Acoustic TReatments - What, How much, & Where?

As integral as test CD's are... Just how do you determine, for example, the coefficient of the absorbers/diffusers needed? Many of the ones I've looked at post their own measurements of NRC ratings at different Hz....

Also, what's best behind the speakers, absorption, or diffusion?

Jaf2290

Thanks much, I'll look into it some more... You have used or dealt with these folks previously?

Shame they don't trot out the shipping info prior to placing the order, huh?

Newbee
thanks again.... i do appreciate it. much. I ttend to agree with the non treated esthetics. though I don't mind adding something somewhere if indeed the end result is more than fair to middlin'. I've long since thought about the notion of using some ferns... trees... shrubs.. etc. though fake ones like the silk items are about the same money as the Echo busters & Skylines stuff. Whoa! I had no idea till recently. I will have a look about... the issue isn't the doing, it's the safety in doing it where details count. that's where I have a real challenge. it's been recommended more than once that I refrain from using power tools. i tend to ignore that portion much of the time.. especially if it's rough work. Fine stuff does cause me some problems. the 'eye's' do not, in fact, have it anymore.

Fishboat
Whoa! thanks a heap. I'll most certainly have a look about. thank you very much.

I couldn't do the graph thing, naturally, but I do have the area drawn up via a PC program I use a lot for all sorts of jobs (room arranger) super little gizmo... it's shareware.
So this weekend I'll fax it off to Auralexx. I spoke with them recently too. the idea of 'foaming' the room dosen't appeal to me terribly. Some however seems in order. Like the corners and ceilings.

Shadorne
I got the speakers about as far out into the room as I'd care to go right now. they can go more, but the drivers are off the wall, respectively, 47.5 and 32.5, from front and side walls. Roughly 7.5ft +/- apart. I have a "faux fireplace' directly in the middle of the speakers. had a big TV in there till last week. hung some heavy curtains over the gaping hole. Now it's a 40+ sq. ft. 'closet'. I do sit about right where you said to sit.. Not quite half ways back... equa distance from the speakers as they are apart. give or take a couple inches. Behind me is a wall of more drapes, a really long material covered couch... & that's it.

Picking out doors maybe this weekend.. to cover the three openings FP, LEFT HALL & RIGHT KITCHEN. So past the corners, most all of these 'treatments' will be on stands, unless i do the 'brick-a-brack' shelf here and there bit Newbee suggested. ...and nno, I'm gonna keep the false wall/frieplace for two reasons... I need the closet space, and it makes the room dimensions almsot spot on for a listening room. I may well add something to the back of the thin sheet rock of that wall to help things out a bit.

Mattcecil

I do thank you for the info... I've been to that site several times without any succesful results... I jmust be missing some link somewhere but I can't seem to find either the appropriate products that interest me or pricing or details about them... I even tried dcalling and that too did nothing... all I got waws someone no longer afiliated with Mr. Green.

the coloring of the website too as I recall, is also quite difficult to get past. So I just gave up on Green's stuff.

Rives - thanks. I've read so many web pages lately about the Basics of Acoustics, products, DIY, modes, speaker placements, waveforms.. etc. I'm losing it. You're not connected with the website are you? Doesn't matter actually, but it came to mind.. as I had just read about a review of what I thought was a Rives analog EQ, though it was quite old. 3 or 4 years ago, I think... Stereophile. But I thought that a way to go eventually.... if I had too. Money will decide that issue all by itself. I will look over things at the site in any case. Again, thanks.

Weim_boy
I'm not far from your situation... I've two openings in my room, one to either side... one larger by far than the other... and they are not quite inline with one another... almost. I can close off the openings. I will soon. Probably my Xmas present to me. Doors! A swell present, huh?
RE imaging
Perhaps they meant "without treatment" things would be tougher, though I'm not sure, not having read that section yet.

As the search continues for me, I ran across some items Ethan winer had drawn up about acoustics and DIY stuff. Probably as frankly put and simple as one could ask for... and some items from Sound on Sound magazine. Both point towards 'studio' applications, however I see much of the info applicable to residential use.

As freehand cutting, say with a skill saw, is just not a good idea for me, I'd like to ask if anyone has found or fabricated diffusers that work, without the need for slicing and dicing curved woods..... naturally, the more affordable the better.

And, has anyone found a resource that will allow one to buy the merchandise (room treatments), try them... and if not satisfied, return them... I'm having little luck there.... a couple have said they'll take back their 'standard' stuff.. Fine. As it should be. but there have been ony a couple. most say "it's your's."... no returns.

Psychicanimal
Thanks. A lot. I do appriciate the thoughts. though my issues are a bit different than what you may have gleaned from my posts... my room is rectangular. 13.5 x 19.75 with openings to either side, though not across from each other and the openings are several feet past the driver of the loudspeakers. I found some 'ratios' for room sizing using the height as the baseline... and given one of those ratios, (there are three), my room comes out as close to great as should be super for listening. the openings which are about to be closed off as sooon as I can decide on the doors to be used, will be of immense help. I'm sure. I have one other door in the room that needs reversing so as to lessen the 'pocket' it creates as is. it's at the first point of reflection of the right speaker. it'll still be there... but only an inch or so, two, at worst.

Newbee
I did read your posts as you mentioned previously. Funny, I was unable to find the threads doing the search thing... I had to look through the posts for each member to find it. it corresponds to much of what Ethan W. had written. Thanks.

have you found any items other than bookcases that can be used as diffusers behind the speakers? A friend says use the "Skyline" from RPG... Know of a suitable replacement with a smaller price tag?
many thanks.