Center Diffusion
jm1
Posts: 618
I have been experimenting with room acoustics since I completed the dedicated audio room almost five years ago. With the current state of acoustic treatment in the room, I thought there would be minor incremental improvements with additional changes I made to the room acoustics…
I currently use 11 tube traps I constructed in the audio room. I will not go into implementation details as information is available in the thread on the subject. To summarize, these treatments have significantly enhanced the quality of the audio playback within the room and I consider this round of acoustic treatment to be a resounding success and complete.
As usual, I am always on the lookout for methods to improve the acoustical environment. I have noted built in features in some dedicated audio rooms and have wondered what benefits these features provide. One acoustic feature I can not implement in my room due to HT junk (RPTV, center channel speaker, extra components, stand, …) is a diffuser on the front wall. I was planning on creating a quick and dirty “something” to test freestanding in front of the current equipment stand between the main L+R speakers.
I have a curio cabinet apart which has a curved glass front which is about four feet tall, 26” wide and has a curvature which extends about four inches from the back edges. This piece of glass is the perfect shape for testing the concept of a freestanding diffuser without any construction involved. I centered the curved glass in front of the equipment stand between the speakers and sat down for a listening session.
HOLY COW!! The improvements to the sonic characteristics of the system were startling. This was not a minor change in the overall acoustics. Everything sounded effortless, more natural (classical pieces) and extremely dynamic. There was additional depth and detail to the music I have not heard before and could not hear when the glass was removed and center tube trap was in position. Removing the center tube trap further degraded the overall sonic characteristics.
This little experiment has been a significant success. For the second round of the room acoustic project, I was planning on rebuilding the audio room ceiling and incorporate acoustic treatment into the new design. Having heard the benefits of the diffusion between the speakers, I think I will start on a freestanding diffuser ASAP. Now is the time to blow through the projects the wife has planned for me.
For those who can, but do not incorporate any acoustic treatment into your room, I highly encourage you to concentrate on this area of your system. The room is very much more important than you can ever possibly imagine! I can not convey with words how important the room "component" of your system is.
I will snap a picture next time I have the glass in front of the audio stand so you can visually see what I have been talking about. I am now dying to listen to the remastered LED Zeppelin discs as well as some other material I really enjoy.
This is a thread on the equipment I currently use in the two channel system.
PS:
I have both the Pioneer universal player and the Museatex DAC connected to the preamp. I forgot to mention that with the glass diffuser in place, it was clearly evident the Museatex DAC provided a smoother and more refined output. I found the Pioneer’s internal DAC to be very harsh and irritating with the diffuser acoustic treatment configuration.
I currently use 11 tube traps I constructed in the audio room. I will not go into implementation details as information is available in the thread on the subject. To summarize, these treatments have significantly enhanced the quality of the audio playback within the room and I consider this round of acoustic treatment to be a resounding success and complete.
As usual, I am always on the lookout for methods to improve the acoustical environment. I have noted built in features in some dedicated audio rooms and have wondered what benefits these features provide. One acoustic feature I can not implement in my room due to HT junk (RPTV, center channel speaker, extra components, stand, …) is a diffuser on the front wall. I was planning on creating a quick and dirty “something” to test freestanding in front of the current equipment stand between the main L+R speakers.
I have a curio cabinet apart which has a curved glass front which is about four feet tall, 26” wide and has a curvature which extends about four inches from the back edges. This piece of glass is the perfect shape for testing the concept of a freestanding diffuser without any construction involved. I centered the curved glass in front of the equipment stand between the speakers and sat down for a listening session.
HOLY COW!! The improvements to the sonic characteristics of the system were startling. This was not a minor change in the overall acoustics. Everything sounded effortless, more natural (classical pieces) and extremely dynamic. There was additional depth and detail to the music I have not heard before and could not hear when the glass was removed and center tube trap was in position. Removing the center tube trap further degraded the overall sonic characteristics.
This little experiment has been a significant success. For the second round of the room acoustic project, I was planning on rebuilding the audio room ceiling and incorporate acoustic treatment into the new design. Having heard the benefits of the diffusion between the speakers, I think I will start on a freestanding diffuser ASAP. Now is the time to blow through the projects the wife has planned for me.
For those who can, but do not incorporate any acoustic treatment into your room, I highly encourage you to concentrate on this area of your system. The room is very much more important than you can ever possibly imagine! I can not convey with words how important the room "component" of your system is.
I will snap a picture next time I have the glass in front of the audio stand so you can visually see what I have been talking about. I am now dying to listen to the remastered LED Zeppelin discs as well as some other material I really enjoy.
This is a thread on the equipment I currently use in the two channel system.
PS:
I have both the Pioneer universal player and the Museatex DAC connected to the preamp. I forgot to mention that with the glass diffuser in place, it was clearly evident the Museatex DAC provided a smoother and more refined output. I found the Pioneer’s internal DAC to be very harsh and irritating with the diffuser acoustic treatment configuration.
Arthur SchopenhauerAll truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed and third, it is accepted as self evident.
Post edited by jm1 on
Comments
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Cool. Looking foward to seeing the pics. Show us some pics of your entire room, too.HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50 LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub
"God grooves with tubes." -
Room pics can be viewed from the last post in the Tube Trap thread (first link).
Arthur SchopenhauerAll truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed and third, it is accepted as self evident. -
After experimenting with different material to construct the diffuser, I am satisfied with the latest version.
The panel consists of three layers, two of a 1/8" fiber board with a 1/8" oak plywood for presentation. Three layers were used to achieve the required mass for full frequency spectrum diffusion. The oak has three coats of water based Varathane to enhance reflectivity. The final size may be changed from what is pictured.
I will now be creating trim for the edges and possibly legs so the unit is not required to lean against objects as well as for safety.
As unglamorous as it may be, the room and how it interacts with the speakers is the most critical aspect of this hobby. This is where benefits really begin to appear.
Till next tweak.
Arthur SchopenhauerAll truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed and third, it is accepted as self evident.
