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In Reply to: RE: Room Treatment...Anyone Not Satisfied? posted by AudioDwebe on October 12, 2009 at 12:54:03
Given a horrendous listening room acoustics situation (are there many that don't need some attention?), and not feeling so comfortable with the costs of professionally built solutions, I finally DIY'ed my own panel absorbers. I haven't done any formal measurements, but qualitatively the panels have transformed the room acoustics, and in turn the sonic performance of my system at the listening position (walk to some other part of the room and all bets are off).I made 2'x4' and 2'x2' wooden framed things with SAFB being the main effective material. Lightweight frames made from firring strips just stapled together, some polyester batting, SAFB, burlap of different colors, and some wall hooks. I estimate that the direct materials cost of each panel is less than $15. I used just one 2" thick bit of SAFB per panel, mounting them off the walls by about 2". They're similar to what's shown in the video. Once I had a plan, sourcing the materials, preparing the materials, and assembly was pretty quick and easy. Overall, not difficult.
Most of these are placed along walls. I have some straddling corners, but I need to do more to tame corners and to address lower frequencies. I think the finish looks quite professional. The finished appearance quality is mostly a matter or how much effort and care is applied to the finishing work.
- SJ
Edits: 10/13/09Follow Ups:
Thanks for the suggestion to use SAFB (had to look that one up). Do you feel it works as well as fiberglass, or better?
Sorry about that. SAFB = Sound Attenuating Fire Bat. Used for acoustic attenuation, thermal insulation, and fire retardance (or so I think). Spun basalt (SAFB) vs. silica (fiberglass). From the attenuation numbers I've seen, similar densities of fiberglass and SAFB are very similar. The SAFB is less pricey than the glass fiber. I bought a box of six 2"x2'x4" bats from ATS Acoustics (atsacoustics.com). I've since come across a source for a greater selection of SAFB; differing densities, shapes, and sizes, which could be useful. I sourced the hardware from Lowe's and Home Depot. The polyester batting and burlap from a local fabric/sewing shop.The results were that without the treatments otherwise nice audio gear sounded all too close to a clock radio (and not even a fancy one, either), but with the treatments satisfying audio experiences abounded. The room overall is now very quiet and much less reflective. There's more to all of this room treatment stuff, but at the listening position there's more sound from the system than the room.
For a bit more background, I'm listening "near-field", in either an equilateral triangle or an equal-legged "T" configuration, with the listener not further than about 8' from the speaker baffles/drivers. My intent here is to minimize room effect at the listening position.
Here's a picture (sorry it's not better) of some of them positioned on the wall. Kinda like a modern art installation... ;)
Thin firring strips, stapled together as I mentioned. The panels are open at the back and the sides to help (I'm guessin') absorb acoustic energy through these parts of the panel. It would be nice to add a little fill to the back sections, then finish this with some fabric. What you see in the back is polyester batting. There's no exposed SAFB. It's all enclosed in some thickness of polyester batting. Here's the unfinished back of a panel.
I've got some thoughts about better corner traps, but haven't gotten around to them yet. If it would help, I have some construction pictures I could send that show how I put together these panels. Nothing too different from what others have done.
- SJ
Edits: 10/13/09 10/13/09
Nice traps SJ. What is the purpose of the polyester batting behind the absorption panels?
Also, where did you get those super-cool CD towers?
The polyester batting is about retaining/securing the SAFB/rock/mineral wool. The SAFB batting is wrapped in the polyester. The firring strip frame is flat, so the SAFB sits on top of it, not inside it, as with some panel designs. The polyester keeps the batting in place and stops direct exposure to the SAFB, keeping the SAFB fibers inside the polyester wrap.
Those CD towers came along with my lovely girlfriend. I'm not sure where she got them.
I don't have a website describing how to build these, nor do I have a formal recipe prepared, but on recent requests I did put something together. If you'd like this, I'd be happy to email it to you. Just drop me an email through the Asylum.
- SJ
Thanks for the information and photos. Your panels look very nice. You mentioned another source with a better selection; do you have a web page for them? As for the photos, the more the merrier. Could you please post them here in case others want to try and DIY the absorbers?
Thanks again.
I don't have a website describing how to build these, nor do I have a formal recipe prepared, but on recent requests I did put something together. If you, or anyone else, would like this, I'd be happy to email it to you. Just drop me an email through the Asylum.
- SJ
SJ- sent you an email.
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