My question is on whether or not bass traps are a necessary evil to be used in my bedroom. The room itself is a "live" room (plaster & lath (older house). I listen/watch movies 90% of the time and enjoy the sound from my left front corner placed Svs Pb10-Nsd, but what do I know about how "good" sound is supposed to sound? This is my 1st surround sound system. :confused:Maybe I could benefit from these bass traps? The placement more than anything would be tough because I want my bedroom to look like a bedroom not a studio of some sort.

My question is on whether or not bass traps are a necessary evil

Evil? Are loudspeakers evil? CD players? :D

Maybe I could benefit from these bass traps? The placement more than anything would be tough because I want my bedroom to look like a bedroom not a studio of some sort.

Same as for speakers. If speakers don't detract from the look of a room, why should acoustic treatment? Regardless, all rooms need both bass trapping and reflection control. Even putting bass traps in only a few corners will help, and a few modest mid/high frequency absorbers on the side walls will help further. Loading up a room with treatment will make it sound awesome, but it doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can start small. But one panel probably won't do enough to be worthwhile. I'd think two bass traps plus two mid/high frequency absorbers is the minimum for a noticeable improvement.

--Ethan

Thanks Ethan. Seems as though you're highly regarded here for your knowledge of acoustics, so I shall take your advice. In reference to what you said about speakers not detracting from the look of a room, I kind of jumped right into my speaker choice, those being the MA radius series R250's w/ the piano gloss black finish couldn't resist their appearance next to my Kuro. I guess I've been aesthetically driven to some extent with some of my HT choices, fortunately they sound as good as they look to me. I suppose I'll have to educate myself on these "bass traps" to see if I can come up with something pleasing to the decor of the room. btw, thanks again for responding to my query wasn't sure if anyone would respond, maybe I was too anxious to get an answer.