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DIY Rigid fiberglass for bass traps and absorbtion.


m00n

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I'm probably gonna catch flack/grief about this post, however....

As I enter the next phase of my home theater, I've been trying to educate myself (as much as that is possible) about controlling/modifying room acoustics. Hence, my reading this thread.

But what I don't understand is why would m00n or anyone else make these bass traps and whatever else without knowing what (if any) acoustic problems they have? I mean, as an engineer (or scientist), I've always operated from the perspective that until I knew what the problem was (or if I even had a problem) and could accurately define the problem, then attempting to create a solution was the perverbial shooting in the dark.

Don't get me wrong m00n, I appreciate and applaud your ingenuity, however just what problem are your trying to solve? Seems to me that one would get their HT together, take some real world measurements, and then create the solutions ONE AT A TIME. From experience I can tell you that changing a bunch of things all at once will lead to more confusion. Anyone that has done motorcycle carb jetting will attest to the change one thing at a time philosophy.

Anyhow...I'll shut up now. 1.gif

Tom

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Tom

No flack intended here.

Look in the Archetectural thread. Moon has been conversing with Artto about what his room needs in a very informative thread.

Having heard, better yet, experianced is a better word, Artto's room first hand and knowing of his Archetect background. He is by far the best person on this forum to help balance a room.

His room is absolutely nothing short of AMAZING.

JM

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JM:

In my case, I did start with the room as it was before I did anything to it, acoustically speaking. I had done a computer generated forecast of the problems I would encounter. I fully expected some bass problems, and did in fact find the room to be a little too "boomy" for my taste. I also found some high frequency problems due to first order reflections. It was then that I started work on my bass traps and absorber panels.

In my room I can remove any of the treatments and hear the changes. The most significant and easy to hear are the first order reflections from the speakers. Putting the flat panel absorbers makes a noticeable difference.

I also have some angled ceilings on the right side of the room. I purchased some "egg crate" absorbers for the sloped ceilings, but found that they were not necessary, so they were removed.

I do agree that you need to know what the problem is before treating it. However, with a few simple tools it is fairly easy to mathematically forecast the problems. The CARA program is very good at that. It allows you to input the type of materials that the room uses for walls, floors etc. You can also add furniture etc. and get a pretty good idea of what your room will do when exposed to various frequencies.

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M00n, There is an article in Positive Feedback V5 #2 Late Fall 1994. It is called "Domestically Acceptable Room Treatments. It involves ¼" Luan, The wavey corrugated Vinyl Roofing panels, Fiberglass Ceiling panels (stripped), Egg Crate Light Diffusor Panel and Open Weave Cloth faberic.

It is a 4 page article and I can scan it in if you want to read it.

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BTW guys, I got them done and I want to tell you that it has been a very worth while project. These DIY broadband traps are working VERY effectivly. All the bass buildup that I had in the back corners are now gone. The bass is not as muddy anymore, it's just cleaner now... Really brings out the clean punch of those RSWs....

As far as the staples, they will get coverd with molding eventually.

DIYTopLeftTrap.jpg

DIYRightTrap.jpg

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moon,

i will do what you have done in our next house, so i was just wondering, do you get these accoustic problems because the room is virtually empty (minus seats) and enclosed?

i always just imagined packing in the sound/heat insulation between the studs, not hanging drywall, and just hanging heavy curtains all around...

so am i in for the same situation one day?

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On 11/2/2003 10:24:38 PM m00n wrote:

These DIY broadband traps are working VERY effectivly. All the bass buildup that I had in the back corners are now gone...

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i think bleach and water (1:8 ratio) is good for cleaning bass buildup too3.gif (couldn't resist) 3.gif

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On 11/4/2003 10:25:10 AM tankhokie wrote:

moon,

i will do what you have done in our next house, so i was just wondering, do you get these accoustic problems because the room is virtually empty (minus seats) and enclosed?

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It's most likey a bit of everything. Small room, shape of room, width of room.

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On 11/4/2003 10:25:10 AM tankhokie wrote:

i always just imagined packing in the sound/heat insulation between the studs, not hanging drywall, and just hanging heavy curtains all around...

so am i in for the same situation one day?

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If you don't put any sheetrock in your room you have the potiental for a very dead room. Some people have said a very dead room is uncomfortable to be in. I have never been in one so I really don't know. Just want to make that point.

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On 11/4/2003 10:25:10 AM tankhokie wrote:

i think bleach and water (1:8 ratio) is good for cleaning bass buildup too
3.gif
(couldn't resist)
3.gif

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I will keep that in mind next time.

2.gif

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On 11/4/2003 10:25:10 AM tankhokie wrote:

i was just wondering, do you get these accoustic problems because the room is virtually empty (minus seats) and enclosed?

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I don't think m00n had such unordinary problems with the room... room acoustics is always an important factor. I think he's just looking to take his room to the next level. Like artto mentioned earlier, it's hard to design acoustic treatment before building the room, as you may be disappointed with the end results.

And yes, a dead room can be quite discomforting... and definitely not sound natural. I've been in a couple of anechoic chambers... and it's quieter than quiet, if that makes any sense. Good to sleep in but lousy to talk in... 2.gif

Rob

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On 11/4/2003 4:03:13 PM formica wrote:

I don't think m00n had such unordinary problems with the room... room acoustics is always an important factor. I think he's just looking to take his room to the next level.

Rob

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Funny... you said and explained it better than I did.

4.gif

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It looks like I am in the right place to get some good advice. I have a RSW-15 sub. I am having a hard time placing it so it hits those low notes. I have it in a corner at a slight angle. The rear firing woofer is about 8 inches from the back wall and it is about 4 inches off the side wall. Any ideas or thoughts? Ken.

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I would suggest that you ask up in the subwoofer area. Not sure how much attention this thread is actually getting. You will FOR SURE get some answers to you're question up there. I don't know enough about placement to give any advice. 4.gif

Good luck.

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walk around the room (places other than the listening position) and try to listen for places where you hear build up of those frequencies...then throw in the appropriate sound treatment

btw, what is a "bounce" and a "dip"? they seem like rather large frequency bands to be doing that...(i especially don't see how the 6.3k-10k would be related to the room).

btw, do you got any performance specs of the difference it made moon? i know you recorded really well the beforehand specs in the architechtural forum, and i was curious as to how it changed things. terms like "tighter and cleaner" are really subjective 2.gif not saying you're wack or just trying to hear things, but just that some can relate to the numbers better.

(and depending on the numbers, i might just be inclined to give a friend a visit and start treating his crappy dedicated room 9.gif )

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m00n:

You may remember that you and I were discussing the subject of bass trapping off-line, via email some time ago. This was right after I'd told you that I'd had that meeting with an acoustics specialist over at Memtech. They handle Sonex and other Illbruck acoustics products. One of the things you and I had discussed was the idea of trapping the bass in the room corners and plane intersections rather than mid-way along the wall as you had began to do beneath your surround speakers. That was something that this specialist had related to me at that meeting. Well, because of your diligence, tenacity, and ingenuity, we all can now witness through your design and installation that the corner bass traps are most effective after all! 16.gif Way to go, dude! Nice job! 2.gif

-Picky

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  • 3 weeks later...

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On 10/30/2003 5:27:19 PM m00n wrote:

Sure, I am always up for reading new material.
1.gif

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Considering your commitment to audio, you really MUST get a copy of F. Alton Everest's "The Master Handbook Of Acoustics". It has some really nice chapters on building your own room acoustic treatments, including diaphramatic bass traps.

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