Diffuser or absorber behind listening position....and is it worth doing??


I am a relatively new to serious two channel listening so I don't have a lot of experience to rely on. However, from what I have read on this site I do feel pretty confident that improving my room acoustics via absorber and defusers panels will be the best way to improve SQ at this point. Unfortunately, because my listening room doubles as my living room the only place I can only use panels ( no base traps) and only behind my listening position.... hence my title question. What say you.....will I benefit from adding diffusers? Or should it be absorbers? or forget it and be happy with what I have. (which I am.... )

Here are some room and placement specifics:
Room 12 ft by 18ft 
Speakers (ribbon tweeter) on Long wall with large window with wood blinds on right and drywall on the left
Speakers baffle are 32 inches off front wall and 48 inches off both side wall and are 10 ft apart with a 6x9 rug.
Sitting position can be either against the wall or 2ft off the wall (just slide couch forward....which I do because sound stage and imaging is better).

My main goal is to improve imaging and stage. If it is worth doing, would there be any other benefits? Also,
could you recommend how large a space should the panels cover..... how thick panels should be?

Thanks in advance



 
mrpsync

Showing 5 responses by tomic601

nice thread......

run your RT60 before, listen, and after ya hang 50%, again...all the while listening to music...

fun
love the groove.The openings are bass mode killers, so you are ahead there.... Bob is right about back wall asymmetric reflection...let me ponder that. I would recommend a lightweight diffuser to hang over TV screen. A RT 60 after you do the behind couch absorber would be fun,put studio six on your ipad.
fun.....
2’ above and below ear and if possible 3-4’ outside of each ear. A 4-6” deep panel. i hide 2” deep  behind framed art canvas. make them yourself, not an expensive experiment....

have fun, doubt you break anything......
do you have an ipad ? You might want to run an app inside Studio Six digital tools, PM for free help. Pretty much every recording studio has glass...and of course there are excellent acoustic curtain companies.in your room.the issue is balance w drywall opposite. Carpet good but not a broadband absorber, it will help.

Don't dismay many a dedicated audio room lags far behind the natural diffraction, diffusion , etc in a well lived in room.
Owens Corning 703 make it yourself  see( hear ) You already know what 2’ got you.....the anti science crowd does not understand the attenuation those 2’ provided AND how to get more....

can you post a few pictures in the virtual systems page also please.