[knotscott]

My wife and chief decorator is of the impression that my listening room is primarily the family living room, and she's particular about how it's decorated.  Acoustic treatment to the room is largely off limits beyond carpet, drapes, upholstered furniture, and a fortuitously placed wood fireplace mantle as an ad hoc diffuser. 

One solution was to add dense 1/2" wool ironing felt to the back and fronts of the speakers.  The material on the back helps absorb reflections from the rear wall, and the felt on the front baffle helps reduce diffraction.  It's not a night and day difference, but it's definitely audible....likely more so from the front baffle treatment than the rear.... there's less smearing of the treble and the image is more precise.  It was < $25 for the wool felt, and easy to apply with spray glue....it's also easy to remove and adjust as desired...it took me a few attempts to dial it in.  You can cut and shape it just about anyway you like with a sharp blade.   Pretty happy with the results considering the minimal cost and effort. 









Progression of felt variations:

[planet10]

I suspect these treatments will have a small positive effect on the room. I do put a thick piece of felt on the big flat magnet surfaces of a driver.

Probably the tweeter treatment has the most effect but on edge diffraction.

Looks good cosmetically, although i’d be temped to puzzlekoat/modpodge (with black)  the yellow drivers. Likely improves the drivers as ell as toning down the colour.

Natural felt that thick is often hard to source, where did you get yours?

dave

[FullRangeMan]

In the 1980s I sent away wife for less than that.

[knotscott]

I suspect these treatments will have a small positive effect on the room. I do put a thick piece of felt on the big flat magnet surfaces of a driver.

Probably the tweeter treatment has the most effect but on edge diffraction.
Looks good cosmetically, although i’d be temped to puzzlekoat/modpodge (with black)  the yellow drivers. Likely improves the drivers as ell as toning down the colour.

Natural felt that thick is often hard to source, where did you get yours?

dave

Amazon had several options and different thicknesses.  Etsy, Ebay, Walmart and many craft stores would likely have it too.  Just search "wool ironing felt".

 I could paint it black if I get ambitious!  I'd agree that the reduction in edge diffraction is likely the most beneficial, but I'll take any small improvements I can! 

[JakeJ]

In the 1980s I sent away wife for less than that.