Cheaper absorption panels than GIK

[slicki]

I'm not saying better.

After 2 years of research I am rapidly approaching theater construction (retrofit) time. I had hired Rives Audio at the beginning of my project and with the budget not being too crazy they had told me how to save a few $$ by making my own absorption panels since I needed more than a few, 10 to be exact. I’m a computer guy though and not really a handyman so I looked a lot on-line but always found the panels to be too $$ for me so I was going to have my little brother make them for me over his summer break. After reading the review about the GIKs I was very impressed by their low price and felt it was a no-brainer to get them versus building. After sleeping on it and with some wife input we just decided that 3 inch deep panels were just too much with my room. It’s not too big and felt this would encroach too much on the couch so I decided to go back to the little brother method. I did a quick search for Owens Corning 703 board (Rives had told me to use this) and came upon not only someone (http://www.atsacoustics.com/) who would sell them to DIY’ers but also would make a 2x4 panel for only $35!! They’ve even gotten their panels tested by RAL. I’m not saying I can understand the test results but the fact that they publish results does bode well. Heck...I was gonna build the same thing myself so they can’t be worse.

Anyway...based upon the comments in the GIK review I thought others might find this info useful.


Theater to be built (retrofit existing room)
Sony VPL-HS51A
Stewart FireHawk 82’
Denon 4802R (will upgrade in 2 or 3 yrs when I can get a used 48xx that has multiple HDMI 1.3 inputs)
Triad In-Room Silver LCR + 4 Silver Surrounds
2 Triad Silver In-Room Subwoofers
Rives Audio Level 1+
DVD ( I'll just get something from Price Club until a better HD-DVD comes out and the PS3)
Verizon Fios TV (Love it. I left Comcast. Verizon’s standard def is better than Comcasts. HDTV is excellent to of course. The remote and interface is better too.)
Monster Power HTS 3500 (for only $175 + recommended by Gene I couldn’t pass up).
Acoustic treatment ( 11 RGB Skyline + 10 Absorption Panels (http://www.atsacoustics.com/cat--ATS-Acoustic-Absorption-Panels--100.html + 3 RGB Bad Panels)
Speakers using Blue Jeans 5T00UP 10AWG + Subwoofer cable + Composite + Component Cable
DVI Gear SHR HDMI Cable
Gefen VGA cable
I’m still not sure who will be installing and calibrating the screen and projector...still working on that...

I am proud to say how I can afford to build the theater above. Even though I had really looking forward to finally being able to afford a BMW (new 330i) I decided that I couldn’t have a theater and a new car so I got a home equity loan and started to read Audioholics and other sources religiously.

 

[Glenn Kuras]

It is kind of applies and oranges. They are selling panels that are flat mounted and not bass traps. We sell bass traps. Make yourself a spreadsheet and compare the numbers. I think they speak for themselves.
BTW, the comment you did make is very true. I myself am very glad they have testing on there product.

Glenn

 

[slicki]

Agreed on apples to oranges. I don't mean to imply that one should get (or make) the panels above versus buying panels from GIK. Every room presents different problems and thus solutions for one are not solutions for everybody. In my case, room acoustics is one field I'm aware I am woefully ignorant of. This is the primary reason I hired Rives Audio to help with designing the room (room treatments,etc) and it was they who determined that panels built like I had mentioned above would fit my needs for my room.

 

[Glenn Kuras]

mmmmmmm ok lets forget that I am will GIK (not to sound like a salesman). Explain to me why you do not need bass control? Every room needs more bass control then anything else.

Glenn

 

[Ethan Winer]

> Every room presents different problems <

Yes, but there are many things common to all rooms. I agree with Glenn that all rooms need as much bass trapping as possible. What varies is more around the midrange, where different types and amounts of furniture and drapes etc affect the sound. So a room that's already fairly dead sounding because it has lots of plush furnishings may need absorption only at the first reflection points. Versus a room with wood floors and large areas of bare wall and windows. But bass trapping is a staple that all rooms beneft from.

> This is the primary reason I hired Rives Audio ... + 3 RGB Bad Panels) <

If I were in your shoes, with a budget to hire Rives (excellent choice BTW) and buy RPG BAD panels etc, I'd look for the best products, not necessarily the cheapest.

--Ethan

 

[twisted3]

I personally never thought about acoustic treatment, especially bass traps. I always thought my bass was just fine, until I purchased the 244 panels from GIK acoustics was when I realized what I had been missing out on. I just bought 4 bass trap panels from them and will be treating my first reflection points soon. To be quite honest, you really can't be the price.