[InfernoSTi]

I want to post my experience with SRL Acoustics and their Prime 37 Diffuser panel. 

As background, I have build many of my own treatments as I find I learn a lot building projects and hearing their affect on my room.  My main reference is Everest's "Master Handbook of Acoustics" but also I have had a lot of help from the DIY community. 

I have some professional bass trap offerings from GIK, specifically their excellent Tri Traps and even better Soffit Traps. The GIK traps are outstanding with really excellent results "inch for inch" compared to my DIY traps. In a limited space, they are simply more efficient than what I was making myself. I am very happy with the GIK traps.

I wanted to try a diffuser in the front wall setting.  Additionally, I needed a movable, free standing (i.e. non-wall mounted) solution.

I found SRL Acoustics,  a company that builds Prime 37 diffusers for recording studios.  What was of concern to me was that, in theory, the larger the prime base, the smoother the diffusion pattern and with a smoother scattering pattern.  Here is a graphic showing the frequency lobes with two periods of QRD (Prime 7 is the bottom and Prime 37 is the second from top):



Allen from SRL Acoustics and I discussed what I was looking for and how to adapt the 4'x6'x8.5" Prime 37 to a stand so I could use it as I needed to.  I have to say that it is great to work with someone who wants to know why and how you are going to use the product, including my unique need to keep the product moveable as I don't have a permanent mounting location I can utilize. I also wanted to cover the diffuser so it would blend into the background to a much greater degree. 



Once built, delivered, and set up, I have to say the Prime 37 Diffuser is the real deal.  I wouldn't be without it now that I have heard my system with it.  It just sounds that much better in my listening room.

Allen at SRL Acoustics has been great with his customer service in many regards: the fit and finish is tremendous, the packing expert, the custom stand is a key component getting the diffuser off the ground made a huge impact on sound quality it turns out. 



The stand holds the diffuser 18" off the floor and can sit flush against the wall. I tried a couple of different angles but discovered flat against the wall sounded best. I also noted that when I had it on the floor, the bass was very muddy, perhaps as my bass traps were more hidden or perhaps for some other reason. Once I found the right sound quality for the mid and upper ranges, I placed it on the stand and suddenly the bass got tight and musical again. I moved my equipment rack to the left side and placed two 2" acoustic panels against the front wall (seen behind the right speaker). I then moved my large curved diffuser to the right side next to the TV and placed a 2" acoustic panel in front of the TV screen. There is a sofa on the left side wall.

Here are some of the comments I sent Allen after setting up the diffuser:

I've listened a bit more tonight and I have to say the soundstage is greatly enhanced…the depth and width all blend much more smoothly (making the speakers virtually disappear). The added clarity is great, too. This is across all kinds of music but it seems to be most prominent in the types of music that have piano, soft cymbal playing, acoustic guitar, etc. I guess it is in the upper mids/lower highs that things really get crisper.

I've got The Allman Bros at Fillmore East (24/96 hi resolution) album on and I've never heard such smooth imagining and perfect sound stage. The clarity is out of this world. On The Bill Evans Trio Waltz for Debbie (24/96), I almost thought it was bright until I realized the word was CLEAR. Bright would imply out of balance and this is smooth as butter still.

Clarity is greatly enhanced and the soundstage is very integrated, if that makes sense. The speaker location is much, much harder to pinpoint...they really disappear better than ever before. I feel that once I get into a "real" listening room in December (I'm moving next month), the sound quality will be even better. Right now the location isn't perfect yet it helps the sound significantly. Interestingly, the sound stage is much better no matter where you are in the room, not just in the sweet spot.

The Prime 37 Diffuser is both affordable and way more effective than I had thought possible. I'm very pleased indeed...thank you, Allen!

John

[PhenomeNhan]

Great to hear that it is working out really well for you, John.  I never thought about covering up the that type of diffuser like a regular absorption panel.  The system is looking good!

[InfernoSTi]

Great to hear that it is working out really well for you, John.  I never thought about covering up the that type of diffuser like a regular absorption panel.  The system is looking good!

Oh my gosh, Nhan!  Great to hear from you!  You know that I've moved to the north San Antonio area.  Thank you for the kind words...the system sounds so much better than it did when you last listened...there is no comparison.  In fact, I'm a little embarrassed to think what I had you listen to!  The tweeters alone are a huge step up in quality, as are my amp tweak (lots of Mundorf silver in oil caps in everything!). 

The acoustic cloth is great...while you see it, it pretty well blends in rather than stands out.  There is a wooden frame that goes around the whole unit and the cloth is attached to that. Nice fit and finish...

I hope you are doing well...what is in your main system these days? 

John

[PhenomeNhan]

John,

I did not know you moved to SA.  That's too bad, but I'm sure you are doing well there.

Your system sounded pretty good, but I know it was a work-in-progress for you.  I guess most of our systems are always a work-in-progress.

I added a Melody PM845 (mono-blocks) and Pure Black 101 (pre-amp) to the system since you were here last.  I also added a SB touch (with modified linear power supply) as well as an Onix DAC, a couple of new power cords, an additional Belkin power conditioner, and a couple of Emotiva amps for the HT.  I think that is it

[srlaudio]

   I am always glad to hear that the musical enjoyment of a system is enhanced by my products.  Thanks for the kind words!

[InfernoSTi]

John,

I did not know you moved to SA.  That's too bad, but I'm sure you are doing well there.

Your system sounded pretty good, but I know it was a work-in-progress for you.  I guess most of our systems are always a work-in-progress.

I added a Melody PM845 (mono-blocks) and Pure Black 101 (pre-amp) to the system since you were here last.  I also added a SB touch (with modified linear power supply) as well as an Onix DAC, a couple of new power cords, an additional Belkin power conditioner, and a couple of Emotiva amps for the HT.  I think that is it

845 mono blocks?!!! Nice nice nice, Nhan!  You always have the best equipment! 

Work in progress is right...but I've learned a lot and made some good improvements to the amp and upgraded the compression drives and crossovers and that made a big difference.  I also added a dedicated Mac Mini for my music server.

I still have a house in McKinney...I'm up there about once a month if I'm lucky.  I took a job just north of San Antonio that I couldn't pass up.  I'm having fun working like it was in the hay day of growth in McKinney/Frisco.  Seriously fun job and you can't beat that with a stick.

John

[InfernoSTi]

  I am always glad to hear that the musical enjoyment of a system is enhanced by my products.  Thanks for the kind words!

Allen,

I take a while to get to "know" a new component in the system...the Prime 37 is definitely a new component!  Right now I'm enamored with the smooth sound stage depth.  I've not had the speakers disappear like this before! 

John

[Rob Babcock]

Very nice!  I'm tempted to try something like that.

[woodsyi]

I have the same one except it sits on by back wall behind the listening position.  It absolutely contributes to locking in deep and wide soundstage. 

[InfernoSTi]

Wow!  I love that room. Tell more...Prime 37 Diffuser? Yes!!!  Vinyl? Yes!!! Redbook CDs?  Yes!!!  Disco ball? Yes!!!  You have it all....

So that works on the back wall if you have enough room?  What distance does it work for you...minimum distance to the listening chair, please?

John

[srlaudio]

Hey Woodsyi!

   Do you still have the sidewall reflection point diffusers mounted?  I can't see them in this picture....

[Soundtrackmixer]

I am glad I stumbled on to this post and thread. I am working on my dedicated room, and I will need a diffusor for my ceiling very shortly.

[InfernoSTi]

I am glad I stumbled on to this post and thread. I am working on my dedicated room, and I will need a diffusor for my ceiling very shortly.

Drop Allen a PM and let him know what you are thinking about. He customized to my needs perfectly! 

John

P.S. Here is the web page:  http://www.srlacoustics.com/

[Soundtrackmixer]

Drop Allen a PM and let him know what you are thinking about. He customized to my needs perfectly! 

John

P.S. Here is the web page:  http://www.srlacoustics.com/

Thanks John, you are a gentleman and a scholarship....ah...errr....oh that's right scholar!

[drummermitchell]

I've been chatting with Allen(nice guy)and sent him some picts of my room.
I shall be purchasing one these  in the next day or two .

[InfernoSTi]

I've been chatting with Allen(nice guy)and sent him some picts of my room.
I shall be purchasing one these  in the next day or two .

Good to hear!  You won't be disappointed...I can't wait to hear your impressions!  Are you using front wall, rear wall or on two side walls?  Spill the beans, please....

John

[drummermitchell]

Hi John,
I'll be using the backwall as I have 242's at 1st+2nd reflections.
The front I have a 235.1 screen and tritraps in all corners plus a few at wall ceiling corners.
I'm hoping that this will be as dramatic as the bass trapping.
The room is not big 12X19X7.5H,but she opens up to a stairwell,short hallway,laundry rm and two bedrooms which make it(area wise ) a whole lot bigger.
LoL,I was having a B__CH of a time with 2 f-113's as they couldn't load the room(no matter where I placed them.
Then it dawned on me,that they couldn't  load the12X19 with the rest of the downstairs 1250sq ft.
In come the 1812 sub,glory be,it is so good whether movies or music,I have that subsonic lowend and midbass punch I've been looking for after going thru 6 sus,Velo's and Jl's,
I have it in spades now ,I'm hoping to finish off acoustically the room which I hope the diffusor is the icing on the cake. So Far she's sounding very good indeed.

[woodsyi]

Hey Woodsyi!

   Do you still have the sidewall reflection point diffusers mounted?  I can't see them in this picture....

They are still there.





I have not bothered with the acoustics for a while.  I feel like I have done all I can in the room. 

[InfernoSTi]

I spent the late morning experimenting with my room setup and have found better setup for the Prime 37.  I'm now using it has a side wall first reflection diffuser on the "narrow" side of my room (I have to offset to one side by about 3'). On the "wide" side I have my DIY array of elliptical diffusers over different sizes (two 8", an 12", and a 4'). 



This has really helped open up and balance my setup. I think I will like this location for the rest of the time I'm in my apartment...another month! 

John

Edit:  I've added three 4" OC703 panels to the front wall and with the diffusion on the side wall the setup sounds really good! The combination of diffusion and absorption is a mean machine.  Don't mind the royal blue...it will get a black cover once I move next month!