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Room Treatment

"We’re all generally used to acoustically untreated rooms, so we don’t even realize what a difference they can make. But when sound bounces off walls before reaching the listener (or microphone, in the case of the studio) it gets muddy. The short delay in the reflected sound causes a subtle echo effect that greatly reduces clarity and distinguishability.

Sound absorption acoustic panels effectively cut the reflections off hard surfaces in the room and leave you with just the clean, direct, unadulterated sound. This is why movie theaters have giant panels on every wall. In a home theater or studio, It’s like combining the clarity of headphones with the power of your surround sound speakers or instrument!"
ishkabibil
richopp
760 posts
 
@asvjerry  I assume you are teasing a bit.  We all know that your room is the most important variable in any sound system.

Locally, a company built an entire auditorium for MUSIC ONLY, and the last show I saw there was amazing.  Even the artist spoke about it three times during the show...said it was the best room in the business and blew Caesar's Palace (where he was going next) out of the water.

We all remember the pop recordings from the old days when various artists used bathrooms and other strange places to get the sound they wanted.  Today, studios and recording gear are much more sophisticated, but your listening room needs serious attention.

I cannot tell you how many times I set up a customer system in a room and improved it 100% with some appropriate changes...moving speakers, using professional sound treatments. etc.

It isn't exactly rocket science, but it helps to know what is available and to play around a bit to get the best possible listening environment.  Even mediocre gear sounds better in a well-designed room.

Cheers!
f1status1's avatar
f1status1
30 posts
 
I’m currently awaiting my GIK 244 broadband absorbers for my first reflection points. I bought numerous Quadratic Fractal Acoustic Diffuser Panels made from styrofoam. I’m currently using them in my first reflection points till the 244s arrive in a couple weeks. Next will be corner traps and possibly a couple clouds. I honestly don’t think I’ll need the clouds. My ears are 34” off the floor and I have 10’ ceilings so the delay would be well past the limit for needed absorption. Also my room is not enclosed, it’s a dining room with a 3’x8’ and 8’x8’ passageways. The larger passage way is to my rear, so that is wonderful for my rear reflections. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8398#&gid=1&pid=9
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

As has already been stated, too much absorption can result in a room sounding dead, lifeless. For those rooms diffusion is a good alternative. GIK's wood 1D diffusers are currently out-of-production, but are available from ATS Acoustics and others.

GIK offers 1D diffusers made of EPS, the Gridfuser (a carton of four 2' x 2' panels for $214, white only, though paintable). Vicoustic offers both 1D and 2D in EPS, the Trap Fuser (a carton of six 2' x 2' panels for $499) and the Mulifuser DC2 (a carton of six for $699), both in white, grey, and black.

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