DIY Room Treatment / Acoustic Panels - Any Ideas?

[Lewisimo]

As above please. I live in a rented flat so can't go crazy and install a full on room treatment system :P so I had some ideas after seeing some other peoples set ups on here. Basically I thought of creating some 'acoustic panels' which are essentially rectangular pieces of wood with an acousitc foam affixed to it, so it can be freestanding and moved where required. I would paint it white so it blends in, it obviously has to look nice as well as be functional! 8) Looked at some foam on ebay and it's not THAT pricey, just wondering if you guys had any suggestions or perhaps you could post pics of your solutions? My room isn't huge and I have french windows so not the best for acoustics (or so I don't think). Here's a quick snap of my room/hifi set up, as I also need advice as to where I should locate said panels:


Images not available


Here is the room:

Images not available

Thanks guys!

[johnathanwinter]

from what i have seen many room treatments can be made and hung on a wall like pictures. different fabrics can be used (as long as you can breathe through them i think) that can better fit into your decor. thats about all i know about room treatments.

oh and there is something about a sitting in the middle of your room with a mirror to find first reflective points.

ill be watching this thread.

[wkhanna]

Here are some links, hope ths helps.

http://www.ethanwiner.com/basstrap.html

http://www.readyacoustics.com/

http://www.atsacoustics.com/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?usr=51H946793&rnd=5625728&rrc=N&affl=&cip=24.239.101.12&act=&aff=

[john trials]

http://www.theaudioworx.com/

There are some links on the left-hand side of the page that tell you how to make your own acoustic panels. I haven't tried them yet, so I cannot comment on their effectiveness.

[chas]

You can find some good info in this forum as well:

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/home-audio-acoustics/

[---k---]

Not flashy, but I think this website is the best:

http://bobgolds.com/

Note the page on absorption coefficients. You'll note that you want to use something like Owen Coring OC703 for best results. And, if you can hang the panels off the wall 4"+, the results improve significantly.

[Face]

http://www.echobusters.com/acoustic_art.html

Here's what I use:

http://gikacoustics.com/

I'm currently using two monster bass traps and four 244's.

I would also look into rearranging the room. Any way you could place one tower on each side of your TV stand and form a equilateral triangle? From the pictures, it appears your symmetry is off.

[Lewisimo]

Those are excellent - thanks very much guys!

[ThomasW]

http://www.theaudioworx.com/

There are some links on the left-hand side of the page that tell you how to make your own acoustic panels. I haven't tried them yet, so I cannot comment on their effectiveness.

Since I created them I can comment..they work quite well...

That said, my other webpage on this topic is far more comprehensive..

http://home.comcast.net/~thomasw-2/SubwooferSetupandEQpage9.html

It's best to start by 'mapping' the room. We've covered this numerous times in other threads. You can get the basics of it from the example seen the the ETF 5.0 demo room.....

http://www.etfacoustic.com/demoroom.all.html

From the looks of your room you should start by treating the first reflection points. The easiest way to find those is with the "mirror trick"

Have a friend move a mirror around the room, floor, walls, ceiling, etc. Where ever you see a reflection of the speakers is a 1st reflection point that should be treated.

[fbov]

Lots of good ideas on making traps, but nothing on placing them...

I'm on my second run through Toole's book, Sound Reproduction. He has several "memos for listening room recommendations" in Chpt 8, Imaging and Spatial Effects in Sound Reproduction.
- add sound absorbing material to front wall
- for stereo, leave side walls reflective at first-reflection points (optional for multichannel)
- add sound absorbing material or diffusers to the center portion of the rear wall (with a comfirming memo)
- use reflective or scattering surfaces on walls opposite side surround loudspeakers to enhance envelopment, but be careful about flutter echos
- think twice (or more) about using dipole surround loudspeakers; there seem to be better choices (I know, not a room treatment, but an outcome of the analysis that led to the room treatment recommendations.)

That said, your room layout is far from typical, and your listening position is a worse case - heads on the wall, an unavoidable pressure max. I understand rental and WAF issues drive a lot of things, but there are two obvious and decorative things that you can take with you:
- window treatments
- carpeting

Not to comment on lifestyle, but most folks have curtains on their windows, and heavy curtains are an excellent absorber when made with deep pleats (for depth) and spaced a few inches from the wall by the curtain rod. You don't even have curtain rods!

Carpet is kind of obvious, but the key for broad-band absorption is a thick pad; Toole recommends a 40 oz/sq yd felt underlayment. While curtains are frequently custom made for a window, sliding glass doors are all about the same height and carpets travel well...

I'd suggest starting with an area rug and curtains, and adding some free-standing absorbers at the front wall. You have a very sparse room and will see big effects quickly as you add treatments.

Have fun,
Frank

[fbov]

...From the looks of your room you should start by treating the first reflection points. ...

Not to be contentious, but the data directly contradicts this recommendation in home stereo environments, especially as a first step in an otherwise sparsely furnished room. Listener preference rises as reflection angle increases due to decreased correlation between left and right ear sensations. Eliminating first reflections removes the sounds that provide the decreased correlation.

Note that all listeners preferred reflective side walls when the goal was stereo listening enjoyment. Absorbing side walls were preferred for monitoring a recording process or examining audio products by those who knew what to listen for.

In my book, that's more likely to be you, Thomas, than it is the majority of us.

Have fun,
Frank

[ThomasW]

Before he does any room treatments he really should rearrange the furniture, creating some form of symmetry for the speakers and moving the listening position away from the wall.

I don't know what the white cases are, but they can be stacked on the wall between the speakers, and the TV placed on top. The sofa should be rotated 90 degrees, placed in front of and out from the glass doors. This will create paths on the side walls for accessing the glass doors

Then he should start playing with acoustic treatments.

And FWIW, I have 2 listening rooms. One over-damped for the analytical process of evaluating equipment and recordings, the other room is much more acoustically 'live'.

[fbov]

I agree 100% with your interior rearrangement recommendations, and I'm not the least surprised you have created two different acoustic environments. My post was based on an assumption that the OP wanted the latter.
Frank

[Face]

Note that all listeners preferred reflective side walls when the goal was stereo listening enjoyment. Absorbing side walls were preferred for monitoring a recording process or examining audio products by those who knew what to listen for.

Blanket statements don't apply here. I prefer absorbing side traps(1st reflection) for music, and I know others who do as well. As always, YMMV.

[fbov]

You've taken my statement out of context.

I was referring to my prior post regarding specific studies of the effect of first side reflections on sonic preference. Thus "all listeners" means all study participants, regardless of skill or experience, not the general population.

I also suspect you and other audio forum participants enjoy critical listening more than most...

[lunchmoney]

Note that all listeners preferred reflective side walls when the goal was stereo listening enjoyment. Absorbing side walls were preferred for monitoring a recording process or examining audio products by those who knew what to listen for.

I hung rigid fiberglass panels on the reflections points of the side walls, and the front wall of my listening room... which is purely for enjoyment, not monitoring or ultra-critical lstening... the difference it made was fantastic. The imaging and depth of soundstage was dramatically improved.

Much more "enjoyable" ... and I don't consider myself a picky audiophile.

[ColoradoTom]

If you have basic woodworking skills and have access the the owens-corning rigid fiberglas panels you can make inexpensive and very effective acoustic panels. I've created several of these using cheap cedar lumber as a frame combined with grey fabric that look just fine. If you want pictures I can post them.

Tom

[lunchmoney]

If you have basic woodworking skills and have access the the owens-corning rigid fiberglas panels you can make inexpensive and very effective acoustic panels. I've created several of these using cheap cedar lumber as a frame combined with grey fabric that look just fine. If you want pictures I can post them.

Tom

Or you can simply wrap the fiberglass panels directly with fabric, and just hang 'em on the walls... no wood required... that's what I did, and they look just fine.

[Lewisimo]

Right, I have received some heavy criticism on another forum for my 'sparsely decorated' room so I have taken heed and moved things around tonight! Results are: More symetry in the listening postition, and it also looks tidier too which is nice! Regarding the curtain rail, ha, it's funny you should say that as we have been meaning to sort something out, but not sure whether the landlady will get funny about us drilling brackets onto the wall (she is a bit of a battle axe) :P I thought of perhaps getting a screen to go in front of the window though...or something along those lines anyway.
I like the wooden floors and have never been a fan of carpet, but I may try and get a larger rug like you guys have suggested. It's hard to take criticism of your home style I tell you! :B I will post up a pic of the new arrangement tomorrow, then we can hopefully work on where you think I should place the panels etc. It does seem to echo a fair bit in here for sure!

[Lewisimo]

Oh if you guys could post some pics of your ideas/solutions that would be great also - thanks very much!

[---k---]

My corner trap (without the finish trim) and wall panels. Old pictures.

Bob's website linked above has lots of good photos.

[Face]

Room shot

[wkhanna]

Hey! I see your avitar on the wall!

V nice room!

[Lewisimo]

I do like how the flat panels look too, pretty mint dude!

[Dennis H]

- for stereo, leave side walls reflective at first-reflection points (optional for multichannel)

Listener preference rises as reflection angle increases due to decreased correlation between left and right ear sensations. Eliminating first reflections removes the sounds that provide the decreased correlation.

I should get his book but are you sure he isn't talking about opposite wall first reflections (left speaker, right wall)? They are delayed enough in time and at big enough an angle to be uncorrelated. But a reflection from a wall right next to a speaker would only be delayed a few ms. and would be at almost the same angle. I've always thought you should absorb or diffuse those reflections to avoid muddying the image.

[johnathanwinter]

I do like how the flat panels look too, pretty mint dude!

been looking at the picture and i dont see a pretty looking mint color anywhere.

[Armbender]

this is my set-up...i will be making some panels soon..is my placement correct

http://www.floorplanner.com/projects/18438064-home-theatre/floors/18457066-ground-floor/designs/19732817-fp_1237634306975?edit_pass=83bffff0f966fd0fd940ec1f832fb6b37ef58360&guest_pass=lxmdds

I'm wondering if # 2 & 3 should be 1 corner panel or have them seperate as shown...same with # XX..should that be a cornered one..my sub is placed very close in the corner

[wkhanna]

Not a bad configuration for this room.
My suggestions would be:

1. move your speakers away form the back wall, towards the center of room at least 6' or more, if possible
2. get a bigger rug, or add more rugs ifs you have hard surface flooring
3. add drapes on the wall behind the couch, if possible.

As Always, JMHO, YMMV

[Armbender]

Not a bad configuration for this room.
My suggestions would be:

1. move your speakers away form the back wall, towards the center of room at least 6' or more, if possible
2. get a bigger rug, or add more rugs ifs you have hard surface flooring
3. add drapes on the wall behind the couch, if possible.

As Always, JMHO, YMMV

thanks for the advice..ill move the speakers out 6"s..i cant drape behind the couch as there is no wall..its a stair case railing as it opens up to the bottom floor stairs,..

[wkhanna]

i cant drape behind the couch as there is no wall..its a stair case railing as it opens up to the bottom floor stairs,..

That is probably not a bad thing, then, AFA limiting reflections.

I forgot to add, corners X-2 & X-3 would most likely benefit from some sort of absorbtion treatments.

[Armbender]

That is probably not a bad thing, then, AFA limiting reflections.

I forgot to add, corners X-2 & X-3 would most likely benefit from some sort of absorbtion treatments.

yeah for all my X-#'s..im going to install triangular peices 15"s per side in each of the corners of the ceiling...just not sure about #2 and #3 wether it should be 1 corner panel or 1 panel on each the the 2 walls surrounding the right speaker

[wkhanna]

thanks for the advice..ill move the speakers out 6"s....

Just for the sake of clarification, I was referring to you front main speakers.
Your rear surrounds are probably just fine.

BTW, I have always dreamt of doing a motorcycle tour of Nova Scotia. I hear it is just amazing, especially around June.

[Armbender]

Just for the sake of clarification, I was referring to you front main speakers.
Your rear surrounds are probably just fine.

BTW, I have always dreamt of doing a motorcycle tour of Nova Scotia. I hear it is just amazing, especially around June.

its amayzing..especially in Cape Breton where my wife is from

[juliovideo]

I like the ancient system the most ........... Acoustic Curtain Fabric.

Image not available

Links to 4 retail websites removed by moderator.

[Lewisimo]

Right, I had a room shuffle yesterday, and here's how it is now. Don't be alarmed about the radiator, the speaker is further away from it than it looks in the pic, also it's only on low heat!

It sounds better, although it's still echoy in the room. I think i'm going to buy some acoustic foam and make up some panels as I really don't like the idea of big artisan rugs etc!

Let me know what you think, thanks!


Images not available

[wkhanna]

Nice work!

I would expect that to sound significantly better.
I like pillows you put in the corner, too.

Without a rug and drapes, I would think it will difficult to tame the 'echoy' character you describe, though. Even a small rug at your first reflection point on the floor may make a noticeable difference.

[Lewisimo]

Cheers dude, the fat cushions are there as I was doing an experiment to check out how the bass was affected. I went to a friends today and he has smaller speakers but a busy room (full of sh*te basically!) and a carpet, and it did sound good I must say.