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Does the first reflection point actually matter??

Hello my friends,

So please read the whole post before commenting. The question is nuanced.

First, as you probably know I’m a huge fan of the well treated room, and a fan boy of GIK acoustics as a result, so what I am _not_ arguing is against proper room treatment. I remember many years ago, perhaps in Audio magazine (dating myself?) the concept of treating the first reflection points came up, and it seems really logical, and quickly adopted. Mirrors, flashlights and lasers and paying the neighbor’s kid (because we don’t have real friends) to come and hold them while marking the wall became common.

However!! In my experience, I have not actually been able to tell the difference between panels on and off that first reflection point. Of course, I can hear the difference between panels and not, but after all these years, I want to ask if any of you personally know that the first reflection point really matters more than other similar locations. Were we scammed? By knowing I mean, did you experiment? Did you find it the night and day difference that was uttered, or was it a subtle thing, and if those panels were moved 6" off, would you hear it?


Best,


Erik
erik_squires

Showing 5 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,921 posts
 
phcollie reminded me I do have adjustable vertical blinds behind the speakers at first reflection points on rear wall and those also have effects on soundstage and imaging depending on how I set them. As does opening or closing the sliding glass door. The plot thickens.......

Are you going to make me test out all the possible configurations now? I can tell you it all sounds great. Opening the sliding glass door tends to have a negative effect in the center of the soundstage.

The Ohms have some very unique and interesting characteristics when it comes to soundstage and imaging in that L shaped room I bought them for in particular that I have expounded on several times in other threads so no need to complicate things even further here though first reflection points and being omnis are a big part of it.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,921 posts
 
Two different but similar things. YMMV with each.  Diffusion would serve no purpose with omnis like Ohms.   More directional designs, like my Kef ls50s in the next room, yes.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,921 posts
 
YEs, the goal of treating 1st reflection points is typically to safeguard against early reflections which smear the soundstage and negatively impact imaging but can also be used to change teh balance of direct to reflected sound which directly affects soundstage and imaging.

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,921 posts
 
No need to do that with the Omni Ohms. I can just listen from other spots nearby where the pads are not at first reflection and compare again. Will do that when I get a chance and report back.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,921 posts
 
1st reflection points typically do matter most meaning more than 2nd, 3rd etc. Reason being that is where the absorbing effect of treatments will typically be greatest FBOFW.

The only treatments I use with my Ohm Walsh speaker setup are 24” x 24” auralex pads on walls at the first reflection points to my primary listening locations. These are pseudo-Omni ie very wide dispersion speakers that deliver a large sweet zone not just a single spot.

These are far enough away to probably not be a problem in regards to early reflections which is always bad. More of an insurance policy for that.

My assessment is they did help solidify and focus the soundstage and imaging. Which is what I was shooting for, so they remain there. Nothing to do with tonality of the sound. I do other things in there for that as needed.
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