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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
aj523
385 posts
 
Thx @erik_squires and @optimize

The GIK 242s are rated from 250, and the 244s from 80. He specifically wanted to match the 35hz +/- 3db point of the Harbeth for smoother results and he thinks bass is the biggest issue in the room. But the investment is significant and the aesthetics are not great for a room that’s not a dedicated listening room. They come on rollers so the 150lb panels can be wheeled around. In the pics you can see a big plant to the left of the left speaker and a velvet sitting chair to the right of the right speaker - he said both of those have got to go! Lol. As the speakers must have unencumbered space in and around them.
erik_squires OP
16,898 posts
 

The GIK 242s are rated from 250, and the 244s from 80. He specifically wanted to match the 35hz +/- 3db point of the Harbeth for smoother results


Um, that's not how this works, but OK then!

Hope it comes out well.

Best,

E


aj523
385 posts
 
@erik_squires 


Lol. Ok so you're saying this dude Dennis Foley doesn't know what he's talking about.   Got it. 
erik_squires OP
16,898 posts
 
You don’t match acoustic treatments to the operating range of the speakers. You match them to the reverberation of the room.


Anyone who says "well, my speakers work from x to y Hz and therefore so should my panels" is selling you bs. See practically any reference on room acoustics.

Quote me.


Best,


E

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,327 posts
 
@aj523

The 40.2's are so far away from the side walls that I can't believe that they are much of a problem.  Vu of Deja Vu in Wash DC, a major Harbeth dealer, stated to me that they needed a *minimum* of 2 feet from outer edge to side wall, and yours have much, much more.

Frankly, it's the amount of glass in the vicinity that to me would be the major concern.

I see you have some kind of adjustable blind on most if not all of them.  So simple experiment: play the same track with all blinds completely up, and then all completely down.  I'd be curiously to know if you hear a difference.
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