Jimbos Audio ramblings

[Barry]

Out of interest, what are the dimensions of your listening room?

[Jimbo]

Out of interest, what are the dimensions of your listening room?

23 x 9 x 12.5

But I can open doors out at back of room to add another 15 feet behind listening position.

[Barry]

That's roughly the same size as mine (but in mine there is a change in width halfway down the length of the room).

Given the position of two doors to the room, and the fact that over most of frequency response the speakers have a dipole polar pattern, there really is only one location where the speakers can be placed.

Add to that there are patio doors at the speaker end, and a full width window at the listening end.

[Jimbo]

That's roughly the same size as mine (but in mine there is a change in width halfway down the length of the room).

Given the position of two doors to the room, and the fact that over most of frequency response the speakers have a dipole polar pattern, there really is only one location where the speakers can be placed.

Add to that there are patio doors at the speaker end, and a full width window at the listening end.

I sometimes think my room does tend to concentrate the sound because of the relatively narrow width, however using acoustic treatment here and there does tend to change things somewhat. Weirdly I get a wider soundstage using first reflection panels but I suppose what is happening is that I am receiving a more direct and accurate construction of the top end frequencies which are mainly responsible for "painting the picture".

The more accurate and symmetrical you can get the timing of the top end frequencies the more layering, and sound stage information/imaging is revealed.

[Jimbo]

Calculation for my room without treatment gives a RT60 time of 0.6, however with the treatment I have currently I am at about 0.4. I need to get down RT60 value to about 0.3 so more treatment definitely needed. Having just looked at a whole load of new material I really need to get some panels on the ceiling and also increase the number and size of some of my other panels.

I will have to step carefully in order to achieve this or else I will fall foul of the domestic control police!

[Macca]

0.4 is within the acceptable range I wouldn't worry too much about it.

A large room will naturally have a longer reverberation time, that's not necessarily bad for sound quality. Like in a church you might get RT60 over six seconds but it actually makes the organ and choir sound better, not worse.

Nothing is simple in acoustics!

[Jimbo]

0.4 is within the acceptable range I wouldn't worry too much about it.

A large room will naturally have a longer reverberation time, that's not necessarily bad for sound quality. Like in a church you might get RT60 over six seconds but it actually makes the organ and choir sound better, not worse.

Nothing is simple in acoustics!

Yeah you're right and I do think it is a matter of taste too. It is a personal listening space and should suit the listener however I am fascinated by what changes can be made altering the acoustics. Simple enough to add stuff and then take it away!

[Macca]

Yeah you're right and I do think it is a matter of taste too. It is a personal listening space and should suit the listener however I am fascinated by what changes can be made altering the acoustics. Simple enough to add stuff and then take it away!

It's certainly a matter of taste - plus the specific speakers and room acoustic. No one size fits all with this stuff.

Personally I've only used specific treatments on problem areas - where I was getting obvious slap and flutter echo that was distracting.

Then I had one panel left so put that on the wall by the speaker that's nearest the wall. No idea what I expected that to do but it doesn't seem to be much So I've left it there.

The sound seems to come totally from the end of the room with the speakers in, I don't perceive it as bouncing about so I think that's about right. I think I'd start killing it if I did more. But like you say, you can always rip it down again.

[Jimbo]

Useful tool/site for room acoustic measurements. Just plug your room dimensions in and you will get an estimated evaluation.


https://amcoustics.com

[Barry]

Useful tool/site for room acoustic measurements. Just plug your room dimensions in and you will get an estimated evaluation.


https://amcoustics.com

Do you have to enter the materials used to build the room?