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Diffuser or absorber behind listening position....and is it worth doing??

I am a relatively new to serious two channel listening so I don't have a lot of experience to rely on. However, from what I have read on this site I do feel pretty confident that improving my room acoustics via absorber and defusers panels will be the best way to improve SQ at this point. Unfortunately, because my listening room doubles as my living room the only place I can only use panels ( no base traps) and only behind my listening position.... hence my title question. What say you.....will I benefit from adding diffusers? Or should it be absorbers? or forget it and be happy with what I have. (which I am.... )

Here are some room and placement specifics:
Room 12 ft by 18ft 
Speakers (ribbon tweeter) on Long wall with large window with wood blinds on right and drywall on the left
Speakers baffle are 32 inches off front wall and 48 inches off both side wall and are 10 ft apart with a 6x9 rug.
Sitting position can be either against the wall or 2ft off the wall (just slide couch forward....which I do because sound stage and imaging is better).

My main goal is to improve imaging and stage. If it is worth doing, would there be any other benefits? Also,
could you recommend how large a space should the panels cover..... how thick panels should be?

Thanks in advance



 
mrpsync
mesch
3,419 posts
 
Regarding the wall behind listening position. I support the use of absorption via self made panel.  One place to look for DIY material is ATS Acoustics. They are located in Piper City Illinois. Have a nice web site. They can place any photo you wish on to acoustic material for the panel. 

Good luck with this project.
mrpsync OP
31 posts
 
OK, first off thank you all for contributing your insight and suggestions. Especially those that were considerate enough to circle back and answer additional questions!

So, I'm definitely ordering some absorption panels for behind the listening position to cover a 4x6 ft space and 4 inches thick. Main objective achieved!

In addition, I'll be researching a light weight diffuser that's practical to implement covering the T.V. located between the speaker on the front wall when listening (any recommendations?)

Lastly, I'm also strongly considering setting up temporary free standing acoustic panels ( I have photo lighting stands I could repurpose) for managing the side wall's first reflection pionts when listening as an experiment. I just need to determine if all the set up is going to be more of a determent or a benefit to simply enjoying music.....which is the really the point and don't want to lose sight of that.

Thanks Again
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
I have a room almost exactly the same size (11 feet by 17.5 feet).  Diffusers can be beneficial.  However, be aware that QRD type diffusers (quadratic) need very careful implementation.  QRD diffusers can do weird things to the sound if they are placed very close to your listening position (like within 6 feet).  In this situation, the QRD diffusers can boost some midrange frequencies while cancelling out other midrange frequencies.  This creates a very bad and unbalanced sound. (this was from testing QRD diffusers on the side walls).

I was successful in placing two 2' x 2' QRD diffusers in the middle of the back wall.  That was the only place these QRD diffusers really worked.

I also have two 703FRK panels in the rear corners and another two 703FRK panels mounted at an angle on the front wall / ceiling edge.  These panels are actually "reflectors" for mids/highs due to the foil on the front surface. 

The rest of the panels are absorbers or tuned membrane bass traps.

The variety of "diffusers" that GIK applies onto their panels are not really true diffusers.  They are primarily "reflectors" to prevent much of the sound from being absorbed, but still keeping the panel useful for bass frequencie absorption.

The GIK "gridfuser" is sort of a QRD diffuser but without the channel slots.  Their PolyFuser is like a broadband reflector that reflects all angles (sort of works like a diffuser but more forgiving).

Be careful with how much absorption you add.  You can definitely over damp a room and suck the life out of the high frequencies (thereby removing excitement).
mixermarkwilliams
14 posts
 
As an option to consider, Jeff Hedback is a designer who has created several hundred studios and also a large number of high end personal listening space designs. I've used several of his studio designs myself. Jeff basically works from his home, employs remote techniques to read your room acoustics, and works with you to create a custom design. The design comes to you in the form of architectural drawings and specifics as to materials and techniques. He then monitors the progress and results with more remote measuring methods. Award winning work and a nice guy to talk with. http://www.hdacoustics.net/
chorus
976 posts
 
https://ua-acoustics.com Way less $ than GIK but not as pretty.

Or buy a 12 pack of  2' x 4' x 2" Owens Corning #703 rigid panels and experiment. $130.

Try 2 front, 2 back and one each side per Eric's instruction.

I don't know if treatments will provide the sound staging improvement you are looking. It will clean up the
"Smearing" effect you get when the same sound is reaching
your ears to close together in time.

In my mind this comes well before any other considerations.

You are at a very great/exciting/rewarding stage of Audiophilia
as the improvements in front of you now will make make the
biggest SQ improvement you are likely to achieve.

Please let us know your results!


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