Which areas deserves treatment first? Determining first reflections....

3727 Views 24 Replies 7 Participants Last post by cavchameleon, Jun 16, 2009

KASR

Discussion Starter · Jun 9, 2009

9

OK, so I think I'm ready to begin tackling room treatments and acoustics....but I'm still a newb in training and since this place is chalk full of information and people who have "been there and done that" : I need some advice/opinions/suggestions!

I hope you like pictures....cuz I love em!! (no better way to show you what I mean!)

So here's the area:

Dimensions:

Here are actual shots of the room:

Here's what the room looks like after I've got everything in place::::

Wall mounted surrounds:

From the middle of the room:

The equipment thus far:

The seating: (I'm thinking of adding a riser...just gotta plan the space just right....)

Ok, so here's my question - which area needs the most attention from a speaker position point of view? I just don't want to pour money into acoustics and not notice anything different about the sound once everything is place...maybe that's the risk, I don't know...but there's got to be a good rule of thumb or starting point, right?

So here is a diagram of the room with numbers representing questionable points of reflection/echoing, etc. What do you guys/gals think?

Thanks in advance!

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bpape

· #2 · Jun 10, 2009

I guess the biggest question is how much of the stuff on the walls can move?

I have some ideas for the space but without knowing what's fair game, it's hard to put together a full plan.

Bryan

KASR

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 10, 2009

bpape said:
I guess the biggest question is how much of the stuff on the walls can move?

I have some ideas for the space but without knowing what's fair game, it's hard to put together a full plan.

Bryan

I can move whatever needs moving - as far as wall hangings, pictures, etc.

bpape

· #4 · Jun 10, 2009

OK.

Trap the front left and front right corners floor to ceiling with broadband bass treatments. The rear corners may give you something but not as much. That can be a 'wait and see' thing.

You'll need a decent thickness panel behind each of the front main speakers and potentially a couple other panels over the TV to help kill reflections from the surrounds.

You'll also need an absorber on the left wall pretty much directly beside the left speaker to deal with boundary effects. The opening on that side will help with non-symmetry. Make sure the curtains are very thick and very full hanging even when closed.

Bryan

KASR

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 10, 2009

bpape said:
OK.

Trap the front left and front right corners floor to ceiling with broadband bass treatments. The rear corners may give you something but not as much. That can be a 'wait and see' thing.

You'll need a decent thickness panel behind each of the front main speakers and potentially a couple other panels over the TV to help kill reflections from the surrounds.

You'll also need an absorber on the left wall pretty much directly beside the left speaker to deal with boundary effects. The opening on that side will help with non-symmetry. Make sure the curtains are very thick and very full hanging even when closed.

Bryan

Thanks Bryan!!! When you say "front left and front right" .. do you mean areas "3, 10, and/or 11" or do you mean "6 and 7"?

EDIT:::: Nevermind...re-read your post and answered my own question! LOL!! Looks like you mean 3 and 11....or am I mistaken...again.

bpape

· #6 · Jun 10, 2009

3 and way way to the right of 11. The top, right corner of your drawing and top left corner of your drawing. I don't see anything at 10 other than a place for a panel behind the mains.

Also, you can improve bass performance a lot as well as imaging if you pull the speakers farther forward - maybe a foot?

Bryan

KASR

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 10, 2009

bpape said:
3 and way way to the right of 11. The top, right corner of your drawing and top left corner of your drawing. I don't see anything at 10 other than a place for a panel behind the mains.

OK, got it! Extremely helpful info, brother!!!

bpape said:
Also, you can improve bass performance a lot as well as imaging if you pull the speakers farther forward - maybe a foot?
Bryan

Do I want to pull LCR and bass speaker forward or just bass or just L/R speakers?

bpape

· #8 · Jun 10, 2009

L and R for sure.

Sub - that's something you just have to play with and find the right place where it's the smoothest.

Bryan

KASR

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 10, 2009

bpape said:
L and R for sure.

Sub - that's something you just have to play with and find the right place where it's the smoothest.

Bryan

Thanks Bryan! You've given me an excellent jumping off point and I have to admit, I'm pretty excited to getting this started!

Bruce Fisher

· #10 · Jun 10, 2009

I like how you numbered your possible areas... makes it easier to refer to. Good thinking...

KASR

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 10, 2009

Bruce Fisher said:
I like how you numbered your possible areas... makes it easier to refer to. Good thinking...

I try.

Bpape said:
...broadband bass treatments....

Hey Bryan - just to clarify. You are taking panels here and not a bass trap, correct? From my understanding, bass traps do little for anything other than low, low frequencies.

KASR

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 10, 2009

Ok, so this is the plan - does everything look right?

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chas

· #13 · Jun 10, 2009

When Bryan said "above the tv" I thought he was referring to the wall behind the tv and not the ceiling (but I could be mistaken!).

KASR

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 10, 2009

chas said:
When Bryan said "above the tv" I thought he was referring to the wall behind the tv and not the ceiling (but I could be mistaken!).

He could have meant that and at first I thought he did...but he used the words over and not behind, so I went for the literal interpretation! LOL! Waiting for him to chime in.

tonyvdb

· #15 · Jun 10, 2009

One other suggestion for you Aaron, Move your seating forward about another foot to allow for better coverage of the rear surround speakers.

KASR

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 11, 2009

tonyvdb said:
One other suggestion for you Aaron, Move your seating forward about another foot to allow for better coverage of the rear surround speakers.

I'm totally going to do that: I am thinking about building a riser behind the theater seats and placing a tall round table with two high back barstools - kinda set up an eating area, so we won't have food on the theater seats....that would be a "no no".

bpape

· #17 · Jun 11, 2009

KASR said:
I try.

Hey Bryan - just to clarify. You are taking panels here and not a bass trap, correct? From my understanding, bass traps do little for anything other than low, low frequencies.

Panels on the walls - yes. In the corners, the thicker and fuller the better. Triangular chunks work great. They'll work from the subwoofer range fully up to around 400Hz or so and then start rolling off to about 50% effective by design

Over the TV, yes, I meant on the front wall.

Bryan

chas

· #18 · Jun 14, 2009

Did you get your plans finalized Aaron? Keep us posted as things progress...

KASR

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jun 14, 2009

chas said:
Did you get your plans finalized Aaron? Keep us posted as things progress...

Yea, i think I got the master plan - although I'm deciding on which will come first - the riser or the panels.

I implemented an upgrade last week - new center channel. Made a HUGE difference.

chas

· #20 · Jun 14, 2009

KASR said:
Yea, i think I got the master plan - although I'm deciding on which will come first - the riser or the panels. I implemented an upgrade last week - new center channel. Made a HUGE difference.

The CS1? What were you using before?

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