For the record (!)...I've spent more time than most in "treated" spaces with recording, mixing, and hanging about since the 60s. I understand "dry" rooms, anechoic chambers, sound absorbing panels, bass traps, etc., but I do prefer (for home listening) a room sound. My personal esthetic dictates the feel of a room, and the sweet spot where I sit with efficient horns focusing the sound at my head is absolutely not effected by the room in even the slightest meaningful way. Period. My careful sub placement adheres to what I like...why wouldn't it? Sound moves around the room in interesting ways and simply never sounds improper tonally...if it did I'd move the subs or mains. I can stand in a second floor alcove looking down on the horns on the far side of the room and the sound of the system is amazing up there. Its all good, so to speak, so you can stick your panels up in your empty shipping container or apply DSP to your man cave all you want and I simply hope you get even a fraction of the enjoyment I get from my glorious room.
Room treatment with acoustic panels
Most folks on here consider this a no-brainer as far as it being necessary but people new to the hobby may wonder if it’s worth the expense. YES!
I never used them before because I knew nothing about them. With my newly created system I figured I would give them a shot so I’ve been getting a lot of help and advice with them from GIK Acoustics.
I ordered bass traps for the corners and side walls. I also bought the panels that go on the side walls for the "first reflection" spots and the panels that mount to the ceiling.
Not everything has arrived yet but yesterday I started placing some of the side wall panels.
Even just temporarily resting on blocks of wood while placement is finalized, the difference is extremely and immediately noticeable. Fuller, cleaner sound that makes the speakers disappear.
Boy, I can’t wait to get everything installed! If you’re new at this and think your gear already sounds good, treat the room anyways. You will love the difference.
GIK Acoustics will refund your money if you don’t. Probably something they’ve never had to worry about I’m sure.
If it is of help to anybody, here’s everything I’ve ordered from GIK:
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The timing of this post is great. I reached out to GIK two weeks ago for a "free consultation". After a few days I got a response but it was totally generic and not useful at all. I had provided my speaker type and room dimensions, as requested, and even provided them with four hi-res photos of my listening room from all four walls/sides so they could see the room layout and some challenges I have with a sliding glass door and a large brick fireplace. The room "model" they sent back looked nothing like my room and their recommended products and placements would not have worked at all with my room layout (which they would have known if they had bothered to look at my photos). Has anyone else had a similar bad experience/response? And for those of you who were happy with GIK, what sort of detailed room layout and recommendations did they provide to you? Thanks! |
@cshenon My room model they provided looks exactly like the room we have, right down to the small stand between the wing chairs. Maybe it's who you dealt with? I'm working with Chris Boecker and couldn't be happier so far. Maybe you should voice your concerns to him. |
I should add that when I switched from my previous Accuphase DC-37 DAC to the flagship DC-1000 DAC, my system became more resolving and holographic. Music is wider, deeper and taller. It's like an expanding bubble than just a flat, wide stereo image. The music reaches out, wraps around you, and pushes the physical boundaries of the room outward. This is what I'm hearing with this Accuphase DC-1000 so I'm wondering how room treatments will further improve on this. My room is far from perfect but I'm hearing things that I didn't with my previous DAC. |
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