I had plan to use GOM, but keeping seeing here on the forum that any fabric can work to cover the Linacoustic on the walls. What other fabric are people using and which ones are easy to work with?

You want flame retardant fabric. Not just "any" fabric.

Have fun!

Was in the same boat as you, trust me take the bullet and buy the GOM you will not be sorry you did. bpape (Bryan) is a good source.

It looks very nice compared to sames of other fabric others have used and is easy to work with and is flame retardant and made of recycled material.

I will say it again, don't wast your time, just buy the GOM.

Most people do use GOM. I was going to also but I (and the wife) didn't like the look of any of the patterns and the solids are, well, kinda boring for our Tuscan decor in the HT.

After a lot of searching we finally wound up finding some fabric we liked at a place in Boston. It has a nice scroll pattern in it while still passing the "breath test", and the price was excellent - $6 a yard.

So, in short, you don't have to use GOM. But keep in mind the acoustical transparency properties of the fabric you choose. You can search for "breath test" and you might find some info on that if you need it.

Hope that helps a little.

Andy

Is the breath test necessary if there is no speakers behind. This is where I am reading conflicting information.

Is the breath test necessary if there is no speakers behind. This is where I am reading conflicting information.

If you cant do the breath test then the fabric will likely be too tight a weave and be reflective

If you cant do the breath test then the fabric will likely be too tight a weave and be reflective

Understood, but isn't the paper backing of the Linacoustic (which faces the room) already a tight weave so to speak?

You would have to speak to Dennis or one of those guys for that explanation regarding Linacoustic ;)

but regarding not impeding the sound from getting there in the first place is the reason to use a fabric that passes the breath test ... so go look silly in your local fabric store blowing on fabrics :D

You would have to speak to Dennis or one of those guys for that explanation regarding Linacoustic ;)

but regarding not impeding the sound from getting there in the first place is the reason to use a fabric that passes the breath test ... so go look silly in your local fabric store blowing on fabrics :D


lol...been there before blowing like crazy....maybe I don't know how to blow but even the thinnest of material did not seem to pass air, seems it is all about the weave although even monk cloth seem to be hard to blow through.

maybe I don't know how to blow...

:eek:
No you didn't! :D

lol...been there before blowing like crazy....maybe I don't know how to blow but even the thinnest of material did not seem to pass air, seems it is all about the weave although even monk cloth seem to be hard to blow through.

Material like GOM is designed to be acoustically transparent for use in audio applications. Using anything else its hit or miss, just because you can blow through it does not mean that its acoustically transparent, it could be reflecting some amount of sound. This company has what they call speaker cloth, and it looks pretty good although I have not received samples, it looks like it stretches more than GOM

http://www.acoustimac.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=22&category_id=5&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

:eek:
No you didn't! :D

ok, keeping this PG...receiving is another story.

Material like GOM is designed to be acoustically transparent for use in audio applications. Using anything else its hit or miss, just because you can blow through it does not mean that its acoustically transparent, it could be reflecting some amount of sound. This company has what they call speaker cloth, and it looks pretty good although I have not received samples, it looks like it stretches more than GOM

http://www.acoustimac.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=22&category_id=5&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

I get nervous when online shops have issues with spelling:

It is as good as Guilford Main fabric but looks nicer and cost a lot less.

Anyone can vouch for them?

Nevermind, that place as I thought looks shady. Putting 39039 County Road 54 Zephyrhills, FL into Google Maps brings me to someone's house with a For Sale sign on it.

Sorry I haven't had a chance to check in sooner after my post...

I ordered some free samples of various GOM fabrics that were all in the "acoustically transparent" catagory. I took them to the fabric stores and did the breath test. When I found fabric I liked that "felt" the same as GOM blowing through it, I bought it. I figure that's more of a hit than a miss for me.

The Linacoustic is for absorbing lower frquencies. So I'm thinking that the backing side of Linacoustic lets low frequencies pass. The fabric (GOM or otherwise) has to be able to pass both low and high frequencies since it covers absorbing material (Linacoustic) as well as diffusion material (poly batting).

The way I do the breath test is I hold the fabric pretty much against my mouth and blow. Least resistance wins. And yes I felt silly doing that in the stores. So I hid behind my wife :)

Cheers,
Andy

Material like GOM is designed to be acoustically transparent for use in audio applications. Using anything else its hit or miss, just because you can blow through it does not mean that its acoustically transparent, it could be reflecting some amount of sound. This company has what they call speaker cloth, and it looks pretty good although I have not received samples, it looks like it stretches more than GOM

http://www.acoustimac.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=22&category_id=5&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

That said, there are a number of non-GOM options and the breath test is a reliable way to determine whether it's acoustically viable or not. I am a believer in throwing down for the GOM though...it's worth the investment.

Frank

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned, but Dazian is the usual alternative for AT material. The Exposure (has a bit of a pattern + sheen), Janus and Celtic Cloth (I think its blank and white only) lines are all noted to be AT, and I believe most are fire treated.

See dazian.com - word is they are slow to send sample requests unless you call them.