This is sort of a continuation of my "multiple subwoofers" thread, in which I mentioned that I had ordered a number of Realtraps products to treat my room acoustics. I got a lot of good advice on intregrating multiple subs, as well as acoustics. It was requested by Rob Babcock, I think, that when the stuff arrived and was installed that I post my results. So here goes.
First thing, all of the (many) boxes arrived in perfect condition. The Realtraps panels themselves were all very well packed and protected. Fit and finish type details on all of panels is beautiful. They look very professional.
In my roughly (very roughly because of a hallway and alcove) 17'x17'x8' room I put a total of 5 standard Minitraps, 2 HF Minitraps, 1 2x2 Minitrap, and 7 Microtraps, arranged as suggested by Ethan at Realtraps after I had sent him digital photos of my room. I actually ordered 4 more of the Microtraps than he suggested, to make sure I got good coverage of 1st reflection points.
The Minitraps are 2'x4'x3 1/4", compressed 703 type fiberglass sandwiched with some sort of membrane (not visible from the outside), covered with soft, sort of microfiber type of fabric, and finished with a metal frame around the outside, with mounting bars on the back. The Microtraps are similar but only about 1 1/4" thick. I put 2 Microtraps on each sidewall at first reflection points, and 3 Microtraps on the ceiling. The 2 High Frequency Minitraps went on the backwall, directly behind the seating position. The other Minitraps straddle the wall/celing juncture in the center of each wall, with the last Minitrap mounted vertically straddling a rear corner, and finally the 2'x2' Minitrap is mounted in the wall/wall/celing corner above it. Whew, took a while to write, and longer too install, but actually is pretty easy. They are made to hang like pictures from wire, no glueing involved.
Ok, now for the sound. The first thing that I noticed was just talking. Your voice is just really, not sure how to describe it, flat and clear. No echo at all. Now that they've been up a couple of days, I've walked in and out of the room a million times. It just kind of goes quiet when you walk in there! Friends who have come over have said, "wow, that completely changes the sound of this room" It's really interesting to clink a drinking glass with a table knife in any other room in the house, then walk into the treated room and do it. You don't hear any echo, nothing but the pure "clink" of the metal knife on the glass. And that's the way it is with music. Where there is meant to be, there is just silence between notes. Bass sounds considerabley cleaner and tighter. Another thing I noticed that was when I recalibrated my 5.1 speakers with the auto calibration of my Denon 2805, then checked it with a Radio Shack SPL meter, the channel levels and distances were dead on accurate. When I had done it a few times previously, there always seemed to be some discrepencies. Maybe it was the bad room reflections, I don't know.
So, bottom line is I really like them. They look nice and give the room a really, close, quiet feel, even if the music is off and you are just talking. The overall sound quality of the room has improved tremendously. Now this was not a "cheap" endeavor, over 2 grand with shipping, but I'm happy and plan to keep them. However, being home with a credit card and and internet connection can be dangerous, as I've now orderd a SVSubwoofers PC Ultra sub!
WoodieB
