Any feedback on Acoustic Panels or Room Treatment?

garnier
garnier Posts: 116
edited June 2008 in Speakers
Any suggestions and opinions on benefits of installing acoustic panels on your wall? I am thinking of installing ACT company's sound panels. But do they really help improving sound quality? My floor is carpeted. Please share your opinions on room treatment benefits. :confused:
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited May 2008
    I'm sold on quality traps and absorbers. I was a skeptic, thinking it was snake oil at first. I had some severe problems with bass being boomy and missing at the same time and some severe echo. I tried moving stuff around, endless tweaking with crossovers, and hanging the comforters on the walls. I knew my system was capable of more, I just did not know how to obtain it.

    I started doing research and decided to try a couple of HF absorbers first because I thought the echo was worse then the bass issue. What I found was the foam was not the most highly recommended material to use. I found a company called RealTraps. Ethan Winer is the owner of the company and he has a very informative website. I have no financial interest in this company. I talked to him on the phone and he recommended several pieces to me. Still being a skeptic, I only ordered 2 pieces to see what affect they would have. They were 2 X 4 HF Minitraps to tame the back wave off my Martin Logans. I found these pieces to be very well made and packaged.

    I installed them as directed by Ethan and the difference was night and day! My echo had decreased AND the bass issues started to decrease also. I then ordered 2 tricorners to start working on the bass trapping. From what I understand, bass trapping is cumulative so the more the better. The tricorners really tightened up the bass to the point where the "one note" bass disappeared and multi-notes became noticeable. I still need several more pieces for a complete treatment of the room.

    I honestly believe quality trapping is the best bang for the audio buck I've ever spent. I wish I would have treated the room a long time ago. If the picture fits, you'll see the Minitraps behind the speakers and the tricorners on the floor behind them also. Please excuse the mess! Gordon

    http://IMG_0350.jpg
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
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    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited May 2008
    Since our room is undergoing changes at the moment, the TV will be going away. This leaves a big hole of untreated wall. This link, if it works, will show the next piece going up in it's place. The wife wants some kind of "art" up on the wall. Going to get a picture of the piano keyboard. BTW, the GIK traps are a reasonably priced alternative to the RealTraps.

    http://http://www.asc-hifi.com/picture-panel-samples.htm
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited May 2008
    Do a search, this has been discussed a few times.

    Benefits of treating first reflection points include a decrease in slap echo, more high level detail, better soundstage/imaging, less listener fatigue, etc. The benefits of bass traping include less boomy one note bass, more detailed bass, everything is more coherent, etc.

    I don't trust ATS, they say they have their traps tested yet don't ever post the results.

    Real Traps are supposed to be great, better performing then GIK w/ a nicer look, but a decent amount more $. Ethan is supposed to be great to deal with, and his site is full of great unbiased information.

    GIK is who I went with. Bryan and Glenn are very helpful, Bryan especially I spent over an hour on the phone with figuring out what would work with my room. I originally wanted more panels and Bryan let me know it would be to many for my room, and definitely not worth the extra $. He could have easily sold me more panels but didn't.

    Ready Acoustics is another to look into, supposed to be pretty good.

    If you are looking at foam I would stick with Auralex for first reflection points. Their LENRD panels work pretty well with 100hz and up, but really don't do much compared to a real bass trap. I bought a package of Auralex a while back, and still use the 2in foam for reflection points.

    Stay away from Foam By Mail like the plague. The place is a scam, they are known for taking Auralex's measurments and changing them slightly to say that is how theirs perform. Ethan tested them and found they were about 1/4 as effective as they say they are.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • woofiepaws
    woofiepaws Posts: 215
    edited May 2008
    Here's another vote for GIK. Affordable, OK fit and finish.

    I'm getting reacquainted with my music. Well worth the money.
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  • jm1
    jm1 Posts: 618
    edited May 2008
    This is what I have done.

    The room and how the speakers interact in this acoustic environment is the most important aspect of audio reproduction.
    All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed and third, it is accepted as self evident.
    Arthur Schopenhauer
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited May 2008
    The benefit of room treatments is worth every penny spent. You can swap out gear till the cows come home...but it's the room that effects the sound you're hearing.

    Here's some of the companies that I have used for their treatments.

    GIK
    Echo Busters
    ATS
    Aurelex
    Acoustical Solutions

    My next move is RealTraps diffusion panels. With every addition there was a noticable improvement in the sound.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • jm1
    jm1 Posts: 618
    edited May 2008
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    My next move is RealTraps diffusion panels. With every addition there was a noticable improvement in the sound.

    Oops, forgot the center diffusion panel I created for the room. Its now finished and this thread will give you the idea.
    All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed and third, it is accepted as self evident.
    Arthur Schopenhauer
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  • garnier
    garnier Posts: 116
    edited May 2008
    Thank you for your informations, guys!
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  • Ethan Winer
    Ethan Winer Posts: 8
    edited June 2008
    Hawkeye wrote: »
    I'm sold on quality traps and absorbers ... I installed them as directed by Ethan and the difference was night and day! My echo had decreased AND the bass issues started to decrease also.

    Thanks for the praise. But mostly I just wanted stop by to say Hi, and offer to answer any general or technical questions about acoustics. I'm pleased to see people finally starting to understand how important a "component" their room really is.

    --Ethan
    RealTraps
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,623
    edited June 2008
    Thanks for stopping by Ethan, I believe a number of the Polk Forum members including myself are realizing that room acoustics play a large role in overall sound quality.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited June 2008
    Gaara wrote: »
    Do a search, this has been discussed a few times.

    If you are looking at foam I would stick with Auralex for first reflection points. Their LENRD panels work pretty well with 100hz and up, but really don't do much compared to a real bass trap. I bought a package of Auralex a while back, and still use the 2in foam for reflection points.


    I installed Auralex 2" Pyramids and love the result with the 4 LSi15s. It made music so much clearer and detailed. I swear it is so good now that I feel as if I am enjoying a legal drug. I might have to get rid of my equipment since I am now wasting so much time just sitting and listening to it.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
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    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited June 2008
    Welcome to Club Polk, Ethan. We would very much appreciate your expertise. Thank you in advance for your input.
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