Acoustic Panel Build

ALL212

I've got a few yards of burlap purchased from ATS if anyone wants to pay shipping. Otherwise no cost to you. Came rolled up so no creases. I'll just need to figure out how to ship it. It's 56" high and yards long. I bought mostly the Natural but also some yards of Ivory.

https://www.atsacoustics.com/lightweight-burlap-fabric.html


My DIY builds in the natural.


I also used this stuff on the back boards. It's a very interesting "paint".
https://www.parts-express.com/acry-tech-acoust-x-1-gallon-absorption-coating-paintable-damping-material--260-105?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla

txcoastal1

Here are some I built for LSAF. Stands are made with black pipe and base filled with lead shot.

machone

I added clouds this weekend.
Really helped focus the image.
It just keeps getting better and better.

machone

More info on the clouds.

I used hardware from HD. Dipped the hooks in black Rustoleum. The chain came black. The plastic toggles are great because they do not fall apart when the screw is removed (in this case the screw is a 10-24 J-hook).
I mounted the frames before attaching fabric and fiberglass.

With the addition of the clouds the image feels more solid. I am noticing things like two voices where before I thought it was one voice. The same with instruments. Also there is better depth and separation between voices and instruments.

I guess now that I don't have as many sound waves bouncing around the room I can hear what is actually coming out the the speakers.

aboroth00

Very nice work y'all!

Hermitism

machone wrote: »

More info on the clouds. I mounted the frames before attaching fabric and fiberglass.

How on Earth did you do that??? Drywall lift? I honestly can't figure out how you added the insulation and fabric once the frames were on the ceiling. I had a hard enough time doing it on the floor.

Nevertheless great job! A+

machone

Bad description on my part.
I pre-installed the frames without fiberglass and fabric.
I then took them down finished them and reinstalled.

Hermitism

Gotcha! Makes much more sense now. I seriously thought you were some sort of spider mutant with eight appendages to be able to do that, even with a drywall lift. Great job.

machone

Thanks

machone

I added two more 4" bass traps to the upper left hand side of the room.



They attenuated the top end too much so I ran a quick test by covering them with plastic bags to kill the top end absorption.



This worked like a charm so I took them down, disassembled them and covered the outside fiberglass surface with FRK.



Reassembled, rehung and everything is good now.

I also built removable panel/screens for the hot water heater and water softener to hide the mess.

machone

Thanks Skip,
My garage rig is my only rig!
It would not be possible without the knowlrdge and support of this forum.

machone

I added a 9ft tall x 2ft wide x 4in thick corner bass trap to my room.
I have been holding off because the Hafler upgrade has been burning in and I wanted to change only one thing at a time. The Hafler has several hundred hours on it and is pretty stabile so I went ahead and added the bass trap.
I only listened for maybe an hour tonight but it really helps imaging.
I am very happy with my progress with this room. I have 4 first reflection panels, 6 bass traps and they have completely changed the room for the better.

machone

I tried something new last night.

See all of the doors on the wall to the right. I cracked them open a few degrees to act as diffusers. Some open horizontally and some vertically so they really redirect any sound coming their way.

The result is the room sounds different. It's kinda hard to explain but music seems to be more detailed with a sense of space. Bass seems faster with lower bass stronger but some mid bass softer.

I am not sure where this will end but for sure they change the room acoustics.

Conradicles

It's all about the room. Very nice work!

Jaybeez

Very nice work. I had planned to build my own panels, but living in L.A. there are several builders who sell for not much more than my cost would be. Honestly, your work is as good / better than what I purchased from a pro! Enjoy.

machone

Thanks guys.
Here are some photos of the cabinet doors cracked open. I used old hinges to hold the vertically hinged doors open. The horizontal
ones just rest on the opening.

This really is an improvement. Without the diffusion I must have standing waves that cause a heaviness that hurts image detail.
An example would be that I can now hear two voices where I though it was one voice.

machone

I added 12 ft of 2 ft wide by 4 inch thick bass traps above the garage door. Also two small traps in each corner.

Continuing to tweak the panels. Some are 703 but most are 705. IMO 703 kills the highs and needs to be used carefully. I have un-wrapped, swapped fiberglass, re-wrapped until I am blue in the face. I think I am very close with one future set of panels to go.

The room has been transformed. I did notice I need to raise the volume a little to get the same db but this is a good thing.

My ears are happy!

machone

I built a 12x24x1 inch panel and placed behind my rack to soften the Hafler 500 fan noise. Now it is barely perceivable from the listening position.

machone

I now have enough panels to make this room very good, but up until last night I was not quite all the way there.

I have been tuning the two panels above and to the sides of the TV. Fiberglass with a fabric cover results in the imaging and bass being slightly muffled. Covering the face of the panels with plastic does wonders for the imaging but is a little bit bright.

So I covered one half of each of the two panels.

Bingo! Superb imaging with great bass.

I will add aluminized paper under the fabric to finalize.

I find it amazing that I can use a piece of garbage bag to tune my room.

machone

Currently the back wall corners look like the photo. The room sounds great but I don't like the look so I moved the larger panel 1 ft towards the center of the wall. Looks better but that little adjustment hurts the imaging.
So I decided to remove the small panel in the corner and move the larger panel all the way to the corner. To do this I needed to add another eyebolt.
So I drilled a hole through the wire going to the outside carriage light. Naturally this circuit is on the same breaker as the sound room, utility room and hallway. Nice!
Now I get to spend seveal hours cutting drywall, finishing drywall and crawling in the attic pulling out the damaged wire/s and replacing them.
Ye Ha!

machone

BTW
The reason the photo is dark is because there are no lights!
HA HA HA HA HA HA

ALL212

I've got 2 2x4 panels and 1 2x2 panel left over from a fairly recent creation. I think I'm going to put them on the ceiling. How do you determine placement? These will go roughly above my speakers. Centered over the speakers? Biased to the back? Biased to the front?

machone

I put mine at the 1st reflection location. I taped a small mirror on a stick and had my grandson hold up to the ceiling until I could see the speaker from my listening position. I noted the location and used the 2x4 panels.

ALL212

Great idea...can you send your grandson over?

machone

I asked my wife first but she gave me that - are you insane look

machone

Originally I had planned to have three bass traps across the front wall but I got impatient and installed my new rack first. This blocked access to wall and I decided not to install the center bass trap. I installed it on the back wall and ended up with an asymmetrical arrangement.

Earlier this year I got the Mojo Audio DAC and have been really enjoying it especially at medium volumes. But at higher volumes it's superb imaging suffered. So I asked myself is it equipment or is it the room?

My man cave is a repurposed garage and when I open the garage door the acoustics improve so I kinda knew it was the room and not the equipment.

I decided to move the asymmetric bass trap to the front center and to my surprise the image that had been a little recessed was now in my face but the image was strong and stayed together at reference volumes.

I listened for couple of nights and decided to move the speakers back towards the wall. I moved them 1/4" and the results are great! The image no longer in my face is where I think I should be and the bass is stronger but remains tight.

The imaging is outstanding.

Having fun here...

Clipdat

Is that a HO slot car track?

machone

Yep.
Built it for me and the grandkids.

machone

Thanks Skip
It is nice to play music at any level without bothering the wife.

Mike Reeter

DSkip wrote: »

That's quite a dog house you've built there. I still really dig your rig and think it might be one of my favorites because of the location.

Without question, the "Garage Rig" of the decade. I love this space, you've done a heck of a job machone, you've got a lot to be proud of!