My DIY Acoustic Panel Setup

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A

AbMagFab

Audioholic Intern
Here's my DIY setup. I did it with:
- OC705
- Black fabric (basically black burlap), fire treated
- Frames in 1/4" foam board
- 3M 77 spray glue for gluing the sides on, and keeping the fabric on
- A little flat black spray paint for the foam panels, and to soften the yellow OC705 fronts
- Roto hangers

Screen wall - 4" panels on left/right, 2" panels below:


Rear wall - 4" panels on both doors (still need 4" corner panels):


Left side wall - 4 x 2" panels, shaped just for appearances:


Right side wall - 4 x 2" panels, same as left side wall:


Any thoughts/opinions/feedback?
 
C

chas_w

Full Audioholic
Looks great! Where did you get the foam board for the sides?
 
A

AbMagFab

Audioholic Intern
I just went to the local art supply store (Michaels in our area). They had 2'x3' sheets out, but I needed at least 4' on a side. In back they had some 5'x6' sheets (or something like that), so I purchased 3 of them. I think I have just enough left to finish the bass traps in the back.
 
Glenn Kuras

Glenn Kuras

Full Audioholic
Great JOB!!!!!:):)

Would be nice to see a few panels straddling some corners, but that is a nice start you have there. ;)

Glenn
 
C

chas_w

Full Audioholic
AbMagFab said:
I just went to the local art supply store (Michaels in our area). They had 2'x3' sheets out, but I needed at least 4' on a side. In back they had some 5'x6' sheets (or something like that), so I purchased 3 of them. I think I have just enough left to finish the bass traps in the back.
Click to expand...
Can you can snap some pictures during construction of your next set? I'd like to see how you position the foam board.

Thanks.
 
A

AbMagFab

Audioholic Intern
Glenn Kuras said:
Great JOB!!!!!:):)

Would be nice to see a few panels straddling some corners, but that is a nice start you have there. ;)

Glenn
Click to expand...
"Nice Start" - other than corners (which I will be doing in the back), what else should I do? Ceiling?
 
A

AbMagFab

Audioholic Intern
chas_w said:
Can you can snap some pictures during construction of your next set? I'd like to see how you position the foam board.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Will do... I will likely do a couple ceiling ones anyway, which will be good "how-I-did-it" examples.
 
WmAx

WmAx

Audioholic Samurai
Just a note on your treatment method: the Paradigm speakers(S8) used have a somewhat very good off axis response - off axis response is very similar to on-axis. As such, if you can distance the speakers between 1.5-2' from the side wall, you should NOT use absorbers on the sidewall 1st reflection points: the absorbers will decrease sound quality in this position. While most speakers may benefit from this treatment, this is not the case when the off axis response matches the on axis response closely. 1st, move the speaker in a little, to make sure you have a 1.5' minimum distance from side walls. Next, use an assistant, holding a mirror against the side wall, and you sit in the primary listening position, and find the mirror position on the wall where you can see the mid driver and tweeter in the mirror. Have no absorber within about a 2-3' radius of this center point.

The improvement will be most noticeable when playing 2 channel stereo music program.

-Chris
 
Last edited:
A

AbMagFab

Audioholic Intern
WmAx said:
Just a note on your treatment method: the Paradigm speakers(S8) used have a somewhat very good off axis response - off axis response is very similar to on-axis. As such, if you can distance the speakers between 1.5-2' from the side wall, you should NOT use absorbers on the sidewall 1st reflection points: the absorbers will decrease sound quality in this position. While most speakers may benefit from this treatment, this is not the case when the off axis response matches the on axis response closely. 1st, move the speaker in a little, to make sure you have a 1.5' minimum distance from side walls. Next, use an assistant, holding a mirror against the side wall, and you sit in the primary listening position, and find the mirror position on the wall where you can see the mid driver and tweeter in the mirror. Have no absorber within about a 2-3' radius of this center point.

The improvement will be most noticeable when playing 2 channel stereo music program.

-Chris
Click to expand...

Well, as you can see from the room, there's not a chance I can move them in any more, given the room width and screen width.

They're S6's, too.

However, that probably explains why I didn't get a dramatic change in sound. It's noticably better (wider sound, cleaner, not as bright), but not as dramatic as a lot of people talk about.

Anyway, if I could move them in, I would. But I can't.

Does this also apply to the ceiling, or should I put some panels up there, too?
 
WmAx

WmAx

Audioholic Samurai
AbMagFab said:
Well, as you can see from the room, there's not a chance I can move them in any more, given the room width and screen width.

They're S6's, too.

However, that probably explains why I didn't get a dramatic change in sound. It's noticably better (wider sound, cleaner, not as bright), but not as dramatic as a lot of people talk about.

Anyway, if I could move them in, I would. But I can't.

Does this also apply to the ceiling, or should I put some panels up there, too?
Click to expand...
Generally - diffusion or absorption of the ceiling is beneficial. I regularly alternate - sometimes I use the ceiling absorbers - sometimes I don't. However, you already have a lot of absorption overall. You would probably be better of building diffusers for the ceiling.

-Chris
 
B

bpape

Audioholic Chief
The panels next to the speakers have other uses though. With the proximity to the wall, some absorbtion will provide a reduced SBIR impact. Also, just because the off axis response is good (which is a good thing), not having reflection control still leaves the time domain in question and those reflections (due to proximity) will be very very close in time in some cases.

Bryan
 
WmAx

WmAx

Audioholic Samurai
bpape said:
The panels next to the speakers have other uses though. With the proximity to the wall, some absorbtion will provide a reduced SBIR impact. Also, just because the off axis response is good (which is a good thing), not having reflection control still leaves the time domain in question and those reflections (due to proximity) will be very very close in time in some cases.

Bryan
Click to expand...
I was specific in stating a 1.5-2' minimum distance from the sidewall is a prerequisite. With that distance, taking into account the vector arrival in a typical room setting, the time differential would be roughly 3-4 msec compared to the direct signal. This is borderline sufficient. A 3' distance would likely be ideal, but this is exceeding what is practical in normal rooms. Assuming nearly identical response in the reflection as compared to the direct signal(which this particular Paradigm model does indeed seem to be capable of), this would be beneficial.

-Chris
 
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