8 ft by 14ft room - how to minimize echoes?

[redryder]

My listening room is 8ft by 14ft, and seating distance is approximately 7ft from the speakers. The couch is right up against the wall, and the walls are mostly bare except for some movie posters.

What kind of treatments can I do to reduce flutter echoes and the sound bouncing off the wall behind me? Do I need diffusors or absorbers? I googled flutter echoes and the standard treatment is to use diffusors. But I also read on another forum that diffusors don't work in such a small room, and that I would be better off with an absorber.

What do you think?

 

[jostenmeat]

If you notice the thread I started here recently regarding diffusers vs absorbers, you will notice that diffusion needs more "space" to work.

A main issue with the bare wall so close to your ears is that the reflection arrives so quickly that it appears as what they call "smearing". This is not to speak of muddy bass issues.

7 ft is the midpoint of your room (not good), if you are sitting lengthwise in the room (lengthwise being the better setup). Try 5.38 ft from the back wall, if its feasible, for then you would have achieved 38% room length for listener positioning. Its what is recommended for the starting point, with just slight variation depending on the room.

-jostenmeat

edit: I'd go for aborption if you have "flutter echoes" (not sure what that is, but guessing). Try first reflection points on sidewalls, rear wall, ceiling, and perhaps some on the front wall for good measure.