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Leave it Open or Close it Off: A Listening/ Living Room Dilemma

We are doing a bit of remodeling and I have the option to add a pocket door to close off an open hallway in the rear left of the room. My setup is 2qty floor standers and 2qty REL S/510 subs. The room is 15x20 with an 8' ceiling. My speakers aim down the long wall. The room has a TV but it's mostly a listening room with minimal furnishings: 1 normal sofa and 1 end table behind the listening position. 

Here's what I'm thinking: if a 40hz soundwave is 28ft, wouldn't it be better to leave the hallway open so that the soundwave has more room to do its thing?

On the other hand I'm thinking having a decently sealed 3' wide solid-wood pocket door there instead of an open hallway might pressurize the room better?

Has anyone been in this situation or have enough knowledge about acoustics/ physics to know which would be the better choice? 

 

 

veerossi
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 

Close off the space. Thank me laterwink

Bob

mikhailark
246 posts
 

Yeah close it. I have large room that is open and it has issues

panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
519 posts
 

I'm a big fan of pocket doors, but there's a couple things to remember. 1) Get the good pocket door hardware. The cheap stuff will haunt and vex you. 2) Do bot use hollow core doors. They're made from hardboard in a cheap perimeter frame with strips of cardboard in between two layers of masonite. Use heavy exterior grade doors - much better acostically. 3) Pocket doors work best as default open doors. Close them as needed.

kingbr
289 posts
 

Install the door. I went through the very same thing. The opening to my theater room had no door. I had a glass panel door installed (hung curtains as well on the door) and just love that I can close the room off or leave open if I so choose. Do the door!

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,416 posts
 

With a door, you can experiment both ways. Without a door, you're stuck one way. Easy choice. I also recommend an exterior thick solid wood door over a hollow interior door.

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