[Mark Hunter]

What have you guys done to solve the "live" room problem. My room is so live that pausing a DVD causes echos!


I am currently thinking of creating "artwork", if you will, from a SouthWestern looking fabric wrapped around 1" foam and hanging it in key points on the wall.


By the way, as long as I am asking, where are the best places to hang the fabric? I have the speaker placement down, but need a little help with the "room nodes".


Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions!


------------------

Mark Hunter

 

[Mark Hunter]

It's not a DSP thing. Just clicking on a message box on my HTPC causes the whole room to echo with a sound that comes out more like a "BONG" than a "DING"!


I think that the #1 thing I can do now is to treat the room, but I am running into WAF issues with the appearance. We agreed that if I could make the treatments look like artwork, then she would go for it.


Any suggestions?

 

[ClaudeD]

For the time being, I am deadening my room using a tacky, inconvenient, but effective method. I bought 6 Sonex panels (Audio Advisor). They look awful, but work well. I bought a package of 6 pants hangers, the kind that hold the pants by the bottom of the pants leg (i.e., the cuff). I clamped one pants hanger onto each panel, and keep them hidden away when I'm not being picky about the sound. When it's time to listen, I hang the panels onto the curtain rods in front of the windows that are most problematic (in my case, behind me and to the right side).


Works well, looks awful, didn't cost much. In my deferred dedicated room, I'm going to have Owens Corning treatment. Works well, looks good, costs a lot.


Claude


P.S. There are also moderately expensive panels that can be hung on the wall and that don't look awful. In my case, windows were the culprit.

 

[mfombellida]

I have the same problem (and problems in low freq as well), I sent the description of my room (including drawing) to several companies (ASC Tube trap, Auralex, RPG and EchoBusters). They all replied and offered solutions based on their products. They can probably help you as well.


Michel

 

[Mark Hunter]

Thanks, Guys!


Claude - If I don't have to make another DIY project out of this, that would be great! Are there any hangable, sound-deadening "art pieces" available commercially? I don't mind spending a few dollars for the right pieces, so please let me know what you have in mind.


Michel - Another good lead. Do you happen to know web sites and/or email addresses for these companies?


Thanks!

 

[mfombellida]

ASC TubeTrap: www.tubetrap.com

Auralex: www.auralex.com

RPG: www.rpginc.com

EchoBusters: www.echobusters.com


FYI: for various reasons (budget, look, quality of the email contact, reviews,...), I recently sent an order to ASC Tubetrap.


Michel

 

[mfombellida]

I've forgotten to mention my contact at ASC: Scott Wilson [email protected]


He really offered me a first class support. I am now impatient to receive my tubetraps (Scott informed me today that they should be ready for shipping middle of next week).


Michel

 

[mfombellida]

One more thing, if you are not afraid by DIY, have a look to www.decware.com (they are selling blueprints that explain how to build various room treatment devices) and www.audioasylum.com (discussion forum with a lot of info on DIY including room treatment). I investigated DIY as well but finally decided that I had not enough time for it (however no doubt that they are efficient).


Michel

 

[ClaudeD]

Mark,


Michel's list is very good. Audio Advisor has some of this. http://www.acousticinnovations.com also has some aesthetic panels.


Claude

 

[Mark Hunter]

mfombellida,


What products did you end up getting from Tubetrap?

 

[Michael Sargent]

Don't forget a very inexpensive, yet very effective method of taming a live room, and one that probably has the highest WAF: plants.


Put in several big floor plants, a nice selection of hanging plants, and all of the sudden the WAF goes through the roof, the plants absorb a load of sound (nice non-linear random absorbtion), and it doesn't even cost too much (well, compared to purchasing room treatments).


Mike

 

[mfombellida]

Following advice from ASC (on the basis of the description of my room and my budget), I ordered a combination of several ASC products: 16" super traps, 11" traps, 9" half round traps, sound panels and studio traps. Room size is a critical factor for the selection of such equipment (you'd better ask them for advice).


Michel