Audio diffuser

If it ever works , this is a wonderfull  idea.

I guess I should have put a question mark on the sentence. I was just asking if anyone had any experience with  diffusers. They say 4-6 inch depth catches the bass,3-4 for mids. Nothing really about 2 inches doing anything of value. I'll just go to The Home Store and get 12 of them and put behind speakers on front wall. 

In college we used egg cartons pinned to the wall… the cardboard kind. I can’t believe I remembered that. Wow, that was 1972. So, we knew about acoustic treatments back then. Cinderblocks and wood planks for book shelves, a wood door for a desk…. What a long strange trip it has been. 

cut trail…try it out…

but …broadband diffusers work on the fundamentals and the overtones…. so …

@knighttodd - if they work in making your system sound any better, I for one would like to know about it??!!!

I've just been building these, they're four inches deep and I still haven't put a finish on the first six I have made. I need a whole lot more for my back wall, as they're 1' by 4' tall.

Folded well diffusers if you're into DIY at all? (this is without the end cap to show the folded well. 4 inches deep, and the narrower wells make for a shorter distance for optimum listening distance from the diffusers. The design is available online for free: https://dngmns.home.xs4all.nl/fwd_uk.html

@knighttodd - disclaimer: I haven't actually heard them in my room as yet. I do  have a thread about them, and the claims of use is on the website I listed above.
They look the business lined up, fingers crossed on sound.

@rixthetrick  from what I understand you don't need them for the back wall. That should be for absorption.  Front wall on the ceiling and at points of first reflection. What you are doing is impressive. I don't have the tools to build my own. With the trays it would be about 54 inches tall and 36 inches wide behind each speaker. All in money wise about $240.00.

And 2inches deep. Just to break up the hi frequency. 

@rixthetrick Those look like they will be great. Look forward to hearing your assessment once completed.

Looks like a great design. Like an open folded horn speaker.

@knighttodd - perhaps we understand the naming of the walls a little differently?
The front wall to me, is the wall I am facing when listening to music coming out of my speakers. The back wall is behind me, which sees the most on axis first reflection from the loudspeakers. The ceiling and floor gets a fraction of the energies the wall behind me sees. As my speakers are toed in, these waves will bounce back and forth between both the front and back walls from what I’ve read.

From what my wife and I already can hear, diffusion on the front wall behind the speakers in the working frequency range of the diffusers I have built have somehow made the bass sound more defined and faster.

I do have currently two normal diffusers that are 17" deep based upon prime number 17 and there will be four of them, replacing the strict higher frequency absorption I did have in place behind the speakers on the front wall respective to listening position. I intend on building diaphramatic carbon low frequency absorbers as well, underneath and on top of the diffusers as well as the corners. So that not just in the corners, but the top edge and bottom edges of the front and back walls have low frequency absorption.

I have to purchase a measurement system anyway, I’m currently investigating which version of Clio for the task. I’m working on flutter echo first (and yes doing it this way is a compromise, based upon both limited room size and budget) then I will have to read a whole lot more and implement some brain cells on the math to get the room sorted.

I will post results in my thread. Please do the same Knighttodd :-)

@ghdprentice and @rocray - yes, I will report once I’ve done what @tomic601 said, cut trail…try it out…

@knighttodd - you may not have the tools right now, but a straight edge and a jigsaw or a power saw and straight edge, will get timber cut up cheaply. Some inexpensive clamps from your local hardware and tightbond glue, screws or nails and you're in business!

Obviously, only if this experiment leaves you wanting to try something else.

ATS Acoustics have some affordable diffuser products. I recently bought a custom 62” x 17” x 2” fire rated absorber from them - order to delivery was < 10 days… No business relationship, just happy customer….

@rixthetrick we are on the same page. Front wall behind the speakers 

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With the trays it would be about 54 inches tall and 36 inches wide behind each speaker.

What is the size and layout of your room? Is it dedicated for listening and where is your listening position? 

I think you have a great plan. How did you determine the size of the diffusion panels? I started with 2 panels behind speakers and i used absorbion in both corners. My room isn't very wide and I found that one panel between the speakers worked better.

My room is 14x22x8. Speakers are about 19in off the front wall 1.5 from side wall.  I sit 13 feet from the speakers. They are not toed in. i have a fantastic sound stage with 90% of sound coming from the center. It's just on some music the treble gets a little hot on my ears. Bass can be a little weak at times. Thats why I  thought just the 2" depth. Just enough to break up the high notes. 

Haven't determined size yet. I have bass traps and absorption on the back wall and sides. Dedicated music room. Can't do just the center as I have a TV hanging dut covered when not in use. 

@knighttodd , sounds like a well damped room so far. I also went 2" behind and to the side of speakers, I need all the bass I can get.

I don't know how much the high-end will be improved by your new diffusers. There's mostly backwave from speakers, your bass will probably tighten up and image may become more focused. For highs you may need to treat the ceiling.

Am I wrong in thinking those stands look short. Typically mini monitors are elevated to ear level when sitting. Are they? Perhaps you have experimented with different heights.  

Update on the install. I installed 8 of the 2" deep wood trays. 4 on each side behind speakers.  4 more, 2 on each side of the back wall.  There is a decent amount of reduction in  treble glare that I was experiencing with some music. Overall it has smoothed out the room and the bass seems much more clear. Very easy to install. Inexpensive and well worth it for high-end glare. My system consists of  Lumin u1 mini with sbooster, Roon Nucleus, AR Ls28se, Audio GD r7he mkii dac, Tyler Acoustic Halo Extrem speakers and 2SVS pb300 subs. Prima Luna Evo 400 Amp. My system and room has been 2 years in the making and this is the best so far. 

I'll bet the angle of deflection behind the speakers will also vary the affect.  Straight on versus 25 degrees angle in/out, 40 degrees angle in/out.  Also, the run direction, are the slats vertical or horizontal?

I've seen where the slats are converging with some commercially available treatments.  Actually, one of the best and most surprising behind transducers material I've ever experienced was a solid brick wall.  Evidently, the porosity of some brick diffuses signals well.

Im not sure why I haven’t hears about diffusion effecting bass response until now.  I wonder if the diffusors are scattering bass waves and reducing nodes and lulls as a result.

Anyhow, those diffusors are awesome!  Good job,  

Im thinking about buying a bunch of T1 diffusors today actually!