Probably; yes. I would have to think any non-treated room can be improved with treatments.
My room had no ’slap echo’ either, but in reality, it was a bit ’dead’, lifeless, and also built-up too much localized bass pressure. I didn’t think I needed any for the same reason until I tried experimenting.
In my case, I did find strategic dampening helped, but got my most positive results with diffusion, which helped break-up the sound and provide better imaging and soundstage. Your room may be different.
Suggestions? Experiment inexpensivly (foam or dense insulated sheets/panels) before spending more on specifically made acoustical treatments. Or, take what you used for experimentation and ’dress them up’. Though, this is easier to do with absorption than diffusion.
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Slap echo is one hing and early reflections are another. You still want sound deadening at the early reflection points on the walls next to the speakers and the walls behind the speakers. Find those points using the mirror method. |
I agree, I had no echo either. I found tall silk plants/trees and some open shelving for my vinyl placed at first reflection points to bring everything into place. I have open timber running across the ceiling which is great for helping with diffusion and de fraction. |
Thank you for your suggestions. My ceiling has wood beams as well and is probably helping as you suggested and I have a tall silk plant (8') in the front wall corner. Hope it is helping as well. Thanks tom6897.
The left wall is all glass with full length vertical blinds. I have put a tall backed upholstered chair at the reflection point. Thanks mijostyn.
I am going to try some diffusion behind the speakers on the front wall. Should they be placed in same manner as you would place absorbers? IE where the reflection point would be. Thanks bkeske
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I have absorption panels on the rear wall directly behind the speakers, but also diffusion panels on the adjacent side walls behind the speakers as well, and also between the speakers. Also have diffusion panels on the side walls well in front of the speakers,
But, that’s in my case, with my Vandy 2CE Sigs, in my room. 2CE’s and not like normal ‘box speakers’ and the sound truly surrounds them because of how they are designed. Thus, as I say, you may need to experiment for your particular speakers and room. |
Without measurements, the best advice I have for you is to listen to your speakers 2’ away from them. The difference between that and your normal seat is your room.
Best,
E
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most walls are 8" by 8" logs No one else seems to have caught this. Logs are curved, in other words your entire wall is essentially a diffuser panel. Sound hits the curves and is scattered. That’s why you hear no slap echo. This is however a bit misleading. The sounds that are scattered are in a frequency range related to the curves of the logs. You can calculate this, or you can experiment and hear it. What you will find either way is the sound is really well dispersed at the high frequency range represented by the diameter of the logs. The typical log in other words that curves out one to three inches diffuses frequencies that are around 3kHz or about what you hear when you clap your hands. Because our hearing is very sensitive at those frequencies. Those logs however don’t do such a great job of scattering lower frequencies. Lower frequencies are longer wavelength and as such the logs "appear" flat to them. Since we aren’t nearly so sensitive to them though they don’t matter as much. You do not need the stuff the others are talking about. They missed the whole point. Its better to scatter (diffuse) than absorb, as absorption can create a dead closed in sound while diffusion creates more of a sense of space and openness. This is of course a balance, and one only you can decide what is best. Experimentation is always recommended. Just thought I would point this out as no one else seems to have caught on to the log thong being nearly as relevant as it is. |
Good catch millercarbon! And it brings up a question that I've been wondering about; how is the sound quality in a log cabin? Diffusion should be good indeed, although ideally the logs would be arranged vertically rather than horizontally. It might not make that much difference. The walls are probably stiff as can be, not letting much bass out, and probably not resonating much.
cio52, if you bang on the wall with the side of your fist can you get a deep thud out of the log assembly? How does the bass sound in that room? |
Thanks for your responses. To clarify about my room... the horizontal log walls are flat on the inside except for a 1" miter cut at the top and bottom ( so there is about 6" of flat surface and a 2" groove). If you bang the side of your fist against the wall all you get is a sore fist. It's really dead sounding. However, I have seen some log home systems with rounded logs on the inside that would help diffusion and some "post and beam" that were rounded on the vertical. So, what would work best behind my speakers? |
Forgot that you asked about the bass. I just added two JL Audio E112's to the room and it is incredible what they have done to my whole system's SQ. As I said above I have a large and very irregular room and needed these subs to pressurize the room to get better sound. Very happy with the bass. |
Using a test tone or more than one test tone and SPL meter you can map out the sound pressure zones in any room. Standing waves, first reflection points and pressure build up in room corners tend to be where the highest sound pressures are measured, sometimes 6 dB or higher than the average sound pressure in the room. Those are where there the treatments should go, generally speaking. Speaker location should be optimized simultaneous.
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Thanks, I do have the Stereophile test CD's and an SPL meter so I will do my best. |
Yes you need Stillpoint Apertures at least 4 they will improve any room.
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Let me think about it for a couple of weeks and I’ll get back to you.
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To expensive for you Geocat dude. |
I can’t even afford to pay attention. |
