looking for info on DIY "bass traps" and other accoustic treatments

[peterS]

anyone have any info or experience making there own room treatments
dont know where to start

[Ovation]

panels of Owens Corning 703 are the best, if you can find them (usually only sold through commercial, rather than retail, construction material stores). You can wrap them in a nice fabric to make them more aesthetically pleasing.

I could not find any 703 nearby (only in large bulk quantities that I could neither use nor afford) so I went with acoustic drop ceiling tiles made from fibreglass (that's important--the particle board stuff is useless. The fibreglass panels are usually the most expensive ones in a place like Home Depot, though they are not that bad--12 panels 2x4 feet by 5/8 inch thick cost me about 53$CDN--so I imagine, with bigger volume in the States, probably 35$/box. I made two traps at about 4 inches thick with one box, but I plan to double the thickness. Even so, at 4 inches thick I noticed a good deal of improvement--cleaner bass with much better definition on musical instruments like an acoustic standup bass for jazz). I stacked them together and attached them with duct tape (not elegant, but it works) and have some "home-made" bass traps the front corners. I plan to get more (when I have the time) and cover some more corners (make sure the panel thickness is at least 4 inches--6-8 is even better). And someday, I might even be moved to cover them in a nice fabric (on that score, it's no different than using the thicker 703 panels). Real Traps have a website with some good info. They sell stuff, of course, but there is a lot of DIY info on the site and the company owner is pretty generous with free advice.

[dyazdani]

Thomas W has a very nice page dedicated to this topic. I'm sure you can find the link by using the search function.

I built my own a while back, there's a construction thread around here (I think).

[RobP]

Peter, here is some more reading for you.

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

http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/traps/traps.html

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=15983&highlight=tube+traps

[RobP]

Anyone know whatever became of this project? Looks interesting

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=15983&highlight=tube+traps

Link fixed

[peterS]

broken link

[warnerwh]

Go to realtraps.com. Ethan has diy panel traps that are cheap and easy to build. One of my bass traps is known as "quick and dirty" traps.

You get 3 rolls of fiberglass. Make sure all the holes are taped closed. Leave it in the bags. Then stack them using strapping tape to keep them well together. You can use plenty of tape because bass wave lengths are so long it doesn't matter, they'll go right through.

With the 3 high roll of fiberglass get yourself some mdf, Home Depot sells smaller pieces that will fit on the ends, you need two. Cut them round so they will be just a tad larger than the rolls and tape them down to the rolls. Now you need a fabric store for some burlap or some other material, whatever you like, but burlap is cheap and looks fine to me.

Your 3 high stack is just under 4' tall with the end caps on. This is perfect because fabric comes in 4' widths. First cover the fiberglass with some batting if you're concerned that any fiberglass can get out. Then set the burlap flat on the floor, enough to wrap twice so you can't see through it. Set the fiberglass roll on the floor and use a staple gun to put the burlap on with. Pull the burlap tight as you go.

You can now finish or cover the top as it won't be that pretty. Me, I just put a nice cover over the top.

This is a very effective bass trap for only 50 bucks and can look as nice as you care to make it.

Another way is using rigid fiberglass to make panels. Rigid fiberglass you'll need to buy from a building supply house and rigid fiberglass isn't really rigid and it also comes under different names. OC, Owens Corning, usually just costs more. Remember the thicker the better. This is no place to save money due to the fact the amount of improvement gained for what you spend has a very good return on your money. In my opinion it's an excellent return on your investment. No amp, preamp, dac etc can come close to what room treatment and bass traps can do for your sound.

You'll probably find room treatments can make a dramatic effect of the sound quality in your room. Reflections were not on the recording. Please read and watch the videos on realtraps.com. I wish I would have completely treated a room decades ago. It's second next to speakers on how the sound of your system is effected, in other words MAJOR! :W

[Chris D]

.. in other words MAJOR! :W

Yes? Somebody call?

[ThomasW]

Anyone know whatever became of this project? Looks interesting

http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=15983&highlight=tube+traps

Link fixed

I couldn't get anyone else interested in assisting with the project. The metal mesh turned out to be quite expensive.

Here's my webpage on traps, it includes links and designs from lots of people

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

[kgveteran]

I built two of these for about 175.00 .I really need two more , but for now they work fine.The big ones are tough to handle.You may need the assistance of a friend to help roll them.Here is a pic of one of them.Mine are 48" tall and 18" in diameter.

[warnerwh]

Thomas: That's an excellent page you have there. Thanks, I'm sure I'll be referring people there.

[Chris D]

kgveteran, what do those weigh for you?