First off, yes SSR, you can compress the 703 to an extent. I did this a little bit, just to make sure everything was snug in the frame I built. I really should have gone with 705 for the corner traps, but it worked out better for me logistically to get 703.
On to the topic of those new graphs I promised. Got them, and I'm seeing more of the same. I'm a bit disapointed, but I am still positive the sound is better with the traps. First off - I measured with a radioshack meter as my mic, and went from 10 - 200hz. I think the mic can handle that range with decent accuracy, at least for the purposes of comparing before/afters.
I tested a few different ways. I wanted to isolate the sub and the mains, because ordinarily my crossover (set in the receiver) would be set at 80hz. For the tests with both hooked up here, I'm stuck without a crossover, as the sub does not have one built in and REW isn't sending digital sound out.
First, I left the fronts and the sub plugged in, and calibrated to sub volume.
Before:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrames/R...22202513198178
After:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrames/R...22202513198194
Also, here is a compare of the two on one graph - red is before and blue is after
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrames/R...24620579785890 Next, I tested the sub and fronts independant of each other, recalibrating with the SUB pinknoise each time (even for the fronts)
Sub only, no traps:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrames/R...22206808165506
Sub only, w/traps:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrames/R...22211103132818
Fronts only, no traps:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrames/R...26823898008770
Fronts only, w/ traps:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jrames/R...26819603041458
Out of all of this, I see only two improvements. The dip at 10-15hz is reduced a bit, and the dip at 120 or so is also reduced. Not much else, at least at these frequencies. I'm also a bit confused, because the tests with the front / sub independant of each other showed differing changes before/after the traps at 120. For the sub graph, I see the dip was reduced. For the fronts only, I see a large dip was CREATED? at 120 when I added the traps? I did not touch the phase or alter the position of anything between tests, so I would have expected to see similar changes on the individual graphs as I did in the combined front/sub graphs. What's going on here? Maybe that after front graph was an oops.
So I'm a little discouraged. Obviously this is not a huge overhaul, but I did fill 3 corners floor to ceiling with OC703. I was hoping to notice at least some flattening of the FR sub 100hz. Not so much, at least not from this listening position (I only measured from my primary seat for these tests). On the other hand, things do SOUND better to me. My ears aren't tuned well enough to say exactly what frequencies I'm noticing improved clarity in, but my guess is its a lot higher stuff than what I've measured here.
I am going to try again with a better mic, but I'm not sure it'll be a huge change in this range. What do you all think?
Next step is to finish constructing my first reflection point absorbers and see how I'm doing at the higher frequencies.
Thanks,
Jeff