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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
gdnrbob
4,409 posts
 
@OP, 
Nice looking room. I love having a fireplace-though mine is gas. Something about a mantle seems so warm and cozy...

In any case, I see two arched entryways near the speakers. They seem to be somewhat at different angles from the speakers. This, in my opinion, would result in differing sound reflections. If you could put up a couple of room dividers behind them, I think you might be surprised at the change.
Also, take any advice from Tomic601, he knows his stuff.
Bob
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,744 posts
 
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.....
mrpsync OP
31 posts
 
Bob- thanks for the compliment;  my fireplace is gas as well and enjoy it for the same reasons. 

You are correct that the wall and openings angles behind the speakers are different (though not as much as the Pano image suggests). With that said the baffle plane of the speakers intersects with the walls/blinds and not the opening....so I suspected it's  mostly low frequency from the speakers (rear ported) that is lost into the openings. But that is only my speculation,  you're probably right and will experiment with room dividers. Thanks you

Oh, and I appreciate the vote of confidence with Tomic601. I've read his posts in the past and concur.

mrpsync OP
31 posts
 
Tomic601

It's reassuring the opening in the room are conducive to eliminating room nodes (one less thing to worry about). Sometimes I only hear issues after reading they exist on this forum.... It can be a curse :)

I like the idea of using lightweight diffuser panel over the TV, once the absorber is behind the couch. And I'll check out studio six and try to get familiar with it.

Also, if I may, does the information I provided to Bob regarding speaker plane and angles help with asymmetrical reflection quandry? or is my speculation misguided?

Thanks
erik_squires
15,646 posts
 
If all you can do is the wall behind you then do that.

If the wall behind you is close, like immediately behind your listening position go with 100% absorption and as much as you can.

If it’s 6’ or more away, a mix of absorption and diffusion.

Another thing to do is consider speakers with more controlled dispersion. Klipsch Heresy’s for instance, line or ESLs are going to be better for you, as would open baffle.

If you can do the left wall, along with thick curtains on the right then do that too.

Keep in mind a lot of room treatment looks really good now, GIK art panels for instance let you pick any art at all. 
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