Room Treatment experiment


I have a listening room that is big and accoustically live. It is also the main living space for my family including a very esthetically sensitive wife. (see my system). I would like to start working on room treatments but before investing the $$ for something such as echobuster system, does anyone have any cheap or free ideas for getting a sense of what acoustic absorption would do for me? I have tried puting blankets over windows and over TV but don't notice much compared to changes in equipment. My guess is where I now suffer is in the area of a clear soundstage with precise instrument placement.
Thanks
Joe
128x128gammajo
There are a number of quick and relatively inexpensive things you can do. First, review the posts on the Room Acoustics forum (sponsored by Rives Audio) over on Audio Asylum. Good stuff there. Then read all/most of the stuff on Ethen Winer's and Rives Audio's sites.

You can start trying some of Jon Risch's "down and dirty" bass traps, which are essentially just bags of rolled insulation stacked in the corners of the room. Not pretty, but they can give you a hint of what can happen with a little treatment. I would also look at doing something to treat the first reflections points of your room. The best way to do this is with some simple DIY absorbers made of Owens Corning rigid fiberglass. See Ethan's site for more on this.

I've made a number of bass traps and absorbers based on some of the DIY designs and heard a huge difference in the sound. IMO, room treatment is a major factor that must be addressed before you can get the most out of your system
Thanks for your response. I will check out the sources you mentioned and also try some traps in the corners
Joe
Gammajo
A simple method is to have somebody hold a mirror and moving along the walls while you are sitting at your usual listening position.Every time you can see the reflection of your speakers,that is a first reflection point and that's where you place your treatments.
However I am only repeating what I read from other people comments.Try and see.
George
go to this web sight http://www.atsacoustics.com/cat--ATS-Acoustic-Absorption-Panels--100.html.these are real cheap to try,your room looks very hard to me,you can get these roomtreatments and put the big ones behind your speakers,and if wife dont like them you always can put them in the closet when your not useing.all that glass is another thing,curtains with backing will work.i to share a room with family,and the wife let me keep the panels up behind my speaker,there are 4 colors to pick from ,so i let her pick it,as my first reflection i have a nail in the wall and when i want i hang themup,when finished put them in closet,for the price of these there cheaper than building
Thanks. I explored the site and they look like the way to go for cheap and moveable. I'll give it a try
Joe