Acoustical panels - Good or Bad? What say you?

How about a Friday afternoon update?

I have hung 2 the ceiling panels and those were awesome. They shortened the overall height but at the same time? They increased the imaging of certain height aspects, which I consider a great attribute. It's weird to explain what I am talking about but I do like the end result.

They are 6" thick and 1'x4' in length. Both absorption and diffraction. I will say that they were hard to hang properly. Well, let me clarify. They were easy to hang. The measurements to get them exactly where I wanted them were a PIA and it took quite a while to get them right....the first time, without making a mistake and having extra holes or fingerprints on the ceiling. Just one would have been MUCH easier.

I will say this, as I was experimenting with the stand alone side panels, I experimented with placement of these ceiling panels (while I was waiting on the delivery of the cloud brackets). I tried them behind the speakers, in the corners behind the mains. HORRIBLE! I could not for the life of me figure out why this is a recommended thing.

It may very well be my room acoustics but that was the worst. It just sucked the life out of the music and it honestly, sounded horrid.

So, I experimented moving them in a plethora of other locations around the room, prior to install on the ceiling. At the same time, I was experimenting with the big side panels.

I liked the ceiling panels the best when they were in the back corners of the room, at a 45 degree angle. So, armed with that, I kept moving the side panels forward and backward on the side wall. I tried putting them on boxes to lift the height and did the same thing.

I tried them in every position, precisely measured with a laser(s) to assure precision in absobtion and reflection in each case, being leveled each time I moved them. I was looking for consistency and precision with each of these experiments.

Even moved them from at the wall to points that were 4 to 6" away from the wall at all points, listening critically after each move.

I ended up doing something that is completely against the norm and THE most recommended thing out there. That being to have the side panels located at the first reflection point.

After I hung the 2 ceiling panels, I did the same thing all over again with the side panels. This was very time consuming. Did I mention that it was time consuming? Geeez, I didn't realize that it would soak up that much time.

After all was said and done, I took them out of the room because any combination did not work at all. The acoustics in the room just didn't gel with what I was expecting to hear. Honestly, I thought I wasted my money with these side panels but there was something about them that enhanced the music/imaging/spatial locationality cues....even though I wasn't pleased with them in or out of the room.

So, I brought them back into the room and remembered where I preferred the ceiling panels. Now, these panels are just like the ceiling panels but 2x4', instead of 1x4'.

When I placed them back in the rear corners of the room, again, at a 45 degree angle? BAM! Everything came into fruition and the room disappeared. It was now, I could sit back and stop experimenting.

I did forget to mention that the reflection/absorption had already been installed behind the listening position and I immediately liked that. That panel is only an inch thick and just like the rest of the panels and it did wonders, especially seeing as how my ears are only 1.3' from the back wall.

The room is 13x15, with the system on the short wall.

I am now experiencing better acoustics in the room and am no longer disappointed with the time, money and aggravation spent with dialing them into the room.

My only gripe is that of convenience. I have to lock the entry door (no big deal), so no one opens the door and knocks over the big panel. I also have to move the other panel to go to the gentleman's room off to the left. So, listening sessions aren't as "free" as they once were. I actually need to "set it up" for critical listening. All in all?

Minor inconvenience to musical bliss not achieved prior to the panels.

I do know this. There will be no more panels introduced into the room. I believe I have hit that perfect balance. Well, maybe not "perfect", as that is subjective but my ears are finally thanking me.

Tommy like.

Tom

When you come, as with any guest, I would simply allow you to listen to the music. Whatever you would like to hear is game (after a few, select demo tracks).

Criticism is always welcome. That's how we learn and what the Carolina group usually does. It's par for the course.

This hobby can be frustrating and enjoyable on so many different levels. Just have fun along the journey!

Tom

Hey, bud. I have looked at their recommendations for other rooms over the years and the first thing that comes into mind is that their recommendations would overdamp the room. Not to mention, they are a sales team. They are in the business to make money and the more panels they sell? The more money they make.

I learned from speaker modifications over the years that overdamping can and will be detrimental to the overall sound. I learned from DR that overdamping a room does the same thing.

When it comes to bass traps? I am kind of on the fence. I will agree that the current panels "did help" but not as much as addressing the shortcomings of the signal, cables and gear did, leading up to this.

Had I done nothing with those aspects prior too? Maybe it would have made a major difference. It did not, in my case with the new panels. So, I chalk that up to possibly being a band-aid to another issue(s) within one's rig.

My first experience with overponderance within this same room (that I thought was a room issue), turned out to be a cable issue. I learned this because I changed out an IC. That was a lower level Transparent cable.

The overponderance that I thought was a room issue turned out to be a cable issue. This has been documented on 3 forums that I can recall off the top of my head probably a decade or more ago.

I climbed that train until I had what I could afford. Their Reference line. That aspect improved until I discovered the new lineup that most all of you know about now.

With the upgrades there, along with differing gear along the way, that overponderance was clearly gone. The acoustical panels helped out a tad bit more but I would venture to say (and I know many people frown on percentages) that it only added a 1% advantage on that front.

I am comfortable with where I am at now, in the room that I am in. The new room (when that ever happens) will have its own challenges.

Currently listening to Leonard Cohen's, "In my secret life". I can't say that I have any complaints. From the frequencies to the imaging to the spacial locationality cues. It is simply a pleasure (and an experience) to listen too.

Tom

halen wrote: »

One thing I noticed when there were no sound panels, the sound stage may sound wider but it was actually an artifact of sound reflections.

I also experienced rooms that had too many sound panels. The sound was dead.

Completely agree on too many panels. No argument there, whatsoever.

On your other point? The first reflection is something that Is commonly agreed upon for THE first thing to attack with acoustics.

I did not find this to be the case.

While I have no gripes now? If I were to have one? It would be that I lost the, "pinpoint" imaging of the lead singer.

I used to be able to, "see" the lead singer(s). I can still now but they are not as focused and pin-point. Everything seems to be a compromise in this hobby. You can never have it all.

With that said....I do like the changes that have occured since the final placement of the panels. The attributes far outweigh the deficiencies in the whole grand scheme of things.

That said, I would love to have back the pinpoint (to the lip smack) imaging of the lead singer).

Tom