[gongos]

I'm going to replace the ceiling in my listening room and siding. Are there any good acoustic materials to use? I can use sheets, tiles, squares, whatever.

[Ethan Winer]

"Replace the ceiling" is a bit vague. In general, ceilings benefit from absorption at the loudspeaker reflection points, and bass trapping around the perimeter where the walls and ceiling meet. If you can be more specific about your plans maybe we can offer better advice.

--Ethan

[gongos]

"Replace the ceiling" is a bit vague. In general, ceilings benefit from absorption at the loudspeaker reflection points, and bass trapping around the perimeter where the walls and ceiling meet. If you can be more specific about your plans maybe we can offer better advice.

--Ethan

The ceiling has interlocking tiles I'm going to take down. I'm going to install a new ceiling from scratch. I want to have something I don't have to hang panels or diffusers from. Basically, I want to install a ceiling made of a good acoustic materials.

[chosenhandle]

Earl Geddes's book has a couple of interesting suggestions for ceilings.

[bpape]

Is this going to be a solid surface or is this more of a drop ceiling with a cavity above?

Bryan

[gongos]

Is this going to be a solid surface or is this more of a drop ceiling with a cavity above?

Bryan

I'm open to either one. When the tiles come down, just the beams will be there.

[rollo]

The ceiling has interlocking tiles I'm going to take down. I'm going to install a new ceiling from scratch. I want to have something I don't have to hang panels or diffusers from. Basically, I want to install a ceiling made of a good acoustic materials.

  I would not do that. The ties are important structually. You don't want bouncy floors or sagging of floor beams. Once you take down the clg, you just may be happy with the new reflection pattern of the existing construction Now if looks are important the room Gurus will advise but give it a listen first.
  Me I would leave the existing structure as is [ paint it black] and build a wave type clg diffussor.


charles

[bpape]

That could certainly work.  Not sure how it will change things not knowing specifically what was there before.

As to what materials, it depends a lot on what else is going on in the room in terms of absorption, what your preferences are, what the height of the real ceiling is vs where you'd put up something else, etc.  Maybe some pics?

Bryan

[Bizarroterl]

When doing a ceiling from scratch is the solserene product a good idea?

[bpape]

If done with an E mount, it looks to be fairly broadband.  A mount is not something I'd want that much of in my room.

Bryan

[jimbop]

Rollo: He said he was going to take down the interlocking TILES, not the ties. Shouldn't have any effect on the structure.

Jim D

[Ethan Winer]

I'm open to either one. When the tiles come down, just the beams will be there.

My favorite ceiling for that situation is to pack the joists fully with fluffy fiberglass. Assuming the joists are 12 inches high you'll use 12-inch thick R38 fiberglass. Then you can cover that with soft fabric stretched and stapled to the joist bottoms. Thin strips of trim wood can cover the staples. This gives a lot of useful bass trapping in the room, and makes the reflection points fully absorbent which is also useful. It also keeps the room as high as possible. If you prefer a less dead sounding room you can cover the perimeter portion of the fiberglass with something more reflective such as very thin plywood, or dense fabric, or even thick cardboard painted to match.

--Ethan

[bpape]

To add to what Ethan is suggesting, you can also use paper faced insulation in the joist cavities to help reflect some of the upper mids and highs and just pull the facing off at the reflection zone.

Bryan

[gongos]

Rollo: He said he was going to take down the interlocking TILES, not the ties. Shouldn't have any effect on the structure.

Jim D

That's correct the tiles have nothing to do w/ the structural integrity. They're just old, whitish, stained, smelly, crap.

[PDR]

hmmm.....being a ticketed wall and ceiling mechanic for 30 yrs, I would say what your
describing is a old H&T type product....not structural. My first question would be....what is
it exactly, roof or floor above......if roof, where do you live? If floor what is it supporting?
Are you looking for sound proofing through the structure? If so you might want to address
this first and have your acoustics solution hanging or attached to this assembly.
Some more info please....      

[gongos]

hmmm.....being a ticketed wall and ceiling mechanic for 30 yrs, I would say what your
describing is a old H&T type product....not structural. My first question would be....what is
it exactly, roof or floor above......if roof, where do you live? If floor what is it supporting?
Are you looking for sound proofing through the structure? If so you might want to address
this first and have your acoustics solution hanging or attached to this assembly.
Some more info please....      

Here's a couple pictures. The first is of the tiles the second is of an unfinished room in the basement. The space between the beams is 9" deep and 14.5" wide. I'm assuming what's under the tiles is what's pictured in the second picture.

[PDR]

yep.......old H&T......whats above?

[gongos]

yep.......old H&T......whats above?

The upstairs hardwood floors.

[drummermitchell]

Interesting, as our soon to be new room is same type of downstairs ceiling cavity.
The tile we have in ours is the floppy fibreglass type(will be replacing)but probably leave the"T"bar in place as I see no reason to remove unless I was going to put drywall up.

Looking forward to see what the boys suggest for Gongos's ceiling.

[gongos]

ANy other suggestions, or is Ethan's idea the best?