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Correction of room acoustics. E-traps?

Does anyone have experience on how effective Bag End E-traps are?

A have a room 7 by 6 meters, 4 meters high with a strong boom on lower frequencies.

I have tried with bass traps, Acustica Applicata DaaDs, which work well, but they are aesthetically obtrusive. So I have added one DaaD4 but that’s it.

I have also tried the Copland DRC 205 which corrects very well the room acoustics; in fact the balance of the spectrum is radically improved. However I am not satisfied with the impact in the signal overall. So it is excluded for me.

I have heard positive but also critical comments about the Rives PARC and digital room correction systems.

Therefore the E-trap may be a possible solution to complement the DAAD bass trap that I have. I do not expect miracles such a perfect room acoustics but if there would be an improvement in the bass region that would reduce the boom and will help the overall clarity of the sound I would be more than pleased.

Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
jvc

Showing 3 responses by kr4

kr4's avatar
kr4
3,707 posts
 
It works well. See: http://www.stereophile.com/hirezplayers/708mitr/index1.html and it make no compromise at all of your electronics.

The PARC/subPARC are more universal and general solutions.

You might consider learning to do some simple measurements to determine the nature of your problems before trying to cure them.

Kal
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,707 posts
 
Shadorne-

How can the E-trap add audible distortion at higher frequencies when (1) it is not in the signal path and (2) it is sharply frequency limited by design? I take your point about potential THD in the low bass but the ear is more tolerant to that and its contributions are at frequencies which are already 'distorted' by room acoustics.

Kal
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,707 posts
 
I get your point but think you are too liberal in saying it is "in the signal path." That definition might include everything in the room, including us.

Also, note that a room mode at 30Hz is usually accompanied by submodes at all the harmonics, as well. That suggests that any out-of-phase harmonics from the E-trap might even have a salutary effects. (Wild thought, no?) I thought the E-trap quite effective but very subtle in its action and it was accompanied by no noticeable negative effects, in practice.

Now, I am not suggesting that the E-trap is panacea but it is one of many tools, each useful when appropriate.

I do agree with your preference for physical room treatments as the first and foremost way to deal with room acoustics but, where one cannot (for any reason) accomplish enough that way, electronic devices can be very helpful.
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