Tax time and I figured I would start on room treatments. Not sure where to start looking at sonosude and or some bass traping keep it under 800.00 max. side panels for first refelction points my first thought but as seen in pictures one wall is open to another room so can only do one wall.
My question is what and where should I do for some basic sound treatments that would make a differance. I wanted to get a 7ch amp, but after all my reading here this sounds like I will get a much bigger "sonnic" improvemnt. it is all about my main seating postion as seen in the pictures dont care about back seats.



http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1131/0acw3.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9659/bas2za2.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9659/bas2za2.jpg)
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9158/bas2lh9.jpg

Any input?

Well, the fact that the left speaker is on an open side is a plus. The further away the mains are from side walls the better.
I would also think that having an acoustical ceiling helps.
So that leaves the right main speaker, which being quite close to the side wall should get a wall panel at the first refection point. Being I've never tried bass traps, can't comment.

On another point, adding subs, at the mid-points of either the side walls or front/back will give a much better bass response throughout the entire room.

First visit http://www.realtraps.com/index.htm and http://www.gikacoustics.com/. Both sites have a great deal of useful information.

You will very likely gain by treating a portion of the right side of the room as well as the front corners. Don't stint. You can be ready made absorbers or you can buy the high density mineral wool or fiberglass batts and make your own-- lots of info on the net.

To find the best sounding location for your subs (if they can be moved at all) you can try putting the sub in the prime listening seat and then moving about the room until you locate the best sound. Then put the sub there.
Alternatively you can use software, such as the free program Room EQ Wiz (http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/)to analyze your setup.

Your room layout has some constraints, but if you haven't done so, visit http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_entertainment/roomlayout.html for suggestions on optimal speaker location. If you have a 5.1 setup your side surrounds are not well placed.-they should be at the sides not at close together at the back of the room. I like full range side surrounds myself, but if yours can't fit along the sides of the room you may be better off with smaller units mounted above ear level on the side walls.

Nice room!:)

thanks for the input. what do you mean by "Don't stint."? what would you recemond for the corners. the two towers you see are my 6 and 7 chanel. the two sides are hard to see on the picture they are wall mounted above the listner 3 feet behind main listing postion. what about bass traps? not needed stick with absorbtion behind right tower? hard part is behind right tower is two wood doors that access my sump.

thanks for the input. what do you mean by "Don't stint."? what would you recemond for the corners. the two towers you see are my 6 and 7 chanel. the two sides are hard to see on the picture they are wall mounted above the listner 3 feet behind main listing postion. what about bass traps? not needed stick with absorbtion behind right tower? hard part is behind right tower is two wood doors that access my sump.

Sorry I misunderstood your remark about wanting a seven channel amp to imply that you were not currently running 7.1:o

The two sites that I mentioned are good info sources and the owners are regular posters here. Check Ethan's links in post 88 of this thread,http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13158284#post13158284 . Perhaps Ethan, Glenn or another expert such as Terry Montlick will drop by this thread.

By don't stint I mean that a couple thin panels or absorbers at one or two corners will be enough. The general/simple rule is to treat the first refection points for the mains with absorbers (the side wall, floor and ceiling points that are the single bounce reflection points to the listening positions-- the spots where a mirror will show a reflection of the speaker when viewed from a seat). As you already have tiles on the ceiling and carpet on the floor, and the left reflection point seems to be door way, you only need to treat the right wall point(s) and perhaps the left wall for the second row.

For "bass" traps you need to treat as many corners as you can, i.e., floor/wall junctions and wall ceiling junctions. Most of the traps you can buy or build are very light. You can attach them to doors for example or make them free standing and moveable. Search on DIY bass traps and you will find many suggestions for panels, triangular corner traps and even Helmholtz resonators (it is possible to go too far with this stuff).;)

You do what you can. If you can't fill a corner then put an absorber on one of the sides. I have floor to ceiling built in bookcases on either side of my display. I tried a number of absorbers in various combinations (none more than barely tolerated by the family Critic-in- Chief) and finally decided to fill the bottom and top two shelves with 9" of heavy mineral wool covered in a dark fabric. It looks as if I have some impressive built in speakers. I have smaller amounts on the rear wall (asymmetrical because of 8 light french doors). I was storing some of the mineral wool in a closet with louvered doors and removing it to build the bookcase traps changed the room response just a tad-- I would replace it but my wife wants the use of the closet.

I built simple fabric covered panels to treat the first reflection points, but they were a decor flop. Currently I have a Chinese woolen rug hanging on top of a 1" fiberglass panel on the left wall and a tapestry over a fiberglass panel on the right wall. Every one is happier.

I always urge the use of the free Room EQ Wizard (http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/)software. It along with a cheap Radio Shack SPL meter, can be used to measure your room as it is, and then to assess the need for treatment and the result of any treatment you add. It lets you see in a clear graphical display both response curves and decay times.
http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/images/screenshotsmall.jpg