Review of RealTraps in SF

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 15 Feb 2005, 04:27 pm »

For anyone that's interested in RealTraps, Stereophile has an online review on their website. Worth a look.

youngho · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Feb 2005, 11:30 pm »

I recently recommended Real Traps to a user with a challenging room setup on the AVS Forum here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=507992

I hope Ethan doesn't mind, but it seemed like a good match for this particular person. Just for my own edification, please let me know if any of my suggestions in that thread were way off base. Thanks,

Young-Ho

Ethan Winer · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Feb 2005, 04:57 pm »

Young-Ho,

> I recently recommended Real Traps to a user with a challenging room <

Wow, I missed that thread completely. Thanks!

> please let me know if any of my suggestions in that thread were way off base. <

No, it all looked good to me.

--Ethan

John B · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Feb 2005, 05:55 pm »

This weekend there will be a demonstration at my review Meet of the Real Traps, a before and after experience. For the first portion of the Meet my Mini Traps will be left as is, 5 on the back wall at the corners, and 3 Micro Traps at the first reflection points. Then we'll remove them, and hear what we shall hear

ctviggen · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Feb 2005, 06:09 pm »

You have a backwall with five corners? Or do you mean two in the corners and three along the backwall? I wonder if one in each corner of the room and one on the wall where the system is would be better than five along the same wall?

hi5harry · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Feb 2005, 06:17 pm »

I installed Realtraps in my listening room a couple weeks ago and am very happy with the results. They seem to work on all frequencies a lot better thans other room treatments I have tried

John B · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Feb 2005, 12:34 am »

Bob,

Here's a picture of the layout; you'll have to picture the microtraps on stands to each side.

http://hometheatertalk.com/httalk/viewtopic.php?t=6790&highlight=beavs

warnerwh · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Feb 2005, 02:12 am »

After doing much research Ethan seems to have probably the best buy in quality acoustic treatment. The fact he comes by and helps for free all the time looks is nice too. Anybody who doesn't treat their room doesn't know what they're missing. The cost compared to the improvement in sound is very efficient, much more so than electronics. Only speakers can compete with the improvement and if you don't have at least decent acoustics you'll never realize the ability of your speakers potential. Sure took me long enough.

gonefishin · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Feb 2005, 02:53 am »

Thanks for the link to the review!

I've finally got an option to put my main speakers into their own room, in the finished (drywall/carpet) basement...so room treatments are FINALLY going to be possible

In this new room, I'm going to have the ability to add my sub. I was going to use an active crossover I've got laying around...but noticed the Subwoofer Optimization System that was mentioned in the Stereophile Article.

Has anybody got any experience with this unit? any opinions of using this little unit along with treatments?

thanks,

dan

ctviggen · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Feb 2005, 01:08 pm »

Ah, I see. Those are the only places you could put them. One thing I did was buy two of the Microtraps and stands. When I listen to stereo, I put the Microtraps in front of my TV. They help a lot (with imaging and in particular they help to center the image). However, I don't know if you could put them out of the way easily in your situation. I was also considering buying two more traps, but I can't decide whether they should be in the two corners of my room that don't have traps or along the wall.

Ethan Winer · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Feb 2005, 05:19 pm »

Bob,

> I can't decide whether they should be in the two corners of my room that don't have traps or along the wall. <

Definitely in the corners. Assuming you already have the side wall reflection points covered.

--Ethan

ctviggen · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Feb 2005, 05:29 pm »

Thanks, Ethan. I have one mondo trap in each of the front corners. I have one HF minitrap at each first reflection point (although I store my microtraps at the same point when watching TV), and I use my two microtraps in front of my system when listening to stereo. I'm thinking of buying two more mondo traps for the other two remaining corners.

John B · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Feb 2005, 04:04 pm »

The Meet held at my place on Saturday revealed some very interesting results with the use of Real Traps. Though we didn't have a chance to take the whole shoot'n match down and see how it sounded before and after, something I intend to do later, we did find that in my room, there was substantial improvement to be had by moving the micro traps off the right side wall, at the first reflection point, and moving them to where they closed off the entrance to the hallway. This hallway entrance is behind the right speaker, and slightly to the right.

What caused this change to be attempted was that everyone felt that the left speaker, which is placed near the only true corner of the listening room, was more prominent in loudness. When we closed off the hallway with the micro traps things balanced out nicely, and the soundstaging became more holographic. Also suggested by some of the more experienced audiophiles at the Meet, was that I should consider some diffusors on the ceiling. Ahhhh....does it ever end? Hope not, this is fun stuff