room treatment effectiveness

I'm in the same position you are. I need to address some specific bass loading issues and I have been considering treating my room with bass traps. However, my audio dealer friend (whom I have great respect for) has informed me that, unless the traps are EXTREMELY large, they will have no effect on the lowest frequencies, which are, in my case, the frequencies that are causing the problem. The size of my room will not permit me to install very large traps (I'm talking about several feet or more in thickness) and traditional sized "bass" traps will only have an effect on the frequencies that are not an issue (the "upper-lower" frequencies). In layman terms, if I have a low frequency problem, I certainly don’t want to leave the low frequencies and reduce/tame the middle frequencies… This is disappointing to me, because I was all ready to order materials to build some DIY traps. If you haven’t already done so, you should test your room to find the specific “problem frequencies.” You may be able to solve your problems with broadband absorbers and traditional bass traps. However, it is the low frequencies that present the biggest problems. Make sure you know what frequencies the traps you plan to use will truly impact.

If anyone has read this far in my ramblings, I would like to take liberty with Rhljazz’s thread and inquire about room correction devices. I have searched these forums and I believe the consensus is that any equalization is undesirable. What about a custom devise specifically designed to filter the known problem frequency/frequencies? I think I know the answer, but just how, and to what extend do such a filtering device degrade the Sonics?? This may be beneficial to you too Rhljazz.

Thanks.

2chnlben, I did use a Rives PARC for a week and it did take the majority of my 200hz peak out and improve the sound. The room in general does not promote clarity and has a minor bump at 40hz and 80hz with suckouts at 50 and 60hz. I think I need to improve the room as much as possible and then go with the electronics.

My local dealer is going to build me a notch filter centered at the 195hz I really need. They, (AZ HiFi) already market a notch filter but it does not go high enough to fix my problem but it might be a solution for you. If that doesn't work out, I'll probably buy a PARC unless my room treament is really successful.

I've contacted the dealer that sold me the speakers and also sent in information to GIK Acoustics to see what they might recommend for room treatment.

2chnlben:

However, my audio dealer friend (whom I have great respect for) has informed me that, unless the traps are EXTREMELY large, they will have no effect on the lowest frequencies, which are, in my case, the frequencies that are causing the problem.

Exactly what frequency range are you having trouble with?

ASC tube traps(.pdf) offer full wave bandwidth absorption down to:
9” 110Hz
11” 90Hz
13” 70Hz
16” 55Hz
20” 30Hz

Their fractional tube traps(1/4 & 1/2) take up even less room and can provide full bandwidth absorption down to 55Hz. The quarter rounds are perfect for corners.

Darkmoebius:
Until my friend measures the room this weekend, I won't know the exact range(s). We both believe that the problem is near the 30-36Hz range. I did not have the same problem with my previous speakers that only went to 38Hz. My current speakers go below that down to 28Hz. I believe what my friend has tried to explain to me is that although a given product/material may be rated at absorbing a specific lower range of frequencies (i.e.: the 20" ASC Tube Trap), in order to effectively treat a given room, one would need specific quantities of that given material/product, and according to my friend, I would need more of that particular material/product than would fit reasonably into my room.

2chnben: You understand the problem well. Not only does the size increase as the frequency decreases and I do not agree with the diameters that the ASC describe--they need to be significantly larger. But the size increase AND the efficiency decreases. As the frequency gets lower, the problem gets tougher. Now 200 Hz is not that tough--that can be dealt with passively in most (not all) situations, unless there are some other serious restrictions (like no corners or space to work in). Usually the really problematic issues are 100 hz and lower.