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Room Acoustics overkill or worse?

Would acoustically treating the ENTIRE back wall behind the speakers be overkill? This is mainly for aesthetic reasons. What I would like to do is to break up the back wall into 9 4’x3’x3” (WxHxD) modules and treat with Jon Risch’s design but flush with the wall. I have some questions regarding materials:

1. Can one substitute the fiberglass with poly bat entirely
2. Can anyone tell me if it’s a bad idea to use 1”, 40 grade foam sheet or a 1” coir sheet rather than the rockwool panel for the back.
3. Instead of burlap can I use raw silk. (wife’s suggestion)

For now I just have foam in different densities stacked behind the speaker (total thickness about 3”) and it made a huge difference. I also ‘stole’ 4 of my wife’s cushions and stuffed them with poly fill and have those in the corner which improved things even further. I would be happy if I got the same effect from the above design.

Thanks in advance for any comments/suggestions.
keroo1099

Showing 1 response by timrhu

timrhu
2,779 posts
 
That sounds like a very lively room! As to the specific question, I can attest that too much treatment can degrade the sound. I moved my system into an untreated room with absolutely nothing on any wall or window. It was like an echo chamber in there. I purchased a room treatment kit from Auralex and went to work. The kit included more treatment pieces than my room required, as I had some DIY panels, but that didn't stop me from using them.
I would listen as I went along and it did get to a point where I was noticing a degradation in the sound from too much absorption. I removed some treatment until I got it correct, or what I thought sounded best. Some of what I removed was behind the speakers. A totally dead wall does sound like overkill to me but your ears will judge. Good luck and do post your system. I'd be interested to see the outcome.
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