How many panels?

mca · « **on:** 26 Feb 2006, 09:16 pm »

Right now my room (14 x 18') has eight 2 x 4 x 4" GIK panels double stacked in each of the four corners. The double stacking method has helped my bass problems out quite a bit.

Now it is time to treat the rest of the room. I plan to use the 2 x 4 x 2" GIK panels to do this. My plan is for nine panel’s total. Three spread across the front wall, two panels side by side on the sidewalls for 1st order reflections and two panels on the ceiling spaced between me and the speakers.

I believe it was Scott Mayo that mentioned it is best to treat the 1st order reflections with double wide panels. I was going to stick with that theory unless I hear otherwise.

I'm just curious if it sounds like I am going overboard with treatment? As of now, the room is pretty bright.

MaxCast · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 09:32 pm »

according to the acoustics experts, the more the better. I think behind the speakers and at first reflection points is great. You may also want to do to the back corners what you did to the front corners. That is where the most effective bass traping is done. The ceiling is a great idea too.

klh · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 Feb 2006, 11:31 pm »

Don't forget the wall behind you.

I'm doing three on the front (one behind each speaker), three on each side wall (two at the first reflection point and one directly to the left and right of the seated positions), three next to eachother directly behind the couch, and four on the ceiling. Beyond that I'll likely flank one on each side of the three on the back wall, but midway between the three and the side walls.

I'm building my own, and since 2" 3# fiberglass come in 6 packs, I have to go with 12 or 18. I could get by with 12, but my room has crazy reverb and echo so I think it's worth the hassle and money to get the extra 6. The only furniture besides the electronics is the couch and two reclining deck chairs.

The good thing is you could always buy more if needed/wanted. You are definitely on the right track.

bpape · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Feb 2006, 12:55 am »

How many and where will depend on what you're using the room for - HT? Multi-channel music? 2 channel music? Mix?

Front wall between the speakers is good either way.

Doubles on side wall for reflections is likely necessary but where is determined by where the reflections actually are.

Ceiling is a personal choice and might be skipped depending on what the existing decay time and the target is for the room.

Behind you on the rear wall is good for HT (or on the rear of the side walls) but not so good for 2 channel.

mca · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Feb 2006, 03:15 am »

My system is about 70% music and 30% home theater. My back wall is covered with CD and DVD racks with a window in the corner. The window is covered with blinds and heavy drapes over that. There is only one bare spot on the back wall and I have thought about putting one of the new GIK 7" thick traps there. I sit about 6' away from the back wall, but when I stand in the back of the room, the bass get's loud and boomy.

95bcwh · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 Feb 2006, 03:34 am »

Quote from: bpape

How many and where will depend on what you're using the room for - HT? Multi-channel music? 2 channel music? Mix?

Front wall between the speakers is good either way.

Doubles on side wall for reflections is likely necessary but where is determined by where the reflections actually are.

Ceiling is a personal choice and might be skipped depending on what the existing decay time and the target is for the room.

Behind you on the rear wall is good for HT (or on the rear of the side walls) but not so good for 2 channel.

bpape,
I'm getting confused here.. I have always thought it's necessary to place at least 2 panels at the rear wall even for 2-channel? Or, does it depend on how far you sit from the rear wall?

Thanks
RV

bpape · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Feb 2006, 12:23 pm »

Some of it is preference. Personally, I don't like it dead behind me - even in multi-channel.

The idea in either case is that the front wall needs to be relatively dead - moreso in multi-channel.

Now, BASS control on the wall behind you is very desirable as is diffusion (but that's very distance to seat related). It's soft absorbtion I tell people to watch behind them in a 2 channel setup. If you can put up some sealed wooden membrane absorbers or some heavily faced soft absorbtion on the rear that works decently. A VERY large polycylindrical diffusor also works very well but you kind of have to be sitting pretty far away (like 8' or so and the diffusor would be about 6-8' wide).

The problem in 2 channels is that you depend somewhat on the room to assist with the 'envelopment' of the soundstage. If you kill the back, it's tough to get that. In multi-channel, you have distinct channels and speakers that are reproducing that directly in different places so the room should be less of a factor (hence deader and absorbtion all around - but not total coverage).

Hope that helps.

Bryan

Glenn K · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Feb 2006, 02:58 pm »

As Bryan said the back wall is a personal preference, but I seem to like the back wall treated due to the sound coming back on you from the fronts.. 4 inch panels are preferred, but 2 inch panels spaced off the wall works pretty darn well also...

Glenn