[Housteau]

I like peaked height in a listening room.  It may just be my imagination, but I swear it adds scale to the performance.  Imagination, or not, it is real enough to me.  The problem is that generally ceilings other than flat ones tend to give odd directional cues that can mess with imaging, among other things.  Flat ceilings are more predictable and as a result become easier to deal with.  Odd reflections playing havoc with my imaging was a problem I had with my cathedral peak until I treated it properly.

My question is then:  Does it really matter what odd shape the ceiling is as long as it is treated properly?  For example:  I was looking at a construction technique that would place a 12 foot apex in the center of the listening room and dropping down to the 8 foot side walls as an octagon.  Left untreated my guess is that this would be far, far from ideal.  But, considering the theory that the ceiling may be one of the best places to add bass absorption, one with a little creativity could make the entire ceiling one large peaked bass trap, and keep the floor below reflective instead.  It seems that could turn an initial disaster into an ideal situation.  Any thoughts?

By the way, this is one of the plans I was looking at:https://www.topsiderhouseplans.com/collections.asp?c=GARAGE&plid=116

Within this very strong and extreme wind resistant structure one could construct an ideal 23' x 16' listening room, or my choice, a 23 x 19.  This second ratio also works out well on the modal calculator.  That leaves plenty of room within that structure for the central AC system and some storage spaces outside of the main listening area.  One could also build in bass traps in other cavities left around the main inner room.   

Dave

[BobM]

I would truly envy you for having the space available to construct this hexagonal structure for a dedicated listening room. Add in a dedicated audio power supply, separate from the A/C and lighting and manditory wet bar w/ fridge, and a pool deck on the side and you've got a dream room that most of us would be very happy to help you audition. 

Bob

[Housteau]

It is really a plan for a possible future.  I may be building a new home out of choice, or be forced to out of necessity.  I live in Louisiana and was very lucky with the hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  I was bracketed on either side and braced for one down the middle.  Last season was fine, but the previous one really shook me up and got me thinking a good bit about what I would do if the worst case would happen.  Somehow it makes me more at ease having some sort of plan.  I see that the plan I posted has a post dead center of the structure.  So, that one might be a problem.  Here is another that would work:  https://www.topsiderhouseplans.com/collections.asp?c=GARAGE&plid=117

I do feel very fortunate to have what I do now though.  My home is smallish at around 1500 square ft., but I was able to build a dedicated free standing listening room behind it with an attached garage, about 15 years ago.  Yep, and I did the pool thing too that I did myself right next to it.  However, it is of typical construction and quite vulnerable to the nasties of nature.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=31520.0

 

[nodiak]

Deltec has "circular" home kits, but you could do it yourself, or a local builder. No pole in the center, high winds stable. There are other companies too. Also the extremely sturdy concrete domes by Monolithic Domes. But they can have non audiophile acoustics - they report hearing whispers from one end to the other. Surely treatable.
Both have small single room sizes to multiple story.
http://www.deltechomes.com/index.php
http://www.monolithic.com/thedome/index.html

[Housteau]

Thank you.  I am looking at them now.

[woodsyi]

Dave,

If you are worried about hurricanes, I would go with a more authentic geodesic design like ones offered here. It offers hurricane guarantee.    http://www.aidomes.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Who knows, maybe old Bucky was truly ahead of his time and the synergistic acoustics in a geodesic dome would be perfect. 

[Housteau]

Yes, that is a classic design.  I have run across this: http://www.cbs-homes.com/
This looks promising.  They can work with standard plans and look just like any other home.  I am sure they may not be the last word in protection, but they state 350 mph winds.  It also appears to be an integrated system for roofing, bulletproof glass etc.  Some of those other designs look nice, but really need to be in the proper location to fit in, without neighbors wanting your head on a stick .

[Ethan Winer]

Dave,

> Does it really matter what odd shape the ceiling is as long as it is treated properly? <

Yes and No.

In theory you can "treat away" any funky shape or reflecting surface. The "No" part comes into play because you'd need absorption two feet thick to counter a domed ceiling to a suitably low frequency. The ideal ceiling rises from front to rear at a continuous 35 degree angle. That way all initial reflections are directed over your head to behind you. Famous mastering engineer Bob Katz works in a room with a ceiling like that.

So you should definitely avoid any shape that's curved or peaked where the concave portion is above your head.

--Ethan

[woodsyi]

God forbid if the hurricane wind catches the "wrong" side of a house with that dimension -- might as well build retractable flaps and a rudder.   

[ctviggen]

Anyone ever play around with those parabolic mirror type of science displays?  This is the one where they basically have two dishes aligned so that the centers are aligned and the concave portions face each other.  You whisper at the center of one dish, while your friend puts his ear at the center of the other dish.  It's amazing what you can hear!  That's similar to what a domed ceiling would be like.

[LightFire]

What about using an equalizer to compensate for the absence of odd shaped ceilings. Would that work?

[Housteau]

Thank you Ethan, that is what I needed to know.

[nodiak]

It seems like if the #1 issue is for a wind shearing external structure (for survival), and a dome ceiling doesn't work for acoustics (including the problem of excessive treatment needed) then to get issue #2 - a great listening room - you'd need to make the structure large enough to allow a great listening room with proper wall/ceiling angles as part of the floorplan. Ex. - a dome with a high enough peak for a loft above listening room. Loft could be a utility/storage or guest room. Or a structure with roundish walls and an angled (35 degrees) roof.
(Just brainstorming on lunch break here guys).
This subject interests me as I researched circular houses and domes for awhile. Lots of examples of them surviving winds and snowpack. Floorplans can get pretty creative for better or worse.
Actually the safest dwellings for wind were considered to be earthberm or underground types. A sloping east facing lot was ideal (here in northern hemisphere). And sometimes cheap as the slope was traditionally less buildable. East face for large windows and entrance. Depth of house usually under 30' so it receives winter light at the back wall.
Sorry a bit OT here, just an interesting topic to me.
Don

[Ethan Winer]

What about using an equalizer to compensate for the absence of odd shaped ceilings. Would that work?

No, because the problems caused by reflections are highly localized and change substantially over very small distances. So any EQ curve you apply to help one place will make things worse even a foot or less away.

--Ethan