In other words how do you deal with WAF in that you cannot hide the treatments as your audio room is also your family room?
I took down the 8th nerves and sold them all - by request...
But momma is happier, and still talks about how glad they are not there anymore. I don't know why, they looked fine to me... It was fun to hear the comments from "normal people" guessing what they were - speakers, lights, microphones, padding, cooling ducts, whatever... Maybe that bugged her that people "didn't even know what they were..." I dunno. But right now I have 4 pairs of full size speakers stacked up in the corners in there so it looks like junk pile, but she doesn't say a peep about that. I guess she knows where the hand truck is (and the curb.)
RPG is supposed to be coming out with a solid flat surface that can be painted, and will still be absorbent, but pretty thin so it won't go deep. I haven't checked the website in a long time. Another surface treatment is some kind of porous spread on gook that dries with air gaps to absorb sound a little, but the color is mixed in ahead of time, trained applicator contractors, you know what that means $$$. There are companies that make track edge that you can use to make tight smooth edges that look very neat and tidy and hide the acoustic element underneath, usually absorbent because it is usually only 2" deep. You could cover the walls of a whole room or wall with it, and it would look pretty nice in fabric of her choice. But it is still a fabric wall, looks like an office hall, or a vegas casino with visible track lines every 4 feet for the fabric roll's max width.
Bass trapping on the floor is pretty invisible, if you can cover it with curtains in the corner, plants or behind the couch, etc. It still works when blocked. But watch out for the ceiling, don't go there... "Clutter!" My most feared word. Another option is to cover absorbtion panels on the walls with tapestries. There are some nice ones available from
here. Of course there is always reverse psychology, aka brainwashing, try to make her WANT the room treatments even more than you, then reluctantly give in for her birthday present.
But Vera (and all audiophile wives) are too smart for that. Better let her decide how to solve the problem. Say, "Here is the problem keeping me from perfect joy. Here are the technologies to solve it, (pointing to the one you want.) Here are the decorative options. Please help me figure this out (and I will take you to Bahamas.)"
You never know...
We are so lucky to be blessed with this so called "problem"...
Rich
