Room treatment


A very discerning audiophile here on Audiogon recently recommended that I deal with room treatment first and foremost before considering more upgrades. This is an area I neglected because of my limited understanding of acoustics for 2 channel listening. But I have to be clear, I love my room and don't want to clutter it. Therefore maybe adding white ceiling panels could be an architectural thoughtful yet an effective way of integrating some room treatment inconspicuously. Does anyone have any knowledge with these companies?

Primacoustic Stratus Studio: which is a 2" thick glass wool panel that is effective for frequencies between 100Hz -20kHz (most effective 400Hz)

GIK Acoustics: offer 4" and 6" fiberglass core panels that control frequencies between 60Hz-20kHz. I don't like the mounting hardware offered.

The Quiet Room Acoustic Box Cloud: offer 3" and 6" thick felt panels where the 6" panels control frequencies between 50Hz - 20kHz. These panels are beautiful and more aesthetically pleasing but are costly. 

Hopefully I'll find the right balance of effective acoustic and aesthetics. 

fire_water

I have much respect for you turning a barn into a music room. Many folks do not have that opportunity. The fact that you have put esthetics in the design above  designing it for the best sound  is something you will always have issues fixing imo. Looking at your room design and layout I honestly have difficulty telling you where to start. You obviously love the windows to open out into nature but the right corner with windows on both walls is basically a big reflective area for the right speaker, or the left one if you use the long wall instead as recommended earlier. Personally, the only way to improve your sound in the current room layout is having a professional taking acoustic measurements to optimize the sound as much as the room will allow. Short of that you will be shooting in the dark and I don't think anyone looking at it here can give you any valuable advice short of making major changes. I did build a listening room/building from scratch but sound acoustics was my only concern. Yet it took me a couple years to get the right treatments in the optimum spots. Trial and error. I did start with input from a couple different guys at GIK. It helped but the end product is much different than their original recommendations.

 

I totally agree with you.  I'm actually working with GIK now so hopefully something will be better than nothing.  When I first started this journey my sound room was actually in my home gym and consisted of Cambridge Azur separates and Kef R11 spkrs  which then evolved into a McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier. Fast forward I now have a dedicated room with Accuphase components and Klipsch LaScala speakers which I really love.  It's far from perfect though but the view of the remote country side is beautiful.  Right now the leaves on the oak tree are starting to turn colour, and the apples on the apple trees are deep red and round creating a beautiful autumn backdrop beyond these windows all the while I'm listening to Anat Fort Trio "The Berlin Sessions". For the 1st time in my life in actually enjoying the music. 

Anat Fort Trio yes.

 

I am sure there are acoustic shades that could be motorized to dropped during serious listening sessions. 

@fire_water 

Good advice from @baylinor and good call on starting the consultation process, it will give you much needed clarity and direction. Whatever recommendations you receive, split the order in phases. As you add panels, you hear / access each step of improvement while keeping flexibility in placement.

When I got started, I split my order in 3 installments over 120 days. Enjoy the process and prepare to be amazed! 

+1, @ghdprentice on motorized acoustic shades.  

Anat Fort Trio 👍…You may enjoy Brad Mehldau Trio - Blues and Ballads. 

@fire_water talk to GIK directly. Room treatment is an exact science and not something that must be done by vibes