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Help Building an Audio Room

Hi All

I have been allotted a 15x15 x 10h room in the corner of my basement by the wife.
While I’m very happy to have a dedicated audio room, I have some questions and concerns. I’m hoping you all might be able to help. 

1) Three of the walls are poured concrete.  The space has crazy slap eco already and the 4th/back wall is not even closed in yet.

I am having the walls framed in, insulated, electrical, drywall etc. I am thinking of having them frame and build one wall an additional distance off the cement wall some amount so the room is not a square

Is that a good idea?  If so, how much out of square does it need to be to benefit from not being 15x15? Is 15x14 enough? Should I go for 15x13?  I can set up the speakers about any way I would like. 
 

2) Next question.  Should I have them install a certain type of insulation behind the drywall?  Money is an object, but now is my chance to build the room the best way I can within reason and to offset the square room I’m starting with. 
 

3) Anything else I should consider before/as they begin to frame, etc? 
 

Thanks very much!
 

jo1mtb

Showing 2 responses by mesch

mesch
3,410 posts
 

Good job on getting the harley book. Best single source on audio.

I once had a dedicated room in a basement. It was 13, x 15, after framing the front wall and the right wall. Other walls were framed interior to basement.  I had stand mount speakers along the 13' wall about 2.5" from wall with nothing set in between.  Equipment was on a rack to my right. I had DIY acoustic panels behind speakers, at reflection points and behind listening chair which was ~3' from back wall.ceiling was 8.5'. Listening was nearfield. 

It as like having a front row seat in a club with great acoustics. 

I would frame in the three walls so to approach these dimentions. In the Harley book there is a discussion on best room HxWx L ratios. If you frame in the ceiling to reduce height you should consider adding a sound pannel into it at a reflection point. For that matter acoustic panels could be incorporated into the side and back walls as well.  

Good luck on a great project.  

 

 

Walls

mesch
3,410 posts
 

@jo1mtb I believe the room LxWxH you are proposing will work well. Check out ATS Acoustics for ideas. The rockwool material can likely be purchased locally and you can incorporate panels into the walls. As oposed to bass traps I placed diagonally in corners. worked well and saves dollars. 

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