New listening room question

Sound and acoustics are pretty simple. It all stems from the fact sound radiates in all directions as waves. The lower the frequency the longer the wave. At the high end the waves are only around an inch. So anything flat and larger than an inch will reflect these like a mirror. Bass waves are at the other extreme, 50 feet long. In other words all rooms are small compared to low bass. This is why all rooms have low bass problems. 

In practical terms then what you do is think and try and visualize the sound waves. They come off your speaker radiating out in all directions not just towards you. If you sit wherever you are going to sit and imagine mirrors on all the walls, wherever you see a reflection of the speaker that is where sound will go and bounce and get to you. Which is fine. Except you don't want it to be a mirror, you want it to break that reflection up. This is called diffusion. Or you can try and absorb it, this is an absorption panel.

Too many diffusers and the sounds break up real nice but bounce around forever, the decay is too long, and this muddies clarity. Too many absorbers and the room sounds dead like being in a clothes closet. You want a nice balance. Most rooms get there naturally just by putting carpet and furniture. Audiophiles however can really screw it up big time. Pay attention in a good room where and how much is carpet, fabric, hard flat surfaces, diffusion, etc. You want that balance.

The ceiling is the same as any other large flat surface. Either break it up with diffusion or absorb, either way is better than nothing. 

This can be done creatively. Doesn't have to look like a science project. Any architectural feature that adds angles will diffuse, anything with fabric will absorb. The size of the surface determines the frequency (because remember wavelength) while the thickness of the absorber tunes the frequency there, again because of wavelength. Lower frequencies, longer wavelengths, larger thicker panels.

People will sell you on all kinds of devices for doing this. Do you have two hands? Do you have two ears? Then clap your hands and listen. Walk somewhere else in the room and repeat. I have done this for people many times, always they are amazed how easy it is to hear these things. They just never tried.

Serious room-no fan.

What- no central air? The best rooms seem to have to damping/diffusion figured out for ALL walls(ceiling included)

Study the websites. Speak with the personnel.

The big challenge-make the room aesthetically pleasant and not look like a man cave/dorm room. Something the S.O.. and her friends won’t get creeped out being in.

Something the S.O.. and her friends won't get the creeped out being in.

That maybe the ultimate goal though.

I'm with Jerry. Go listen to your own. The only problem is her system IS better than mine. The Miss has a really nice setup actually.. I'm workin on mine AS usual. The longest project sense the Panama Canal.. and paying the US debt..

Regards

Solid fans, attractive aesthetics, nice wooden blades, never intended to be on while listening to music. Gulf Coast…central air, for sure. Full disclosure, the room is called Man Cave on the architectural plans! Spouse well on board. Room is separate from the house (no common walls) with some sound isolation involved. 
‘Honestly, I am just trying to understand what type of issues with room interaction that I may encounter while still under construction and more easily addressed. I am on a concrete foundation with short run dedicated 20A electrical. 5/8” Sheetrock on walls and ceiling. 6” thick insulated walls. 

Further confession…I entered my room dimensions in several of the bass node calculators posted on a thread here and I have no clue what the resulting graphs mean. So I am asking if there is anyone seeing this post who knows what those graphs mean who can enter my room dimensions and tell me what the heck they mean…well I will be very grateful!

double up and use quietrock, green glue between layer….and springs…everywhere ( just kidding ). Call GIK if ya want room mode help. IF i get some freetime i will look. Do you have swarm, dsp or analog bass EQ ? 

If you can't do double wall construction or double sheetrock, seal all cracks with acoustic calk.  I would go slow on acoustic treatments until you get your room finished (furniture and equipment in).  I think there is tendency to over treat rooms.  

There was an interesting article in Stereophile June 2021 in the Industry Update section of a Danish acoustic software company defining the optimum room sizes.  Just another opinion.

Those 12' ceilings are a great, great asset. 

"Everything keys off the ceiling height." https://www.decware.com/paper36.htm

Amroc: you're in the "bolt area" -- https://amcoustics.com/tools/amroc?l=19.75&w=17.5&h=12&ft=true&r60=0.6

Read about this, but basically it means that you won't have the worst room modes.

I strongly suspect that you don't need to do anything with your ceiling because they're high enough to avoid terrible first reflections.

tomic601,

Thanks. At this point, prior to moving into the new house, I do not have subs in my music system. My system is comprised of Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe integrated amp, Teres 245 turntable, Sony Es disc player (as transport) and Vienna Acoustic Mahler floorstanders. Requisite quality cabling and power cords. I am very happy with the level of musical enjoyment this system affords me and am just trying to optimize my experience with this new room. That being said, I have long experience as a music lover and a moderately audiophilian appreciation for quality music reproduction. I want to understand the sound node map of my room in terms of what I can expect and listen for, and in terms of what I can do to mitigate any problems.

hilde45,

 I was composing the above while you posted. Thank you. That is precisely the type of affirmation/commentary/advice that I am looking for. I will study the links you provided.

goose,

Thanks. I intuitively agree with you. I have always attained what has been for me beautiful music reproduction in my former rooms despite obvious non-ideal room configurations. I have believed that the music was helped by the “comfortable” furnishings, rugs, and wall treatments that we have favored as part of our overall aesthetic.

tomoc601,

No offense intended…but who is GIK and how do I contact them? I may be embarrassing myself with this inquiry, but I don’t recognize the initials. Please private message me the contact, if you will.

@scowler1 I forced an education on myself in the past year or so and have learned a lot. Happy to chat with you if you like. I'm not an expert and won't go beyond my experience. Message me if you want to talk. 

To address the question of ’ sound quality - benefit ’ and with a focus on the ceiling.

The ceiling and the wall behind the speakers will be the two most important areas to focus on.

Since the ceiling height is relatively good already and adding treatment will be easier.

There already you have some analysis ...

My listening space ceiling height increases from system placement at the lower height and the highest at the opposite end.

I can easily hear the difference in decay time from one end of the room to opposite end ( lower decay time at the higher ceiling position ).

Absorption above and behind the speakers should help level out the whole room decay plot.

Diffusion in a listening room is more beneficial for a natural sense of ambiance ( balance ).

More analysis and some opinion ...

If you want a sense of what room interactions are then play some test tones ( 500 Hz / 1000 Hz ) and walk around the room and listen.

You will notice phase anomalies everywhere!

If you are up for more introspect and a very different approach to acoustic treatment then I suggest looking into Hsu Research.

DHDI: Delta H Design | Hanson Hsu

Delta H Design | Quantum Acoustics™

Please note that I am not associated with the Research Group and am not making a recommendation for services.