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

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.

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!

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.

There are more reasons to install the pocket door than not. You really won't know if there will be acoustic benefits until it is done, but if not you can just open the door during listening sessions. But you gain the ability to close off the room, a benefit to both you during sessions and to others in different parts of the house. Remember what works acoustically for someone else's room may or may not hold true for yours.

The rear wall of my listening room has a pocket door over my right shoulder and in the corner.  Its normally open for easy access to the laundry room and bathroom. That is all there is on that level.  

I don't think it affects the bass as much as it does the L/R balance.  

That's another vote for the door.  And as already stated get a good solid door with good hardware, otherwise you could create a buzzing monster at some freqs.

Regards,

barts