Hi all,
I've been researching about room acoustics for domestic hi-fi improvements and am interested in what everyone has experienced in the in-depth subject.
When searching the net for advice and fundamental basics I understandably find I lot to do with studio/recording room acoustics. We understand our hi-fi listening rooms are different yet I believe we could improve our room in a similar way.
My rectangle listening room has no adjustments as of yet but sounds good compared to my friends smaller square listening room.
Me and my friend have had great results from a large acoustic rug in his square room which has laminated floor, dynamics and bass improved more than a lot of equipment mods/upgrades we have experienced in the past.
We have had good results from simply putting felt pads under sofa legs, big plant pots on the floor and under legs of hi-fi/TV rack etc. This seemed to cause less vibrating through the sofa etc which I believe saves the energy used to vibrate into sound in the room.
Because my friends room is small and square I've read that absorption at the first reflection points and possible rear wall of front speakers will benefit. And a nice diy wooden diffuser on rear wall behind listening position and diy bass traps in room corners, I'll use this tread for our future tests.
Please posts your experiences and theories no matter how small including products and links, thanks and keep up the good work.
I've been researching about room acoustics for domestic hi-fi improvements and am interested in what everyone has experienced in the in-depth subject.
When searching the net for advice and fundamental basics I understandably find I lot to do with studio/recording room acoustics. We understand our hi-fi listening rooms are different yet I believe we could improve our room in a similar way.
My rectangle listening room has no adjustments as of yet but sounds good compared to my friends smaller square listening room.
Me and my friend have had great results from a large acoustic rug in his square room which has laminated floor, dynamics and bass improved more than a lot of equipment mods/upgrades we have experienced in the past.
We have had good results from simply putting felt pads under sofa legs, big plant pots on the floor and under legs of hi-fi/TV rack etc. This seemed to cause less vibrating through the sofa etc which I believe saves the energy used to vibrate into sound in the room.
Because my friends room is small and square I've read that absorption at the first reflection points and possible rear wall of front speakers will benefit. And a nice diy wooden diffuser on rear wall behind listening position and diy bass traps in room corners, I'll use this tread for our future tests.
Please posts your experiences and theories no matter how small including products and links, thanks and keep up the good work.
You could always fill the room with plants, I'm told they also respond well to music.
The missis and cat's help reduce reflections too but they move around too much which can vary the results.
I also have a rectangular shaped room, it sound's best with the speakers firing across it for some obscure reason.
Carpet/rugs are good but avoid fake fur (naff and cheesy) if however naff is not a problem you can also stick loads of empty egg boxes on the walls.
DISCLAIMER - If following any of the above tip's lands you in the divorce court, don't blame me!
The missis and cat's help reduce reflections too but they move around too much which can vary the results.
I also have a rectangular shaped room, it sound's best with the speakers firing across it for some obscure reason.
Carpet/rugs are good but avoid fake fur (naff and cheesy) if however naff is not a problem you can also stick loads of empty egg boxes on the walls.
DISCLAIMER - If following any of the above tip's lands you in the divorce court, don't blame me!
When you have a small square room, speaker choice becomes very important. You save a lot of problems by not hitting the fundamental modes with the reflex port
Thanks for your input guys
davym...yes I've read that plants can help with the higher frequencies by scattering HF sound waves and my friend has a nice big plant in one corner which I'd like him to remove from the room one day to what effect it may have. Haha you sound just like my friend with his cat he says his cat isn't as absorbent as he would of thought haha
I too have my speakers firing across my rectangle room and sounds much better that way. I believe egg boxes only work well if filled solid, fortunately I don't have a wife to restrict my love for hifi but still couldn't have egg crates on the wall ha
davidsrsb...makes a lot of sense about speaker choice being important, in my friends square room it's so sensitive to slight changes in anything we change or adjust. He is using a pair of Seas 2 ways with same drivers and crossover design as Gorin's fantastic Prestigious Two – Monitor DXT:
www.audioexcite.com Prestigious Two – Monitor DXT
I've been reading about bass modes being important, do you recommend shoving some clean socks in his bass reflex ports, which are front firing unlike Gorins design. I have a feeling he wont want it to be permanent but will be interesting to hear the change.
davym...yes I've read that plants can help with the higher frequencies by scattering HF sound waves and my friend has a nice big plant in one corner which I'd like him to remove from the room one day to what effect it may have. Haha you sound just like my friend with his cat he says his cat isn't as absorbent as he would of thought haha
I too have my speakers firing across my rectangle room and sounds much better that way. I believe egg boxes only work well if filled solid, fortunately I don't have a wife to restrict my love for hifi but still couldn't have egg crates on the wall ha
davidsrsb...makes a lot of sense about speaker choice being important, in my friends square room it's so sensitive to slight changes in anything we change or adjust. He is using a pair of Seas 2 ways with same drivers and crossover design as Gorin's fantastic Prestigious Two – Monitor DXT:
www.audioexcite.com Prestigious Two – Monitor DXT
I've been reading about bass modes being important, do you recommend shoving some clean socks in his bass reflex ports, which are front firing unlike Gorins design. I have a feeling he wont want it to be permanent but will be interesting to hear the change.
When it comes to seating avoid leather.
A cloth-covered sofa or chair makes an excellent bass trap. Leather ones do not due to their reflectiveness.
A cloth-covered sofa or chair makes an excellent bass trap. Leather ones do not due to their reflectiveness.
Music. Racks of records/CDs are great as diffusers (and in case of vinyl absorbers too). The more music you buy, the better your system sounds. Added benefit, the less you worry about how good it sounds.
Many thanks Charles and Billshurv,
Charles...my friend has leather and has recently covered the back of sofa and has had great improvements, I didn't expect leather to be so reflective! My friend Mark has added some fiberglass under the sofas and told me it has made good improvements in the bass.
Billshurv...Very good point made there 🙂 the better the music, the less worry
Charles...my friend has leather and has recently covered the back of sofa and has had great improvements, I didn't expect leather to be so reflective! My friend Mark has added some fiberglass under the sofas and told me it has made good improvements in the bass.
Billshurv...Very good point made there 🙂 the better the music, the less worry
I currently have a nightmare room in the cottage I rent. 13x12x8ft. I has to contain 2 sofas, a fireplace, electric piano, stereo, TV 1500LPs, uncounted CDs, media server and all my books. I'll never get the soundstage as I want it in there, but right now I don't care as I have music and a (new) wife who loves music too. And all the stuff in there does damp things quite nicely.
When we finally move and I get room to spread out then audiophilia nervosa is bound to strike again.
When we finally move and I get room to spread out then audiophilia nervosa is bound to strike again.
Books damp walls very well, try to have an uneven arrangement to scatter the higher frequencies
For first reflections do not use absorbers, use difusors. Absorbers there will kill the soundstage.
I have made these, and they work perfectly: DIY Diffusor | Baldin's Blog
Another efficient and not to obtrusive improvement is mounting 30 cm cube absorbers in the 4 upper corners: Building a Home Theater and Listening Room cubes
Go for it. There is no doubt that improving the acoustics is much more important than most of the other equipment! .... only the speakers will have as much effect.
/Baldin
I have made these, and they work perfectly: DIY Diffusor | Baldin's Blog
Another efficient and not to obtrusive improvement is mounting 30 cm cube absorbers in the 4 upper corners: Building a Home Theater and Listening Room cubes
Go for it. There is no doubt that improving the acoustics is much more important than most of the other equipment! .... only the speakers will have as much effect.
/Baldin
thanks again david and bill...unfortunately we don't have too many books at the moment so will think about investing in a load, I've read many times they can be good for damping and scattering HF reflections.
Some great ideas Baldin really impressed with your links, I have some Kingspan and fiberglass around so by next week I should have something sorted.
I totally agree with your thoughts on room acoustics, today I've simply placed a bed pillow stuffed full of fiberglass and placed in corners behind speakers and I've never heard solid bass like it in this room, and improved mid bass, much smoother.
Its clear to hear acoustic treatment is a very important factor in sound quality, much better than upgrading electronics and it can be cheap and done diy...which people here love to do
Some great ideas Baldin really impressed with your links, I have some Kingspan and fiberglass around so by next week I should have something sorted.
I totally agree with your thoughts on room acoustics, today I've simply placed a bed pillow stuffed full of fiberglass and placed in corners behind speakers and I've never heard solid bass like it in this room, and improved mid bass, much smoother.
Its clear to hear acoustic treatment is a very important factor in sound quality, much better than upgrading electronics and it can be cheap and done diy...which people here love to do
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