Materials for absorption panels

Why do you want to reflect some/most of the mid and treble? If you want bass traps, panels will not work unless they are very large and very thick. Panels are typically used for damping the reflection points in the room, and should be good at absorbing a full range of frequencies.

I want to try a similar set up to the 8th Nerve stuff, corners and seams.
I realise that for the 1rst reflection points, I don't need to worry about reflection but the idea of filling my small room full of huge bass traps does not thrill me.
Also notice that a lot of bass traps have two absorbent sides and two partially reflecting sides.
I've tried very large, very thick panels and they just kill the mids and highs.
To give a better reasoning for this project, 4 mini traps cost nearly £1,000 to buy hear, hence the diy approach.
Thanks Simon

First, you need to distinguish between bass(y) traps that are really for lower midrange to upper bass unless montrous and absorbent panels for slap echo and first reflection. For bass, the most effective places are the corners, any corners and bulk is necessary to get them to work low. For the others, free-standing or wall-mounted panels of 2+" thickness are useful, with or without some HF reflection.

If you read the info at www.realtraps.com, there is lots of useful information and the products are good. Another source of information is www.rivesaudio.com. I've used panels and materials from Auralex, ASC, EchoBusters and http://www.sensiblesoundsolutions.com/

Kal

Thanks Cal, that site is just what I was looking for.

the realtraps are excellent build quality and I was able to run way less than the expensive ASC traps.. because of the mid/high reflective fronts my room is not over damped but absorbs my heavy hitting bass like a champ!
if you need HF absorbtion for the first order reflection points they make the Mini's in HF which I also use.

Cornertunes are an excellent tweak also and easier to mount than 2'x2' minitraps. Then treat the corners with mini or mondo traps if you want tight non-boomy bass.

I considered DYI but it wouldn't absorb as much as the realtrap products and they are attractive.

Treating the room is going to be one of the most rewarding upgrades you have heard!!

Hi Cytocycle,
from my studies real traps would be the way to go - I'd have no qualms paying them but damned if I'm going to pay 3x the price cause of my location so diy is my only option.
My experiments so far prove to me at least, that room treatments are a hugely overlooked 'tweak' in my country.
It would still be cheap compared to some of my gear to buy ready made & probably a bigger improvement than cables but
it sticks in my craw to give more tax to Tony & his cronies!
They will just spend it on their next war - my country (Scotland)has produced the best crude oil in the world for years, so I'm told, I worked on the Rigs and we don't own or benefit or have seen any benefit from it to my knowledge and this is without an invasion!
Where were all the 'good ' guys when Genocide reigned in Croatia - ah well no oil, who cares !
Cheers Simon

Simon74 - The shipping was killer even in the US, and outside of the US would make it not feesible.. so DIY is the way to go, if you can get the Owens 705 or 703 you can build something close for cheep. Audio Asylum has an accoustic group run by Rives and Realtraps that you should check out as the DIY will recommend other methods to building REALTRAP.

The Room is one of the most important aspects that is definitely overlooked.. I've heard too many good components sound really bad because of placement and lack (or too much) room treatments.

Have fun with it!
Chris

go to ebay type in acustic panels..there so cheap in there why build them

Because most of them in there are made of foam - and questionable foam at that. There are some decent ones there but nothing that you can't do cheaper DIY.

Hi There,

thanks for all that. I have the fibreglass panels (nasty stuff!). I think they are our equivalent of 703.
Anyway they are 50mm thick.
I made an approximation of the 8th nerve stuff - glued tin foil to the front and getting quite good results.
I was concerned at the safety aspect so wrapped the panels in clingfilm before covering with cloth - bad idea I think.
I read if you can't blow through the material it won't work.
The foil is probably not letting through any mid or treble.
Will start again with scrim for the front and no clingfilm just muslin.
Going to make 3 2ft X 4ft 50mm thick panels just covered with muslin for the 1rst reflection points - side & ceiling.
Double up two pairs of panels to 100mm and laid in corners as bass traps - huge improvement.
My cara software , now that I have programmed all the absorption co-effecients of the 703/5 equivalent, is a great help in predicting the placements/results.

Cheers Simon