The Concrete Conundrum

[TheWarrior]

Back story: Getting in to solo home construction. Upon finishing significant renovations and additions on my current house, I will be buying a piece of land this winter, clearing it, and starting with a detached L-shaped, 1 car garage with loft bedroom above in-law unit. Plan is to build it and move in to it with the proceeds from the existing house used to build the new one.

I can design this unit to really any specifications, but the problem will be that I was going to just use a bare cement slab as the floor and just give it a commercial finish.

What things can I do besides the obvious area rug to keep the cement reflections at bay? Upon sale of my current home, I was going to buy myself the Seas Thor TL kit and give my RBH's a break as surround sound is not feasible. Would on/in wall speakers be preferred in this environment as they can be mounted a little higher from the floor, or conversely using stands under the floor standers to bring the tweeter up to ear level?

Or am I just over thinking this and need to shut up?

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Speaker type or placement will have little effect on acoustics, if any (except perhaps for THX certified speakers, which have limited vertical dispersion). Wall-to-wall carpet is one of the best and cheapest acoustical treatments; barring that you’re probably going to need some acoustical panels to go with your area rug.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[rojo]

Read this paper regarding acoustics in a concrete room. Otherwise, is there a Big John's Closeouts or similar where you might find a bargain on carpet or cork flooring or something to dampen that concrete?

I think the hardest obstacle to overcome will be bass response. If you haven't worked out what subwoofers you'll get, consider building this 18" Dayton Reference DIY kit or two from parts-express and pairing it with a Crown amp.

Sent from my LG-VS980 using Tapatalk

 

[TheWarrior]

Thanks guys! Wayne, I do have a 10'x12' rug I use currently as I installed hardwood into my house, so you're right that will be a necessity, and acoustic panels I know are unavoidable here. Was going to purchase a big set for this house, but ended up not because of our desire to flip this house.

But after reading Rojo's article, I also see I should buy a pad for this carpet as well, which seemed to take a huge chunk out of the reflective energy that cement encourages. I am aware of room modes, but I also wonder if I would simply angle one of the walls, even by just a couple degrees, which after 20 feet would hopefully help dissipate the reflections in the room. That is an issue in my current set up that GIK Acoustics explained to me. The big gable end walls are providing the echo in my current room, but by this time I have become so used to them that its barely noticeable. I do not want to, 'just get used to it' anymore! Especially not when this little detached unit will become a second theater/ sanctuary from the main house once thats completed. I might also have to order some more books, such as the mentioned, "Masters Handbook of Acoustics."

Oh, and as for subs, I'll still transfer over my dual SVS PC-12's that have rocked my homes foundation for almost two years. Whats funny is that until I got my hands on the BD Desolation of Smaug, my wife never appreciated the LFE they provided. All I did was turn the volume up a touch higher so that it was an audible experience as well as tactile. She finally thanked me for having bought them. I think this was her first 'Wow' audio experience. Which is good. Cause I have BIG plans for the main theater in the new house! Gotta give AcuDefTechGuy a run for his money!