Long term audiophile seeks room acoustic experience...,


I'm looking for real word exp with room acoustic treatments ideally from those that have had success and more importantly those that have not. I have done almost everything but acoustically treat my room/rooms. So questions are...

Is it possible to over treat a room? What should I start with? Corners? Behind the speakers, if so to the left or right or directly behind the main speakers? Behind my head? Ceiling? Whats most critical. In your mind? What is just about the correct in balancing liveliness vs damped? How do you know if your too lively or damped?

My current listening room is small!!! 20 x 16 x 8 feet ceiling with windows on one side and a large 7 X 7 foot opening on the other. Floors are Pergo over cement and brick wall behind my head. Unfortunately given the small room that is my seating position and cant be changed. I do however have an extra Large all fabric L section couch that is very damped but only to about 30 inches high. I also have some cheap 12 x 12 square treatments on my armoire doors just on the inside of my speakers that are angled and I feel help a bit.

Thank you for all you Obi"1" ness so I can start on the right track!

-Allgood
128x128haywood310

Showing 1 response by mike_in_nc

It’s the best money you can spend for sound improvement, IMO.
ASC or GIK (manufacturers of acoustic treatment) will send you a proposed treatment plan for a small fee, refundable on your first order. It’s not a bad way to get started if you have no experience reading about room acoustics (and I don't mean reading forum posts, including mine).

It is possible to overtreat a room with too much plain absorption. To avoid that, apply the treatment in stages and evaluate frequently. IMO it’s critical to avoid using much plain absorption, in favor of products that combine absorption and scattering (e.g., GIK Alpha panels, RPB BAD panels, any panel or trap made by ASC).

Avoid advice from anyone who says, "Product XX from manufacturer YY blows everything else away" or "Product ZZ can treat your room with just a few small dots / cones / pucks / gongs / mini panels." No manufacturer has reinvented physics.

Good luck!