Room Acoustics - Best way to cover a glass door?


My small room (about 12x12) has a glass door (leading to a balcony) on the right side, between the speakers and the listening seats.  I have stand mounted mini-monitors and tube electronics.  I listen to acoustic jazz, blues and rock, with lots of female vocalists. Bass is not important to me; I live for soundstage, imaging and sweet midrange.

I am looking for a simple (and inexpensive) way to cover the door.  I plan to install hooks or curtain rod on the wall above it, and hanging some sort of material/curtain.  I am wondering if there is anyone with experience and recommendations on what material I should use.  I have been considering:

-something light- a simple sheet or cotton cloth from the fabric store.
-something medium- a fuzzy blanket or perhaps cloth of fleece, denim, corduroy,
-something heavy - room darkening curtains, possibly plastic lined
-Multiple layers of material?
-Free hanging or fixed on the bottom?
-Or what about blinds- vertical, horizontal, thin, wide, fabric wood.

I figure I will end up trying a couple things (ideally just 2), but any advice on where to start would be appreciated. Especially along the lines of "xyz is a really stupid idea" or "start with this". 

I am an engineer, so I tend to want to understand why something will work rather than just snake oil, but, ultimately it is all about the ears.

THANKS,

Bill



meiatflask
Go to GIK Acoustics and look at the free standing acoustic panel. It's 60"H by 24"W so it should cover most of the door. Simply move it into place when you listen.
http://www.gikacoustics.com/product/freestand-acoustic-panel-gobo/

My front door which has 6 panes of glass is in my listening room.  I put a curtain rod above the door with some light curtains.  Took care of the problem.
Folkfreak- thanks for the link to the previous discussion. I missed that when I searched.  I have read it and I think that it gives me the info I need to move forward.  The one thing from the previous discussion that has me curious is the marigo audio tuning dots.  But with a curtain in front of them- can't believe they will make a major contribution.

And from stereo5 and lowrider57 comments, it sounds like even light curtains will do the trick.

so while I am open to other comments, I think I have a direction.
I kind of doubt light curtains will cut the mustard, has anyone actually seem the frequency spectrum of vibration that large glass windows and sliding doors produce? I suspect it’s wider and lower than most think. Light curtains probably fall into the category, forced solution. In addition, has anyone felt the walls vibrate with his hand whilst music is playing at moderately high levels? Shocking! 😨

Furthermore, in order to analyze the problem one should consider some of the variables, thickness of the glass, SPLs in the room, Dimensions of the glass, whether the glass is double paned and if so the tightness of the seal, and so forth. You engineers out there, you know what I'm talking about, right?

geoffkait:

"I kind of doubt light curtains will cut the mustard, has anyone actually seem the frequency spectrum of vibration that large glass windows and sliding doors produce? I suspect it’s wider and lower than most think. Light curtains probably fall into the category, forced solution"


Wrong, at least at my house.  I invite you over to listen for yourself, with and without the curtains.  Everyones listening room is different, you made a big generalization.

Actually I was very specific, you know, size of glass, thickness, sound pressure level. Why would anyone think light curtains are any kind of broadband absorber? Google acoustics of glass, see what I mean. Google is your friend. 😀 I’m not saying light curtains won’t do anything but I’m after a more comprehensive solution. You don't know what you have until you lose it.

One option is to use curtains. Curtains can be used to cover a glass door in a number of ways. One option is to use blackout curtains. Blackout curtains are specifically designed to block out light and they are perfect for covering glass doors. Another option is to use upholstery supplies. Upholstery supplies can be used to create curtains that cover a glass door. Upholstery supplies can also be used to create curtains that cover a whole window. If you are looking for an easy way to cover a glass door, curtains are a great option. Curtains can be bought at most stores, and they are easy to install. If you are looking for a more customized look, upholstery supplies can be used to create curtains that fit your needs. Upholstery supplies can be purchased at most fabric stores. One of these fabric store is https://www.fabrichouse.com.au/product-tag/curtains/ Curtains and upholstery supplies are a great way to cover a glass door or window. They are easy to use and they can be customized to fit your needs. If you are looking for a way to cover a glass door or window, curtains or upholstery supplies are a great option.