Room treatments

RE Tube Traps, the funny thing about them is the notion that they are always supposed to be in the room corners. That's simply not true. Just use a test tone and SPL meter and what you'll find is sometimes the standing wave is actually a foot or more away from the corner in one direction or the other. 

True that, Geoff. Experience has taught me that actually trapping the backwave is key regardless of placement.

Dave

I treat my room, with cheap panels of different materials, one at a time, with the ears open to listen the results... After a week of this process, the results were great indeed.... No more echoing dead sound, now clear bass, better musical rendering of timbre, better even at nearfield listening position...conclusion: no need to buy expansive products.... I dont need bass traps in corners at all...My room is a square 14 feets with 2 windows...i add a carpet,i treat the windows for vibrations,for the  sound atmosphere i use some tourmaline crystals... Patience+experiments+2 ears  do the job...

I think if people focus on first reflection points with some absorption, then go for bass traps, they can make some big differences in the room and improve sound tremendously.  A dead room is no good as is the reverse, hard reflection surfaces everywhere.  

One small point, getting a room right does not mean the speakers sound good.  Flawed speakers are still flawed.  They may even sound more flawed than before.  (A bass light speaker might not sound bass light in a room with serious low end resonance problems).

Brad    

@davehrab,

You brought up some excellent points. I am a newbie when it comes to room treatments. I have been on fence for while, I guess my biggest dilemma is where do I start.

My room is 30' W x 10' D x 8' H.  As is my room sound pretty good but it's not perfect and may sound better with some room treatments.