Echo Busters or Room Tunes?????????

I can only speak of the Echo Busters. I have been using their systems for two years now and could not be happier they are well made , reasonably priced if there is such a thing in this hobby and very effective not to mention that Michael Kochman the owner is very accomodating to special requests, my only caveat is to start small do not over dampen the room treat the first point reflections first then behind the listener and then behind the speakers that seemed to work best in my room, however your situation may be different speak to them and explain your situation and see what he recommends as for used pieces they pop up occasionally check his dealers as to demo pieces. But again start small they are mobile so you can try different locals and see which applications need the most attention and good luck

you can make your own with egg crate material, It will look a bit ''sciene fair'', but so will the ones that cost a lot

Do a google search for "DIY bass traps". It turned up some interesting DIY room treatments that I'm going to try. I can't afford the as much as $600 per buster. Could probably do my whole room for as much as one of the retail jobs if I do DIY.

I have the Double Busters behind my ML speakers and think they bring more sound into the room and beyond the sides of the speaker panels. I got them in 18" x 5' size and am experimenting with different wall and floor placement.

i have 4 ASC tube traps in my small room (2 larger ones in front corners, the 2 smaller ones in rear corners). They work very nice in my room. I found these at a local dealer who was going out of business. I paid $300 for all 4. There are many web sites that will show you how to make tube taps. here's a couple:
http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/traps/traps.html
http://ic.net/~jtgale/diy2.htm
http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/a1.htm

Save your money and buy some new music or gear or just leave the money in the bank!

Go to www.Audio Asylum.com and start reading Jon Risch's thoughts and discussions on room treatments. Lots of other guys have added to his excellent thoughts. There are also several other sites that offer good thoughts on room acoustics and how to accomplish it on the cheap. Do a search for "DECWARE". Read.

Every room is different and your going to have to read other peoples thoughts and relate them to your own room, then at least initially go get some of the cheap materials Jon recommends and try them. Wall padding can just be taped or tack to the wall with pins or whatever initially, cause you will need to experiment with position. In the end, you will want some of the panels 4 inches or so off the wall. But just to experiment, you can just tack it up. If you do not like the sound of it, you can always take most of it back (rolls of insulation for bass traps) to the lumberyard. If you like the initial sound, then go buy the rest of the burlap, polyester fill squares, poly loose batting, etc at WalMart or wherever. At least this way you get an initial taste of what room treatments can make for you while minimizing the initial risk and financial investment.

If you go buying Echo Busters, etc., you will get a good product I am sure and it will be more polished in its looks, but you could have achieved the same, or maybe done better for a whole lot less. Educate yourself.

Personally, I never realized how much difference room treatments and placement of them could make in the presentation of the sound, and how cheaply (compared to commercial units) one could construct these IMPORTANT accessories.

ALSO, Do not be afraid to pull your speakers out from the wall. Mine are over 5 feet. And I am just beginning this Thanksgiving Room Acoustics Marathon. Thank you Lord for STEREO and Turkey too!!!

R.

red2's response is right on the money,audio asylum has several forums that deal with your problem.go to the rives room acoustics and also the planar speaker site.planars and electrostatics are different from other speakers in that they are dipolar[they fire to the rear also] different animals.
whatever you do...too much absorption behind these speakers kill the soundstage and deaden the sound.these speakers need diffusion materials behind them.sometimes a fake ficus tree behind each will do the trick.
good luck..check it out with the pros over there.

Echo Busters really helped my bright room slap echo aspects, and they add a nice decor look.

ACS Tuber traps had very little effect and dominated the room (and I didn't have enough to do it properly).

tom

Try realtraps.com - I just ordered some of theirs to try. I'll report back...

Elecrostatics are dipoles,right.I would suggest RPG skylines behind each speaker.I made mine and they are easy and inexpensive.Before you start to absorb sound try the RPG's.Then look for first reflections on the walls by sitting in your easy chair and have a friend slide a mirror down the side wall until you can see the speaker in the mirror from your listening position.That would be a first reflective surface.You can do the same for the ceiling if permitable.Once you diffuse the back and absorb the sides and ceiling.The back of the room may need some RPG skylines.Listen some more and if the bass sounds a little bloated roll some tubetraps from jon risch's web site.I use one 48"x18" in the front left of my room and one in the back right of my room.Good luck.