2. amps-preamps
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The problem with absorption panels- it kills the fine details

If you’ve ever removed your absorption panels, you’ll find that you’ll hear a lot more detail and there is more openness. Truth is all those fine pressure amplitudes that add so much to enjoyable listening are considerably extinguished with absorption panels. The room seems quieter with absorption panels because all the fine detail is diminished.

It sounds different, so people think it sounds better. Absorption panels can kill good sounding music. I removed most of the absorption panels, and things actually sounded better. All the furniture in the room and the bookshelves were doing their thing in a great way. So I’ve concluded I really don’t need all that crap on the walls.

emergingsoul
ronboco
743 posts
 

My above opinion is mostly in regards to smaller rooms where the challenges are greater. 

jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,589 posts
 

I'm stuck with a 16 x 16 1/2 square room.So yes I need some of "that crap" on the walls.

kingdeezie
92 posts
 

I agree with everyone mentioning judicious use of the correct panels. In most listening rooms bass is biggest problem. Most retailers make bass traps that scatter/diffuse over a certain frequency to help keep rooms from being over dampened.

The room is the most critical part of a system. I was reminded of this recently when listening. The door behind my listening position that I usually keep open, I closed. This moved the reflection off the back wall behind me up about 10 feet. Sound was horrible. Soundstage collapsed, and the sense of openness disappeared. Opened the door, back to normal.

I’m sure the door closed with the correct application of panels could minimize the difference. For now, I’ll just keep the door open.

 

pkatsuleas
248 posts
 

Geez, never expected to see the word 'horrifying' so much in an audiophile thread.

Now I'm a little horrified to listen to my system!

rick_n's avatar
rick_n
120 posts
 

Let's get right to the point here.  OP why didn't you offer a pic of the room you're trying to optimize?  That would have been helpful and much more productive.  Here are two things to keep in mind that are mostly universally accepted:  1-you can over damp a room with absorption  2-you have to work really hard to over-diffuse a room.  With that in mind, try some different treatments and see what works for you.

 

Sonus Faber just updated their Homage line (Amati etc.) and they said that they are becoming more and more software modeling dependent.  Look around YouTube and you will see some cool interviews with the designers and understand their process to get optimal sound.  It's software driven.

 

The same can be done to optimize a room.  The big treatment co's like Viacoustic and Artnovian will take you room specs and recommend exactly what you need to optimize your room.  I took that route and am very, very pleased with the results.  I don't buy into what some have said in the thread about just moving furniture etc.  I guess they're not math fans.  Sound waves are math.  Start there and them tweak it to suit your ears.  Everyone hears things differently.  Good luck and cheers.  

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