How many sq feet of diffusion do I need?

Tommy,

Before you go spending money on diffusors, please try what I've done in my 10'x12.5' room.

Get six 2'x4'x4" absorption panels, place two behind you and place two on the side walls at the first and second reflection points.

Then get a larger rug for the floor between the speakers and you for the first reflection points on the floor.

Then assess whether or not you need some diffusion on the wall behind your speakers.

You might be as surprised as I was after I ended up with this arrangement. When you look at my system pictures, don't pay any attention to the two smaller 2'x3'x2" panels behind my speakers on the side walls. They don't do anything and are going to be removed.

One thing about diffusion. Ethan Winer states in his new book that if diffusion is needed and used on the walls, they usually should be vertical diffusors. Three-D diffusion sends sound waves to the ceiling and floor besides vertically, and sometimes adds to the reflection problem. Three-D diffusion is best, if it's needed, on the ceiling since it scatters everywhere.

Chuck

Right on, Krell_man. I'm using the same setup as you in my small room, except side walls are vertical.
And your point is correct, he needs absorption, not diffusion. Panels can be flat foam, wedged, but not 3D. I'm using 2" offset wedged.

examples

I think you either have to trust the folks who have heard and measured your room or not.

You are buying their recommended solution, so maybe ask them for the best way to work towards the complete solution step by step and look for improvements each step along the way. Or perhaps get a really good discount on teh whole deal and be done with it. A satisfaction guarantee would be nice especially if there is significant $$$s involved.

Not to complicate things, but wood diffusers like those referenced look like pretty expensive ways to accomplish the goal. Everyday household items can often be used to absorb and diffuse sound for much less, assuming aesthetic issues can be worked out. Diffusing and absorbing are two different ways to accomplish similar goals. Maybe try to add some things into your listening room to help break up whatever nodes or resonances might be occurring.

Or there are surely other commercially available treatments of various types (bass traps, absorption panels, diffusing panels, even both combined) for absorption or dispersion that are more economically designed and equally as effective. I have purchased such things off Amazon and found they need not cost much to be both effective and attractive.

Off the cuff, that room looks pretty spartan and more lively as a result with speakers not too far away from walls and likely in need of some combo of absorption up front, maybe also bass traps after that. Adding diffusing panels made of hard wood (rather than say absorbent foam or equivalent) that is also highly reflective of sound does not make sense to me from what I can tell.

Have you tried moving the speakers further out into the room for comparison? Did the consultants suggest or consider that as an option to selling treatments? More distance to walls might have a similar effect and help open up soundstage and imaging perhaps as well. Easy and no cost to try and see.

Thanks everyone especially Lowrider57 for the kind words. I am a bit limited in what I can do in that room.

I can't treat 1st reflection points since my family needs access to the closet and window which are at these points.

I can't move the speakers away from the front wall more because the window and closet door cannot be accessed.

I don't think I need anything behind me because there is only a 1/3 height wall above which is open to our spacious family room and kitchen.

I guess my dilemma is I don't even know if I need room treatments. How would I know since I never had any treatments? All I know is everyone who has treatments says it's the single biggest improvement to their system.

It seems the two things people tend to agree on is larger rug and bass trapping to help clean up mids and highs. I guess I can start here but how would I know if I need more treatments? Maybe I should just screw it and continue to listen in ignorant bliss?

Not to flog a dead horse, but couldn't you hang one vertical panel on each side wall as seen in Krell_man's System photos. It looks like you have room for a panel to the left of the door or hang it on the door.
IMO, that would absorb some standing waves; your exposed side walls are causing major reflections which lead to increased brightness.
That's it from me, I'm not trying to sell you anything. lol.