How do you enhance a bad listening room's accoustics without breaking the bank? thoughts?


I am looking at a cork wall covering product to help enhance my listening room acoustics. The room is in a condo and shares duty as an "L" shaped living / dinning room. As I have neighbor's on either side I was thinking of doing the one wall where the speakers are placed and the opposite wall where I have my sitting position (The Coach!).  I was thinking the entire sitting room wall (10x8) and the speaker area (10x8) on the opposite wall. This may also have the additional bonus of helping to reduce the noise coming from my stereo into those condo's next to me?
I was wondering what people's experience has been and successful materials used as wall coverings or panels.
128x128pooch2

Showing 2 responses by 4krowme

  Glad to say that most of the responses here are good ones. So often with audio, we simply have to deal with what we are dealt for listening. In your case, you have two issues. I agree very much with getting things right from a listening perspective first by way of adjusting listening position as well as speakers, etc. i found something very simple for me in this way though. Pillows are effective for some of the reflections in my room. I wait until the wife leaves. heh heh, then I use dining room chairs with bed pillows placed them. It doesn't take much in the way of placement to hear a really good difference! No, it doesn't solve all problems, but it really helps with first reflections. Isolating speakers and subs for the benefit of the neighbor may be beneficial as well. Sound travels through flooring as well as walls. At least bass does. Good news is that when you arrive at a better sound in the end, likely you will not be listening as loud. That is the case in my experience. Cork on the walls maybe good on the front wall, but I am thinking that the side walls may be too much of a good thing. 
 It sounds so generic, but yes, you are going to have to experiment with different placement, room treatment, and more before it is all over with. 
 One responder said to Know The Problem before you attempt to remedy it. Now THAT is good advice.
Chorus,

  I like the buy headphones tip. It eliminates the room problem, and presents a totally new experience for music. I don't use them often, but am very happy have them at hand.