Off axis cloud placement

@orthomead - Your problem may not be the "reflection point"

High frequenciy issues often occur at ceiling level - which is why you often see either large disks or cylinders hanging from the ceiling in large venues

• I had this problem and it was rectified by hanging a piece of vinyl about 20" deep x 8ft long behind the listening position
  • right against the wall and butted up to the ceiling
• the vinyl is very good at absorbing sound - it converts the vibrations into tiny amounts of heat, which is dispersed naturally
• I finally used a vinyl roller blind and extended it about 20 inches
  • I did try longer, but it made no difference
• I have also tried this at a couple of other residences and had the same great results

I started this experiment with was a piece of vinyl I had from a company that makes flexible signs - it is white and about 1mm think,and they will have the length you require (I suggest the width of the room)

You could try placing the "clouds" butted up to the ceiling (against the wall) to see if that helps, but I do recommend the vinyl approach

Hope that helps - Steve

@williewonka That is a solution I would never have come up with.  Do you have contact info for the company?  That seems like a real easy fix. Thanks Steve!

@orthomead - you should be able to get the vinyl from any place that prints commercial signs in your area

But before spending lots of money on this, execute a proof of concept

• go to the Dollar store and buy a plastic table cloth (cost about $5)
• tape it in place using masking tape - but use a doube layer
• If it solves your problem then you can look for a more elegant solution

You could opt something like this as a more permanent solution - then it would blend with the wall covering

• Clear Vinyl

Hope that helps - Steve

Do what I did and get rid of the ceiling fan altogether ! I put 3 GIK 4 " x 6" using their ceiling brackets at 8 inchs apart and will tell you it's worth it. I had a nice ceiling fan up there but never used it , so taking it done was the best idea in a long time. You can also install a duplex in the ceiling box and put an led light strip in the center panel and have a great ceiling effect what ever color your mood wants. If you still want air circulation in the room get an air purifier !

@williewonka What a simply elegant test.  I will definitely try that.  It may take some time due to work and social commitments-don't usually get home until after 7 p.m.  I will let you know.  Just curious-ifI don't see an improvement is that a plus or minus for cloud treatment?  Also, I suspect you may be right about my complaint not being a reflection problem, btw.  One consistently irritating song that partially prompted this post was Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer", the high end on the horn section, in particular.  I placed a similar post on another thread and one response from another poster with a well treated room was that same passage was uncomfortable for him as well.  It may be a recording issue.  To be clear, this is a problem on only approximately 10-15% of my vinyl, but its always high frequency passages that are involved.

@jdub39 Can't really take the fan out, unfortunately.  With the tubes and south Florida heat, the room can get uncomfortable.  Had the AC guys out and they didn't think that adding  additional ductwork would help. The thermostat controlling this area is in a different room.  I can crank it down, but "hell freezes over" in other areas, so the fan is here to stay for better or worse.  I do suspect I get some diffusion from its odd shape though.  Thanks for the thought

@orthomead re:

To be clear, this is a problem on only approximately 10-15% of my vinyl,

OK this may be something very different

• it could be an issue with cartridge/arm compatibility or alignment?
• or even tracking force?

I might try a couple of different VTA adjustments first and make sure the other parameters are setup correctly

• is the stylus worn???

Assuming everything with the cartridge/arm is correct...

• If you have a digital streaming source, try the same track on that first to see if the problem exists

FYI - If you do not hear any improvement with the table cloth in place, then that is not your problem

• and you have only spent $5 to determine that👍😀

Regards - Steve

@williewonka Have adjusted VTA both up and down from neutral.  Lowering VTA didn't fix it and made low end a little boomy.  Pretty sure I have it optimized.  Tracking force is per manufacturer, and I adjusted it with VTA changes.  I do have a digital source and will try that next.  Stylus has been meticulously cared for-Van den Hul Crimson stradivarius .  Steve, thank you for your interest in my "problem" which may be a recording issue.  That is easy to sort out.  Now just need to find the disc...

So I struck out on trying to find my disc copy of "Boys".  How wide should the table cloth banner be?

Way back machine here a year later..

I have a large roon with 9ft ceilings and a 52 inch fan hanging from the ceiling 12 feet behind my chair. I am always on the hunt for acoustic enhancements and have used flat finish paints to calm hot spots. I constructed simple devices and placed in the room to increase laminar flow and to increase focus within a already large and focused soundstage.

In order to explain this journey in short form I decided to treat my fan blades and use it as an acoustic suppliment. It works as auditioned for many friends and a few family members. Finding that low sheen wall finishes soften and may even reduce shear wave energy I applied those ideas to the rotating fan blades. I use a black paint that contains no titanium oxide and added my own mixture of metals that have a low shear wave velocity. Mixed this all into the gallon of store bought paint returned to the store and had it re shaken and not stirred. I applied 3 heavy coats to both sides of the blades. Instant improvement on all aspects that are important to me. Since this 1st time, I purchased a standmount fan that has 16 speeds and a dc motor that is whisper quiet. This stand mount fan is placed dirrctly in line with my my chair 8ft back. The blades are treated in the same manner as the ones on the ceiling. Again the same type and amount of improvement as the ceiling unit. The stand mount sounds as if it has slightly better focus. I believe the fans overcome boundary effects caused by furniture,walls and the audio chassis and speaker cabinets. With the fan running in reverse and behind me the airflow has music attached and moves more easily around obstacles including my own body. Increase in laminar flow is most likely. Tom

@orthomead 

I have a room with the same width dimensions but only 8’ in height. There are two 48” x 48” panels on the walls covering the first reflection points (one per side) on Z track for adjustability. The listening position starts just past the furthest edge of the panels (from the speaker). On the ceiling in front of the listening position (parallel to the panels edge) there is another 36” x 72” panel basically creating an absorption plane between the front edges of the speakers and the listening position- there is nothing behind the listening position and it is 6’ +/- to the rear wall. It works well.

One question- since you have 10’ ceilings why not adapt the fan base to extend below the thickness of your ceiling panel. Assuming the panel is no more than 2” thick it shouldn’t be a big deal. Create a hole in the panel and remount the fan afterwards. Just an idea-

@theaudiotweak What an interesting concept.  Which fan has the biggest influence.  I have ceiling fan, but its blades are only 40".  No space behind me for another fan.  Why no titanium oxide in the blade treatment?

@designsfx Since my last post, I did install my ceiling acoustic treatments along quadratic diffusers on the front wall.  The cloying high end has improved significantly.  I suspect its the clouds.  For me, problem solved

@orthomead 

Glad to hear you’ve worked it out!