2. misc-audio
  3. 1153876018

Room acoustics/treatments help?? Photos included

Hello!

I recently moved into an apartment, and the stereo is sounding pretty awful in the new room. Bass is pretty messy (though I can largely fix that with my Velo. DD15), but what I'm really concerned about is the bright and glaring upper midrange. My hi-fi sounds like a car stereo! If I turn it up at all, it just wrecks on the ears.

Please take a look at the attached photos. The lady is pretty easy going, but to keep her happy (and likewise, myself) we've gotta do the long-wall placement.

The long wall is about 15 feet long, and the short wall is about 12.5. As you can see the ceilings are quite high. The right-hand wall is open into the kitchen area, and 2nd level loft (see photos):

http://www.box.net/public/ayf6h44lhg
http://www.box.net/public/kup3gr2ocv
http://www.box.net/public/4rbp928onn
http://www.box.net/public/or6ztv7myd

Sorry about the messiness, we are still unpacking!

For equipment, I'm running Dynaudio S1.4s, with a Supratek preamp, and a Plinius SA102 amp. Various sources. I also have a pair of Von Schweikert VR1s that I can swap in if the Dyns simply won't work with the room.

So acoustics gurus - Can this room be made into a *great* sounding audio room?

What type of acoustic treatments would you recommend? (or any other ideas that could help with the sound)

As of now, I'm planning on putting some carpet strips on the front, back, and side walls to absorb some reflections (up to 8ft or so). Do you think I need to address the wall/ceiling above around 8ft or so?

I'm also thinking of making some basic tube traps (the really easy 'roll of fiberglass' ones) to put in the corners where the side wall is. Thinking about some heavy drapes on the windows as well. This all has got to be DIY since it's a somewhat temporary (1 or 2 yr) apartment.

One other idea I have is to put a big shower-curtain rod where the right-wall would be, and hanging some drapes, that I could close while listening to music, to perhaps act as a side wall. Is this a good idea, or just pretty dumb?

Any ideas or advice is appreciated!

Thanks,
Goatwuss
goatwuss

Showing 2 responses by ksales

ksales
228 posts
 
Boy have you got some big problems. If you wanted good acoustics you probably shouldn't have gotten a different place. First the open floor plan is disatrous. I have worked with that before and it makes it difficult at best to keep the sound contained or to adjust your equip. Second the height of the room makes then takes your sound in another direction. Finally those windows are killing you. First I would get pretty heavy draps for the windows. Consider something for the upper part of the open area. I don't know what to do about the ceiling other than sound reflecting acoustical apps. If you want to go that far research how to do it. I would also suggest pulling the carpet and consider put cork on the floor followed by heavy fiber pad and then put the carpet back down. You can get cork over the web from several providers at a good price. I got it in sheets and cut it.
Good luck Ken
ksales
228 posts
 
I don't think a shower curtain will help. Some of the suggestions here for downlaading acoustic literature or other material is good advise. There are inexpensive treatments for the walls and ceiling that might help. On the cork suggestion, it is really quite cheap and no one will notice when your done. Google cork suppliers and you will find bulk sheeting for a very good price. It can be stapled to the floor like a pad then you put a good fiber pad over that and then your carpet. The only thing that will be noticed is that it will make the floor seem far tighter.
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