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Does the first reflection point actually matter??

Hello my friends,

So please read the whole post before commenting. The question is nuanced.

First, as you probably know I’m a huge fan of the well treated room, and a fan boy of GIK acoustics as a result, so what I am _not_ arguing is against proper room treatment. I remember many years ago, perhaps in Audio magazine (dating myself?) the concept of treating the first reflection points came up, and it seems really logical, and quickly adopted. Mirrors, flashlights and lasers and paying the neighbor’s kid (because we don’t have real friends) to come and hold them while marking the wall became common.

However!! In my experience, I have not actually been able to tell the difference between panels on and off that first reflection point. Of course, I can hear the difference between panels and not, but after all these years, I want to ask if any of you personally know that the first reflection point really matters more than other similar locations. Were we scammed? By knowing I mean, did you experiment? Did you find it the night and day difference that was uttered, or was it a subtle thing, and if those panels were moved 6" off, would you hear it?


Best,


Erik
erik_squires
phcollie's avatar
phcollie
342 posts
 
@gs5556 

Thank you for the circling tones test link.  Freaked me out...I could swear there was a speaker directly to my right and left.  Very cool holographic test.  
ebm
9,311 posts
 
YES i use STILLPOINTS APATURE panels they make substantial improvement in imaging,bass and sound stage.I also use 2 more as well these are the best by far.
mesch
3,530 posts
 
Regarding the need for treatment at reflexion points I believe there are many factors at play.

Some that come to mind at this moment:
type of speaker
size and dimensions of room
orientation of speakers in room
absorption vs diffusion
near field listening (degree of)
placement of funiture
one's sonic preferences

erik_squires OP
16,922 posts
 
Now your post makes me question which panels are the most critical.



And that’s all I’m trying to do. Imagine you place 8 vertical panels around the room, with 4 of them at reflection points. If you then rotate them all, say 15 degrees from the listener's line of site, so they are no longer exactly on the mirror line, does it do anything all that critical? I do not think so.

The most important part is getting to critical mass in absorption, and adding diffusion in the right areas. The laser-line, first reflection points, in my mind, have never born fruit.
aj523
385 posts
 
I gave GIK and Acoustical Surfaces a dozen pics of my room for recommendations and they each came up with completely contradictory suggestions. GiK was all about absorbers covering as much of the surface area of the walls and ceilings as possible while AS took a more balanced approach but wanted me to use diffusers for first reflection point and in corners which I thought was odd.

All I got was more confused so im going to buy software to analyze my room first so I dont waste money and make mistakes. Deadening the room can just as easily kill dynamics.

As an aside, i did almost a dozen speaker demos the past month and all dealers had diffusion on the walls between the speakers. GIK said you want absorption between so again conflicting messages.
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