Any feedback on Acoustic Panels or Room Treatment?

[garnier]

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:

[Hawkeye]

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://http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc133/Gordon58/IMG_0350.jpg

[Lasareath]

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:

garnier, I agree with the above statement from hawkeye, I also had a lot of high frequency issues. Basically too many hard surfaces.

I really like the RealTraps but they are too expensive for me. But i will buy (4) tri-corners in a few months after the wedding is all paid for and done.

I bought panels from ATS Acoustics, a 24" by 48" by 4" thick costs like $55 plus shipping.

I bought 8 panels so far and it has made a huge improvement. before the panels I would get a headache listening to my system over 30 minutes. I guess this was caused by all the sound waves bouncing all over the place.

Sal

[Hawkeye]

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

[Gaara]

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.

[woofiepaws]

Here's another vote for GIK. Affordable, OK fit and finish.

I'm getting reacquainted with my music. Well worth the money.

[jm1]

This is what I have done (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23371).

The room and how the speakers interact in this acoustic environment is the most important aspect of audio reproduction.

[Lasareath]

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


I have them, 8 panels and I don't need test results, I can hear the difference. maybe GIK & RealTraps would be better, I do not have that answer. But I paid around $560 shipped for the 8 panels.

[pearsall001]

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.

[jm1]

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 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45742) will give you the idea.

[garnier]

Thank you for your informations, guys!

[Ethan Winer]

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

[Polkitup2]

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.

[BlueFox]

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.

[amulford]

Welcome to Club Polk, Ethan. We would very much appreciate your expertise. Thank you in advance for your input.

[Lasareath]

Here's a link of my set up on ATS Acoustics Website.

http://www.atsacoustics.com/item--Sal-Cameli--sc_photogallery.html