[rtate]

I have decided that instead for spending more $$ on upgrading gear, my next upgrade will be my room.However I don't have a clue on how to determine what I need.   
I assume that I need to run some sort of software program to determine the room response and then treat the room accordingly.
 
Could someone help me get started??

[kip_]

Measuring isn't always necessary but it can certainly be useful for finding nulls and peaks and measuring decay times. Here's a few links to get you started:

http://www.gikacoustics.com/education_case.html
http://www.realtraps.com/placing_mt.htm

In a nutshell, all rooms will benefit from bass trapping (preferably in corners) and treating first reflection points. What is your room size and budget?

[rtate]

Thanks Kip.
My room is approx. 26 X13 ft ceiling is 7ft 10"
Ceiling was double insulated and has a 3/4" air gap.
Drywall with custom wood wall units at each end, making corner traps impossible.Carpet?underpad on concrete floor.One dooorway and one window. Several pictures along one wall and none on the other.
I believe there are pictures of the 2 channel end in my gallery.
The room has my HT at one end and a 2channel rig in the other with seating facing both ways in the middle.
My budget is flexible with WAF being quite important.

[kip_]

Hmm treating a double ended room might be quite a challenge.

For starters I would simply add 2 or 3 Gik 244s or Monster bass traps on each side wall, at the 1st reflection points if possible. Your only other treatment options would be the ceiling, or bass traps straddling the wall-floor corners.

Another spouse friendly treatment would be a Table Trap.

[rtate]

So how do I determine where the 1st reflection point is??

[zybar]

So how do I determine where the 1st reflection point is??

http://realtraps.com/rfz.htm

George

[kip_]

http://realtraps.com/rfz.htm

George

Keep in mind that the first reflection point will be different for each set of speakers.

[rtate]

Thanks guys that's a very interesting read!!

Are DIY traps as effective as the Realtraps ?

[Ethan Winer]

Are DIY traps as effective as the Realtraps ?

DIY can be similar if you add a membrane (or FRK-type surface), otherwise you'd have to make your traps about 50-percent thicker to get similar absorption at the lowest frequencies.

--Ethan

[woodsyi]

Thanks Kip.
My room is approx. 26 X13 ft ceiling is 7ft 10"
Ceiling was double insulated and has a 3/4" air gap.
Drywall with custom wood wall units at each end, making corner traps impossible.Carpet?underpad on concrete floor.One dooorway and one window. Several pictures along one wall and none on the other.
I believe there are pictures of the 2 channel end in my gallery.
The room has my HT at one end and a 2channel rig in the other with seating facing both ways in the middle.
My budget is flexible with WAF being quite important.

Start with bass trapping in all 8 corners, absorption on 1st reflection points, huge diffraction on the back wall behind the listening position and absorption on the front wall (unless you got dipole speakers).  For a rectangular room, this will get you more than halfway there. 

[JoshK]

Start with bass trapping in all 8 corners, absorption on 1st reflection points, huge diffraction on the back wall behind the listening position and absorption on the front wall (unless you got dipole speakers).  For a rectangular room, this will get you more than halfway there. 

That would likely be 90% there.   Geddes has a book on building a home theater that supposedly explains treatments.  I haven't read it.

I think first reflections are key and then bass traps to dampening any modal ringing.  Geddes' style multi-sub solution probably minimizes the need for lots of bass traps but it still doesn't hurt.  Don't forget reflections from floor to ceiling, but not always as easy to treat.

[kip_]

Start with bass trapping in all 8 corners, absorption on 1st reflection points, huge diffraction on the back wall behind the listening position and absorption on the front wall (unless you got dipole speakers).  For a rectangular room, this will get you more than halfway there.

He can't treat his corners or his back walls, he has shelving units that run along the whole front and back walls.