Finally Ordered Acoustic Panels
 

After months of going back and forth on the return on investment for acoustic panels, I finally broke down and ordered some today, I have tweaked my system in so many ways imaginable, the biggest improvement may yet come from room treatments.

I ordered two sets of the Impression Series from GIK and 10, 36"x24"x2" acoustic panels from Acoustimac. I wound up ordering the sample kit from Acoustimac to be sure which colors and fabric I wanted. I was set on the suede and executive fabrics, once the sample kit arrived, the DMD fabric was the best of them all IMO.

I'm really looking forward to installing these panels and seeing how well they work. Now the wait begins!

When placed appropriately, you will be very satisfied with the results of room treatment. I have a mixture of ASC Tube traps and acoutimac panels and i am very satisfied with the end result. Congratulations and keep us posted on your thoughts.

When you get those placed such that they attenuate the primary reflection points in your room (relative to speaker and listening position) you'll slap your forehead and say "why didn't I do this a long time ago!!??"

Thank you both, this is very encouraging and helpful. Are there tools available to get an understanding of the main reflection points? I get the back and side walls are critical. How about the ceiling and back walls?

Thanks.

Hi Mar,
You can use a simple mirror to determine your first reflection points for your panels. Just slide along the each side of the room to see the reflection points for each speaker. You will note that the left and right speakers on each side of the room have their own respective reflection points, and ideally, you have a panel at each point on each side for each speaker.

Regading the panels you ordered from AcoustiMac, the "acoustical panels", are sound-absorbing, and are best for attenuating and mitigating slap echo, but they won't do anything to add diffusion, and thereby life and sparkle to your room. I've found I don't need much of these as my space is pretty heavily furnished (see photos below). I do have a panel from AcoustiMac on a wall that separate my living space from the kitchen area and above a large picture window that is an "outside" wall.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you will find the GIK Acoustics Impressions panels will provide the most notable and enjoyable improvement. I was kindly gifted 8 of the GIK Acoustics Alpha 4A panels and 4 GIK Polyfusors by a local AA member, and its turned out the Alpha 4A panels have brought, by far, the biggest improvement. I originally put all four Polyfusors into my well-furnished "room" and it sucked all the life out of the presentation. So, now, I only have one, in 1 corner of the space. The other 3 are presently sitting unused in the spare bedroom.

The Alpha 4A panels, OTOH, really bring a very nice improvement, and I've now got 5-6 of them in the room. I'm still playing around with placement with some of the remaining 4As but I have two along the "front wall" (which in my case is a half-wall, one at a reflection point in the window behind the couch, and two in the corners between the outside wall (near the big window) and the corner of the half-wall on top of the REL sub.

You've probably read what the Alpha 4A and Impression panels do, and I really like the improvements they bring. They are intended to provide both some diffusion and liven up a room, and they do this in a very nice and natural-sounding way. They make the presenation more spacious, lively, and "focused" in a very good way, and they also improve the imaging of the stereo sound field.

There is a technical paper on what they do on the GIK web site on Decoding Diffusion: https://www.gikacoustics.com/decodin...tic-solutions/

I'm using the linear 1D panels, 4" deep as that is what I was kindly given by Keith.

Here are some pics to show you how I am using the Alpha 4A diffusor panels.
The main rack and the Harbeths. You can see two the panels on the half-wall behind the main rack.
http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_ca...20Stereo-1.jpg

A wide-angle view, showing the panel on the left at a first-reflection point. You can also a see an AcousticMac acoustical panel on the wall near the celing and above the couch and window.
http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_ca...20Stereo-6.jpg.

Behind the right speaker:
http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_ca...20Stereo-3.jpg

Behind the left speaker:
http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_ca...20Stereo-4.jpg

Yesterday I brought in two more Alpha 4A panels and set them in cater-corner at the corners of the front (and side walls).

http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_ca...0Corners-1.jpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_ca...0Corners-2.jpg

As the 4A panels are 4" deep and have acoustical rock wool fill, they also function as a bass trap.

Stephen.......Very attractive room and setup.


http://photos.imageevent.com/puma_ca...20Stereo-6.jpg

As Stephen (Puma Cat) says, the mirror method works really well and will give you the locations that "must be" treated. Most acoustics guru's also say that you can add too much absorption, but you can't add in too much diffusion, so if you have any "budget" left over - add some diffusors. Diffusion instead of absorption behind the speakers (front wall) is generally a good idea, and diffusion at other points around the room can be helpful as well. I see that Stephen is using diffusion enhanced absorption devices - good call!!!! If budget becomes an issue I've found that hitting the ceiling and back wall reflection points with inexpensive high density polyester absorption panels (cheap at amazon.com) are surprisingly effective and can be attached using those removable 3M mounting strips. Those can also be cut in half (at a 45 degree angle) to make triangles that can be mounted as "flags" to the wall/ceiling interface which cuts down on flutter and "splash".

Thank you, Dan! :thumbsup:

It sounds pretty nice, too. :music:

Great info!

Yes, the GIK Alpha 4A panels work really, really well. The 1-dimensional pattern of slots in these cause a mathematically random scattering of sound waves and really improve the sound quality. And, I would agree that you can't have too much. This is exactly what James at GIK told me as well, and when I bring in additional panels from the spare bedroom and set them up, each one makes the presentation better. The only issue I'm having right now is I've got pretty much all the easy places to place these already occupied with these. There is another place in the room where it would be beneficial to place one of these at 1st reflection point on the right side, but presently it means I have temporarily place a small Ikea end table there and then put the 4A panel on it, as it is too thick to mount permanently to the wall in this position. I'll probably order some 2" thick 24" x 24" panels and mount one there, and put the other along the remainder of the big picture window along the left side of room, behind the couch.

In my case, I don't really need to worry about the rear wall because my listening space opens to a 40' long hallway down to my master bedroom. So, I don't have much of an issue with reflection off the back wall causing peaks or nulls in the room modes.

All told, I am very impressed how well these GIK 4A diffusors work! You can immediately hear the positive improvement they bring. :thumbsup:

Nice setup, Stephen.

How do you like what the corner-mounted Alphas do?

Jim I agree, the cat den looks inviting...

Puma, this is an awesome set up, impressive. I am beginning to think that ordering the absorption panels were a mistake and that I should have ordered more diffusers instead. What are your thoughts on this?

My room has some echo issues and it’s lively in terms of the higher frequencies which I am trying to tame. As it relates to putting the diffusers behind the speakers, is there an optimum location? Should they be higher, lower or the same size as the speaker?

Sorry for all the questions, I want to make sure I am doing the right thing the first time around.

Thanks.

Since listening rooms and circumstances vary widely, you might consider emailing GIK with photos and a diagram of your room with all applicable dimensions (length, width, height) to get their take on the "best-fit" acoustic treatment for your particular situation.

Hi Jim,
I like them; the more I put in the listening area, the better the system sounds. I haven't done any experiments yet to see if positioning them differently impacts their effect in a particular manner. I just put them in the night before last, still playing around.

Cheers,
Stephen

Ha! Thanks, Ed!

Thanks Jim.

Hi Mar,
The absorption panels primary function is to reduce slap echo by acoustical damping, so you if you have some echoes, then you can place some at various positions in your room. You can also intersperse them on side or back walls in between the diffusor panels if you wish.

With respect to positioning the Alpha 4A or Impressions series panels, I put mine pretty much behind the Harbeths, as can be seen in the photo. I'd probably put them a bit higher, but I can't as that is the height of the half-wall behind the speakers. They also can and should be placed at reflection points.

With respect to number, I'd just play around and experiment. GIK says that the more you place in the room, the better it will sound, and I'm inclined to agree with that. My limitations right now is that I'm running out of places to put more in in my unusual and unorthodox listening space.

Also, GIK has free advice, so you can call them for specifics on mounting and placement and positions. They are very helpful. You may want to consider ordering your acoustical (damping) panels as well from them just to make ordering and shipping more straightforward.

IMHO if everyone placed a few Stillpoints Aperture II panels in place of many of the ones shown here you will experience even greater sonic mastery. They are down right spooky.

I'm sure they're good, but...they're also $800 apiece.

The GIK Acoustics diffusors, at $79/each are 1/10th the price and work really well.

I've taken the "Schiit Audio" approach to acoustical treatments. Very high quality products sold online direct to customer at great prices and backed by outstanding customer support.

Finally Ordered Acoustic Panels
 

Looks really great Stephen, and must sound great as well with your new speakers.

Thanks, Tony.

Yes, they sound great with the 'Beths. Highly recommended. :thumbsup:

Woo hoo! Acoustimac panels shipped today, looks like next weekend should be fun!

:thumbsup:

I finally got the chance to set up my 10 Acoustimac DMD panels early last week. I started by measuring the ambient noise level in the room out of curiosity. It measured at 30 dB, I installed the panels and this dropped down to 20 dB, interesting I thought. I didn't realize that 20 dB was basically silent.

I have to strongly agree with Soundmig that I should have done this a long time ago! SMH!! Acoustic panels made a significant difference in my listening room. First off, they tamed a few issues I was having, echo and a bright lively room which made music seem edgy at times, these issues are now gone. What I didn't realize until I added the panels was how much the reflections were affecting my room.

The benefits of adding these panels were a more spacious sound stage, pinpoint imaging, superb clarity, instruments just pop out of nowhere and all the inner details are now unmasked. It's like listening in 3D, I can't wait to see what the GIK Impression Series panels bring to the table later this week.

I can emphatically say this was a very wise investment with immediate positive results, highly recommended.

Thanks to all who chimed in to assist with how to properly set these up and answering all of my questions.

:tresbon: :thumbsup:

I believe that investing the bulk of your money in the speakers and in your room will give you the best bang for your buck. You are obviously doing a very thoughtful process and placing panels judiciously. But if after you are done with your room treatments you feel like experimenting a bit more, you might try DSP (room correction) and see if it does any further improvement for you.

IMHO, aside from the room, the bulk of money should be spent on..the power distribution & conditioning system. Its the foundation upon which everything else is built. Just my 2¢.

Finally Ordered Acoustic Panels
 

Let's see... I got a perfect room with the best power distribution and conditioning systems. I am sure that the Amazon Echo Dot will sound better there than my cheap Maggies with cheap amplification in a crappy room with zero power distribution and no conditioning system...
I guess we can agree to disagree. [emoji51]

Yeah, that's fine. And, FWIW, I was referring to a real stereo system not an Amazon Echo Dot. But I'll take the hit for not making that assumption explicit. Cheers.

I wanted to share pics on how I set up my acoustic panels. I recommend adding them to your listening room, they really do work.

https://i.imgur.com/9Z18OaY.jpg https://i.imgur.com/GbSllWPl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8RuETZxl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/p2Rdy91l.jpg

Nice, I do something similar in my living room. Some are permanent, some stay out for listening but can be put away if I choose. They definitely make a huge improvement, and it's cumulative. The more treatments the better

Looks great!

Looks great, Mar!

Just out of curiosity, how did you decide on, or detemine, the ratio of absoportion panels to diffusion panels?

I like that pattern of Impressions-series diffusors from GIK you chose; that's the pattern I would go for as well.

Nicely done!

Very nice! I used a combo of Vicoustic, GIK and Acoustimac. By far, one of the biggest noticeable changes, even with my so so hearing... Night and day.

I totally agree, the more the better.

Thanks

PC, GIK recommended a specific number of square footage for my listening area, I decided to mix and match the type of panels based on sound absorption, diffusion & sound absorption and aesthetics with a lean towards the latter.

Thank you.

Night and day for sure. I am going to add a few above my listening also, I hear this works very well.

I have Vicoustic panels on the ceiling above where I sit.