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DIY Room treatments..How Large?????

Hi,
I picked up a sheet of Owens Corning and some low profile batting material for front face of panels to "soften" the face appearance, and some Natural Needled Cotton fabric to wrap panels in, I have 4...2ft X 4ft pieces to work with, I want to tame one wall, as other has a sofa along it and a quilt rack at first reflection point. I also want to place one on ceiling at reflection point and 2 on the back wall.
My room is small, 13X20 and I wanted to know if I place one 2ft X 4ft panel in middle of room on ceiling at reflection point would 4ft across be enough width and 2 ft be enough from front to back?
Also if I cant make a tube trap, could I use more of these behind speakers? or will these be less then ideal?
As far as making tubes it seems both hard to make and also hard to purchase the right suppplies with me being disabled and on a fixed income but I do want to make the best out of what I have.
So in short, will my panel be big enough for ceiling reflection?, I will also use one on live wall to tame it down and have 2 left for back wall. and if I get one more peice, and material could I use 4 more for corners behind tower speakers...as always thanks a bunch guys Regards,
Chad
If anyone would be willing to talk with me I would gladly accept, I can call to save long distance charges for help, please send me mail if any offers thanks!
chadnliz
peter_s
1,325 posts
 
I've made DIY panels, just got them up this weekend. Have only done limited listening so far. My room is 14x18 with a sloped ceiling. I've got 2 2x6's on the front wall, 3 2x4's on the rear wall, a couple on each side wall, and 2 2x6's hanging from the ceiling. I have to say, I think I needed that many to get the slap echo out of the room! They were easy to build (including wood frames), and easy (but time consuming) to mount. My impression is that a couple 2x4 panels may not be enough - but I'm sure it entirely depends on the room. In mine, I have a 5x8' window that "rings". It is a continuous double glazed window - not broken by any framing at all. Might have to replace it.

Ethan Winer's site is good. I believe that he has designs for making corner traps with panels and/or loose insulation, rather than building tube traps. Check it out.
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Chadnliz, your room is not small. In fact, your room dimensions are excellent. My previous listening room was 12.5' x 20' x 8' ceiling. With only 1 set of windows behind the speakers (on short wall), beamed ceiling, wormwood paneling on all walls, thick carpet pad and berber w to w carpet, 3 load bearing outside facing walls, the acoustics were excellent.

In fact, I had a reviewer/columnist over to the house just prior to moving and he said good luck trying to find another room like that one.

The only things I did was replace the leather furniture in favor of overstuffed cloth, installed recessed lighting on a dimmer, removed all tables, and floor and table lamps, etc. to lessen in-room reflections.

My suggestion would be to ensure your speaker placement is optimal within the room as this should have a profoundly better impact than room treatments.

Once you're completely satisfied with speaker placement, then address the acoustic treatments, if you think that is still warranted.

-IMO
ausjoe
98 posts
 
Thanks Fatparrot for bailing me out. Thats the one I was trying to post.
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
No problem, Ausjoe! It took me awhile to figure out Agon's mark-up tags...just click on the link below the "Your response" box.

I haven't built any panels. I'm using a type of foam, 4" thick, with a pyramid structure that is used in studios. I've covered my back wall, to prevent unwanted rear reflections. My listening couch [also very absorbent] sits right against the back wall. I am listening "nearfield".
chadnliz OP
3,736 posts
 
Any ideas on what I can use to mount the outer cotton wrap to the panel? I am just wraping the needled cotton around the ins panel and need an idea to fix it in place, staples wont work...thought about some kind of glue, or pins..or any other ideas,,,,thanks all
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