nice little side business in S&M.

I’d rather listen in a normal room with light and windows that is comfortable vs. an audio dungeon any day of the week.

Addendum, I just added a sentence or two to my last post.

Thanks, Geoff.

Sound pressure peaks in the room are much higher than average sound pressure levels in the room. And the vibration nodes of a wall or glass window probably require “node dampers” for best results. That’s where the Marigo VTS Dots are suggested to be placed. Or any damper. I suspect the only way to find out is experiment.

90dB peaks. 70-75 dB average. (for my needs) This would be at the higher end of day to day volume for me. For example, I’m currently listening to Indian Classical at an average of low 60 dBs with peaks in the mid 70s. These are measured at the listening position.

Define reasonable volume.

not exactly sure what you mean. What I meant was the walls and glass windows act like drum heads so they should be somehow quieted.

I was wondering if playing at lower / reasonable volumes lessens the need for "quieting" those drum heads? As a solution?

All of the VTS dots are constrained layer dampers.

Thanks!

All of the VTS dots are constrained layer dampers.

Confucius say only good vibration dead vibration.

geoffkait

The Marigo web site for the VTS Dots looks good to me. What’s yer beef? There is a wide range of sizes and applications for the dots - from glass windows to walls to speaker diaphragms to printed circuit boards to chassis to capacitor to vacuum tubes, and beyond

All true. I was just hoping for some explanation of how they work, or what they do, or what the benefits might be. Perhaps I missed it.

@david_ten - not exactly sure what you mean. What I meant was the walls and glass windows act like drum heads so they should be somehow quieted.

The Marigo web site for the VTS Dots looks good to me. What’s yer beef? There is a wide range of sizes and applications for the dots - from glass windows to walls to speaker diaphragms to printed circuit boards to chassis to capacitor to vacuum tubes, and beyond

I've got two large windows in my room that I was convinced were causing problems.Until I began placing bass traps and panels over them.It surprisingly did nothing to improve the sound.The corners and the front wall were the culprits.I live in a rural area so soundproofing isn't an issue.

It also rings like a banshee and flutters like a wounded duck. The room is like the inside of a drum.

@geoffkait   Does this serve 'less pressurization' (versus more)? Thanks.

geoffkait, I went and looked at Marigo’s tuning dots and must say:  the web site doesn’t do a great job of explaining their virtues.

http://marigoaudio.com/tuning-dots/

Windows let in noise and light. I shuttered mine, more like doors really, solid MDF panels dramatically reduce noise and light. Closed flush, its almost like no windows at all.

When I first put them on it was fun to bring people in the room, close the door, let them get used to the quiet. Then close one shutter. Watch the look on their face. The noise that comes through a window, we are so used to it, its so nearly white-noise diffuse, its hard to notice until its gone.

Glass is bad for sound. For starters it’s very transparent to rf. It also rings like a banshee and flutters like a wounded duck. The room is like the inside of a drum. Some ideas: Marigo VTS Dots for Windows, crystals, just open the windows, that helps the sound. There’s always Flying Saucers 👽 for Windows for the more adventurous, or the Silver Rainbow MagnaBlock from PWB Electronics, only $20.  

Whilst using absorption one must always be on the lookout 👀 for what Acoustic Revive refers to as “over-dumping.” It can sneak up on you, before you know it you’ll be living with over-dumping forever. It’s an excellent example of expectation bias, that absorption is always good.

Agree with absorption. Acoustic panels all four walls plus the ceiling. Thick area rug over wood floors. No echoes from speaking or hand claps. Sounds wonderful.

It's hard to say without listening.  I can say the very best room I was ever in was a small room but was very, very dead acoustically.  Overall, I would lean to highly damped rooms than live ones.

You should have my music room!
Seriously, take it!

I have 4 walls of glass.......
It is basically the sun room add on to the house. So 8ft glass sliding doors open out to it, then each wall is 3ft solid lower then 5 ft window all the way round.
Oh and it is tiled floor.....

So wood blinds on every window set just past halfway closed. 3 big squishy leather sofas and cushions. Huge deep thick floor rug. 

Made it very liveable and I am constantly impressed with how good it sounds considering how diabolical it should/could be.

Lots of curtains absorb sound. You can actually hear it in the store. Put your ear right up to the curtains/carpet or wall covering. Lots cheaper than $600. :)

Best,
E

I skimmed the video. He seemed more interested in absorption than reflection- the latter, I think is the real issue.
I would definitely add something to diffuse the reflected sound from the glass.
Having a room with bookshelves, curtains, blinds and furniture does a lot to breaking up sound waves.
B