I'm a little embarrassed on how much effort (and $$$) I have put in to developing my stereo equipment over the year's while neglecting room treatment. I am very happy with my stereo equipment, so now I am finally turning my mind to improving my actual listening room! 🤓
I needed some guidance from the community on what my first steps should be on treating my space.
From my preliminary research I think some absorption panels on the back wall behind the couch (where I listen from) would be a good starting point.
I've attached some pictures of my listening space from various angles to give you a sense of what I am working with. The speakers are about 8' apart and the speakers are 8' from the listening position. As a side note I do notice the room is very lively, when my dog barks the room booms and echos.
I needed some guidance from the community on what my first steps should be on treating my space.
From my preliminary research I think some absorption panels on the back wall behind the couch (where I listen from) would be a good starting point.
I've attached some pictures of my listening space from various angles to give you a sense of what I am working with. The speakers are about 8' apart and the speakers are 8' from the listening position. As a side note I do notice the room is very lively, when my dog barks the room booms and echos.
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Start by going to Amazon and picking up F. Alton Everests paper back books on small space acoustics . These are good staring points for a more technical 'deep dive, but you will get the basicis and how to try things with easy to source "big box store"
hardware.
hardware.
First thing would be a wool wall hanging behind your head on the bare wall area.
More fabric behind the speakers should help. Even some light drapes on the window should do something.
The coffee table could be interfering, try removing it and see. Maybe some fabric covering on its top.
More fabric behind the speakers should help. Even some light drapes on the window should do something.
The coffee table could be interfering, try removing it and see. Maybe some fabric covering on its top.
Are you only doing this because you read about it or do you have an aim to the process?
Just making a point here, but any reasonable room can get good results with no treatment if the speakers have been designed for the room. Some treatment is properly used on a good system, but most treatment in general seems to be used to change the speaker room interaction after the fact because the speakers don't do what's wanted.
So get back to basics. You seem to have somewhat wide radiating speakers. If you wanted that for spaciousness, room treatment will undo the good work.
If you want less spaciousness then different speakers would be the logical first move, but treatment could stand in if that's not an option.
Just making a point here, but any reasonable room can get good results with no treatment if the speakers have been designed for the room. Some treatment is properly used on a good system, but most treatment in general seems to be used to change the speaker room interaction after the fact because the speakers don't do what's wanted.
So get back to basics. You seem to have somewhat wide radiating speakers. If you wanted that for spaciousness, room treatment will undo the good work.
If you want less spaciousness then different speakers would be the logical first move, but treatment could stand in if that's not an option.
My 2ct: investigate if you have a ‘reasonable’ room. Most living rooms lack diffusion and some well-spread absorption in lowmid and mid frequencies. I won’t address the modal issues hampering everything below 200Hz here.
Ideally I like to spread the directivity as close to the walls as possible before reflection... the wide spread obviates the need for diffusion... and multi subs (or viable alternative) are granted in a good speaker design.
Just my opinion - comments added to qualify my previous post 🙂
Just my opinion - comments added to qualify my previous post 🙂
The math on the diffusers does not really work for a spot behind your head, the physical size of diffusers is dictated by the frequency of interest; which is to say ,they get large very quickly. In that room with the couch up against the wall, the space simply does not permit a QRD. Absorbtion is probally a better option. A good hack is a large 2D print on a 4" deep canvas. Pack the cavity behid the print with Corning 703. No one will be the wiser.
Best for behind the couch I've found is a thick wool rug, hung on a frame like a picture.
Four by six feet is a common size that works well. Some even have nice patterns.
Four by six feet is a common size that works well. Some even have nice patterns.
rayma, do you favour the rug over a thicker absorption medium like the classic >2" absorption panel design?
I have had quite excellent results with a thick wool rug nailed to a wood frame that is hidden in back of it, hung like a picture
There will be a space of a couple of inches between the wall and the back of the rug, which also helps.
I have used rugs with a looser, looped weave which have more texture and absorption.
As a test you can just hold a smaller piece of similar material behind your head and see the effect on the sound.
There will be a space of a couple of inches between the wall and the back of the rug, which also helps.
I have used rugs with a looser, looped weave which have more texture and absorption.
As a test you can just hold a smaller piece of similar material behind your head and see the effect on the sound.
You’re quite right. Diffusers ‘do their diffusion trick ’ at some distance. They also smear the comb filter which one flat wall will produce at your ears, as does any serious uneven surface (think of 10” rather than 1”). A (flat) rug at some distance from the back wall still will produce a noticeable comb filter. Rugs reflect quite some sound.
I would use combination of sound adsorbers and sound diffusers.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...he-wolverine-build-thread.385920/post-7315391
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...he-wolverine-build-thread.385920/post-7315391
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Some will rush to point out that the IKEA POÄNG chair doesn't sound good. Seriously. I've seen that argument made. Not that I agree with it... 🙂
I've generally found that a setup can sound good if the speakers are pulled out from the walls a bit and the listening chair has lots of space behind it. But, of course, that does require that the room isn't a complete echo chamber to start with.
Tom
I've generally found that a setup can sound good if the speakers are pulled out from the walls a bit and the listening chair has lots of space behind it. But, of course, that does require that the room isn't a complete echo chamber to start with.
Tom
Do you need a certain WAF factor or are there no restraints there?
Does it have to look good?
As mentioned above I too have had good to excellent results using a heavy woollen blanket or rug suspended a bit away from the rear wall, I used a set of curtain rods held on brackets. I'm not "Allowed" to do that at the moment as it doesn't meet my partners aesthetic requirements.
The beauty of the heavy wall hanging is that it is completely removable if it doesn't work and it can be almost free to trial
Does it have to look good?
As mentioned above I too have had good to excellent results using a heavy woollen blanket or rug suspended a bit away from the rear wall, I used a set of curtain rods held on brackets. I'm not "Allowed" to do that at the moment as it doesn't meet my partners aesthetic requirements.
The beauty of the heavy wall hanging is that it is completely removable if it doesn't work and it can be almost free to trial
I had the same situation in my living room - seating against a long wall and sound system on the opposite long wall. I had echoes and sound bouncing.
I solved the problem with some diy sound absorption panels for not a lot of money. I bought a pack of Rockwool Comfortboard 80 insulation, some 1x4 pieces of wood, and some fabric to cover the panels. The fabric was just regular thin synthetic, not a special acoustic material.
I made three 2 feet by 4 feet panels using the insulation, two pieces per panel. The panels were mounted with about an 1 1/2" gap between the wood frame and the wall.
The panels made a huge difference - no more echoes and sound bouncing around.
https://www.rockwool.com/siteassets...-sheathing-continuous-insulation-techdata.pdf
And to complete the build, the panels were mounted to the wall with metal corner braces - two at the top and two at the bottom of each panel:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/everbilt-3-inch-galvanized-corner-brace-4-pack-/1000773647
I solved the problem with some diy sound absorption panels for not a lot of money. I bought a pack of Rockwool Comfortboard 80 insulation, some 1x4 pieces of wood, and some fabric to cover the panels. The fabric was just regular thin synthetic, not a special acoustic material.
I made three 2 feet by 4 feet panels using the insulation, two pieces per panel. The panels were mounted with about an 1 1/2" gap between the wood frame and the wall.
The panels made a huge difference - no more echoes and sound bouncing around.
https://www.rockwool.com/siteassets...-sheathing-continuous-insulation-techdata.pdf
And to complete the build, the panels were mounted to the wall with metal corner braces - two at the top and two at the bottom of each panel:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/everbilt-3-inch-galvanized-corner-brace-4-pack-/1000773647
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hey Ben, where did you get the rockwool?
I see you are a fellow Canadian, so hopefully you were able to source it locally??
I see you are a fellow Canadian, so hopefully you were able to source it locally??