[Carlman]

How about a giant ceiling fan with big, foam blades?
 

[lonewolfny42]

John, Any chance of a few pictures...like a wide shot....to see  how the setup goes ?  Thanks !!

[John Casler]

I agree this is not a good look.  However, what if I got some of this 'wedge foam' in white to match the color of the ceiling.. and mounted it to the ceiling?  Would the effect be 10-50% of the hanging method?  It would certainly help cut down ceiling reflections.

Or is ceiling covering another topic entirely?  I have the rough texture there already... you know that spray-on stuff that's out of style in new homes these days.. ?

While actually tacking the whole sheet to the ceiling is certainly effective, it doesn't do it quite as well, since you can only focus on direct early reflections, and much reflected sound is "spewn" all over the place.

But If you looking for a "suitable" looking alternative it is a good place to start.

Do be aware that most open cell acoustic foam is still acoutically transparent and some sound still goes through.  The thicker the better and that is why I suggest at least 3".

[BrunoB]

Do be aware that most open cell acoustic foam is still acoutically transparent and some sound still goes through.  The thicker the better and that is why I suggest at least 3".

You can line the back of your hanging foam with a vinyl table cloth to stop the sound from going through. Then, you don't need 3'' thick foam and can  choose cheaper egg crate foam.

Bruno

[John Casler]

Thanks John, I just ordered a 8pack of those 3" wedges like you suggest (and have in the past, i know, i know....).

I think the wife would kick me out on my ass and probably be in a big enough rage to throw the RM-40s out after me if I tried the "fly strip" approach of dangling foam (won't stop me from trying it the next time she's out of the house for awhile though....). Do you suggest to put the "fly strip" 1/2 distance btwn me and the front speakers, directly in between the L&R? I'm a little confused. ...

Yeah anyone with a wife or friends who visit occasionally, shouldn't read this kind of post

And yes the foam panel (in my room) hangs down 48" from a 9 foot ceiling.

As I mentioned earlier, these can also be used beside and behind you.  

As an alternative (although an alternative my wife still won't go for...), will tacking some foam to the ceiling above the L & R speakers have a similar effect? Would it be better against the ceiling 1/2 btwn the seat and the fronts?

Most would suggest using the old "mirror trick" of moving a mirror around on the ceiling until you can see your speakers while seated in your listening position, and then placing the panel centered on that spot.

[Psychicanimal]

Listen up, children!

IKEA sells for $4.95 these 2 x 4 Indian doormats in many different color patterns.  The cotton fabric is wound in tubular form and sewn together.  They rock!

One of the Ridge Street Audio guys (Steve, the speaker guy) was here and when he saw them pinned on my walls he put his ear up to them and said "They work too well."

Just one more free, kick ass tip from the Psychic...

[DSK]

Listen up, children!

IKEA sells for $4.95 these 2 x 4 Indian doormats in many different color patterns.  The cotton fabric is wound in tubular form and sewn together.  They rock!

Anything is worth a try I guess, but it's worth noting that Jon Risch has tested various cloths/fabrics etc and found cotton to be too reflective. It is for this reason that he strongly suggests polyester batting and burlap/jute covering, not cotton, for his DIY tube traps. So, I guess these doormats would work ok in the flystrip approach, but may not be very effective mounted flat against room boundaries at the primary reflection points...although they might provide a little diffusion, depending on their surface shape.