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tube traps didn't help

I had the luxury of being able to borrow a slew of old some worn looking tube traps from my local hifi shop

I have a 27 by 15 (widest dimension) which cuts down to 12.5' on the ends (notched in closets and hallway openings on both extreme ends. I listen along the far wall.

I borrowed two 16" rounds two 9" rounds - went in front corners
and 4 9" half rounds (behind speakers and on back wall where the closets stick out (to damp the reflection back to the front wall.

I think my problem is a mile slap echo and the tubes didn't cure it. The results in the lower frequencies were very minor for a major overhall of my room. It seems I didn't have enough of the traps higher on the walls (all 4'), stacked front 9" on 16". And no treatment immediately behind my couch on the back wall

I've started using fake ficuses as diffusors on the side reflection points which are minimized by the long wall offset. And I'm looking at some echobuster panels to cure the back wall bounce etc.

any suggestions

thanks

tom
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ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,366 posts
 
Your right about you don't have enough, a few tube traps is not going to cure a slap echo problem. I have the same situation in my room and even 16 tube traps didn't totally eliminate the flutter echo. Diffusion is the key, you don't want your room to dead, but you don't want the echo either. Keep in mind that finding just the right spot can dramatically effect the amount of echo you are getting.

In my room the perfect placement of 2 wall panels on the back wall reduced the echo by about 50%. Even after placing 16 tube traps, which do improve the sound in other ways, didn't work those 8 inch wide wall panels spaced on the back wall behind the listener really cleaned things up.
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
For slap echo, try hanging a quilt, tapestry something absorbent around the room in the offending spots. The slap echo isn't always in the corners...it's more parallel walls that's the issue or ceilings and hard floors.

I have some of the ASC wall panels that do a lot for slap echo at about $50 each...
newbee
4,756 posts
 
Don't overlook the value of book cases and books on the sidewalls - looks natural, as opposed to audiophile stuff, costs a lot less, and can be very good at diffusion if placed so that they minimize the side wall reflections from the speakers. Ditto rear wall.
corona
132 posts
 
Slap echo can easly be controlled with decorative carpets,Home Depot would be one source; be careful not to over do it.
There is a power cord that will take care of your bass problems,see [Which cables go with what] in this section.
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