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Home Audio DIY Acoustic Treatments

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Acoustic Treatments for Your Home Theater

acoustic_treat_room2_800_504x358.shkl.jpgFocusing on ways to improve your hi-fi listening experience through affordable, DIY acoustic treatments. I've made DIY bass traps and Acoustic Panels based on the designs of Jon Risch and comments on the Audio Asylum Forums. This lense will teach you how to make affordable acoustic treatment for your listening room with materials readily available at your local home and fabric stores.

Remember: treat room acoustics acoustically, not electronically (unless it's for frequencies below 120 Hz where your brain cannot tell the difference between your loudspeakers and subwoffer and your room).

Geek with Family Acoustics 

Posts describing the construction and application of acoustic panels and bass traps in my listening room.
DIY Acoustic Panels Reveal Depth and Clarity in Orchestral Recordings
With my six acoustic panels in place I sat in my sweet spot Saturday morning to listen to the Broadway soundtrack. I was curious if the panels would clarify the soundstage of complicated recordings like an orchestra and a musical theater cast.
How To Build Jon Risch’s DIY Acoustic Panels
Jon Risch's DIY acoustic panels have changed my system more than any other tweak and component upgrade. After placing the panels at my listening room's early and diffraction reflection points (two behind the speakers and four on the sidewalls (the two panels closest to me actually sit in easy chairs because I can't move the chairs out of the way)) I heard these improvements.
5 Hi-Fi Listening Room Habits for Healthy Audiophiles
I've made major improvements to my music listening experience over the last year, some at no cost. The following distills the top five guidelines I've followed to optimize my enjoyment.
Why You Must Acoustically Treat Your Hi-Fi Room
Holy crap! My DIY acoustic panels (following Jon Risch's recipe, my own how to experience coming soon) have improved my listening experience like nothing else. You have got to try these. I wish you could borrow mine. For the price of two sets of Black Diamond Racing Cones you can change your whole music listening experience for the better. This is the most noteworthy upgrade I have ever made.
Jon Risch Quick and Dirty Bass Traps Dressed Up By Ikea
My DIY acoustic panels project is on hold until I can breathe again (nothing like a cold over Labor Day weekend). I've built the wooden frames but haven't begun to work with the fiberglass because I can't imagine coughing through a respirator. So, to feel like I was making progress I threw together two Jon Risch Quick and Dirty Bass Traps (scroll down to "New Quick & Dirty Recipe").
Why I Need to Build Jon Risch’s DIY Acoustic Panels
For the past two weeks I've been obsessed over my listening room's acoustics. I'm sure that acoustic problems are now invading the space (or I've read too much about the subject and I'm just noticing them now, always train your ears). The most obvious problem is too wide a stereo image. For example, I'll get a tight, centered combo of snare and kick drum that I can imagine a drummer playing and then he hits a cymbal eight feet away over past the right speaker. Another problem is losing center imaged singers to a weird lobing split between either speaker-the voice may suddenly collapse to one side. These anomalies are subtle, don't think my room is crap.

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Recommended Acoustic Books on Amazon 

Master Handbook of Acoustics

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 07/04/2008)

The Sound Reinforcement Handbook

Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 07/04/2008)

Critical Listening Skills for Audio Professionals

Amazon Price: $31.49 (as of 07/04/2008)

Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science

Amazon Price: $43.95 (as of 07/04/2008)

The Complete Guide to High-End Audio

Amazon Price: $23.07 (as of 07/04/2008)

Reader Feedback 

How have you acoustically treated your listening area?

basementjack

I've built some of those DIY tube traps, and I've got a panel on the wall covered by fabric.

I hope to get some pictures up on www.acousticsoftwarereviews.com, but the site's just getting started....

Posted October 29, 2006

Great Movies to Show Off Your New Acoustic Treatments 

Time Bomb

Haunted by the death of his young son and the brutal memories of war, veteran Marine Jason (Jake Bus...
Bob the Builder: Let's Build the Beach

Featuring five fun-filled episodes, this entry from the popular PBS series finds every kid's favorit...
Care Bears: King of the Moon

Join Brave Heart, Grams, Champ and the rest of the Care Bear gang on a deep space adventure as the b...
Dear America: The Royal Diaries

Adapted from Scholastic's book series, this program brings to life the fictionalized diaries of thre...
Fireman Sam: To the Rescue

Featuring five fun-filled episodes, this collection from the popular U.K. children's series follows...
Legend of BraveStarr: Season 1: Vol. 2

This animated children's series centers on vigilante Marshall BraveStarr, who has come to the chaoti...
Mighty Machines: Tremendous Tools

Head to the shed for some family fun with this animated feature that follows Buzz, Stretch and Range...
Only the Valiant

Following a massacre that claims the life of the beloved Lt. Holloway (Gig Young), embattled cavalry...
Drillbit Taylor

Three high school freshmen devise a novel plan for dealing with the treacherous school bully: They h...
Get Smart's Bruce & Lloyd Out of Control

Two of Maxwell Smart's brilliant but nerdy fellow analysts are showcased in this spin-off of the Get...
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Other Acoustic Treatment Sources 

Forums, Tutorials and Retail Sources for Acoustic Treatments

Room Acoustics Forum by Rives Audio
Audio Asylum's Acoustic Treatment Forum hosted by Rives Audio. Great source for DIY projects and reviews on other solutions.
Jon_Risch's Web Page, Index
I have based my acoustic treatment designs on Jon Risch's various DIY projects. Detailed instructions, pictures and material sources can be found at his site.
RealTraps
Affordable acoustic treatments and knowledgeable advice.
Home Audio Acoustics - Home Theater Shack
Home Audio Acoustics on Home Theater shack. Home Audio Acoustics includes acoustical treatments for your home theater or listening room.
Moderators: Alan Brown, bpape, Ethan Winer, Glenn Kuras
GIK ACOUSTICS
More affordable Bass traps and acoustic treatments with attractive fabric covers.

My Audiophile Albums on Amazon 

At Action Park

Amazon Price: $15.98 (as of 07/04/2008)

Transaction de Novo

Amazon Price: $14.98 (as of 07/04/2008)

Yanqui U.X.O.

Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 07/04/2008)

Acoustic Treatments Poll 

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Acoustic Treatments on eBay 

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eBay

New The SuperStore 

Auralex Venus Bass Trap

Auralex Venus Bass Trap

Price: $319.00

Auralex Venus Bass Trap Auralex Venus Bass Trap Description: The Venus Bass Trap achieves a prodigious level of low frequency absorption at your room... more »

Primacoustic Mid Bass Trap

Primacoustic Mid Bass Trap

Price: $169.99

The Primacoustic Mid Bass Trap reduces low-end rumble and resonance peaks commonly present in vocal booths and studios. Like all Primacoustic foam pro... more »

Auralex DST Lenrd Bass Trap

Auralex DST Lenrd Bass Trap

Price: $279.00

Auralex DST-LENRD Bass Trap Auralex DST-LENRD Bass Trap Description: It's only natural... a new Designer Series LENRD to complete our new DST line-up.... more »

Auralex Metro LENRD Bass Trap Charcoal

Auralex Metro LENRD Bass Trap Charcoal

Price: $259.00

Usually 3-5 Days. 45 Day Lowest Price - 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. This triangular-shaped bass trap fills into room corners and/or wall/ceiling junc... more »

Auralex Lenrd Bass Trap

Auralex Lenrd Bass Trap

Price: $279.00

Auralex Lenrd Bass Trap Auralex Lenrd Bass Trap Description: LENRD stands for Low-End Node Reduction Device. As you may know, a resonance bump in a ro... more »

Auralex Metro Lenrd Bass Traps

Auralex Metro Lenrd Bass Traps

Price: $279.00

Auralex Metro Lenrd Bass Traps Auralex Metro Lenrd Bass Traps Description: To round out the Auralex Metro family, we proudly present the Metro LENRD B... more »

Auralex LENRD Bass Trap Charcoal

Auralex LENRD Bass Trap Charcoal

Price: $259.00

In Stock. 45 Day Lowest Price - 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. LENRD (Low End Node Reduction Device) Acoustic Bass Trap. A triangular shaped, irregularl... more »

Auralex Mega Lenrd Bass Traps

Auralex Mega Lenrd Bass Traps

Price: $319.00

Auralex Mega Lenrd Bass Traps Auralex Mega Lenrd Bass Traps Description: A resonance bump in a room's frequency response is called a room node. Bass... more »

Primacoustic Venice Acoustic Wall Panel System

Primacoustic Venice Acoustic Wall Panel System

Price: $219.99

The Primacoustic Venice series includes integral backboards attached to acoustic foam to provide a complete acoustic solution without damaging your wa... more »

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geekwithfamily

About geekwithfamily

I'm Kyle Kolbe, the voice behind the audio video geek blog, Geek with Family

Father, Husband and Geek.

My geeky interests have not changed since I was a kid. I still love comic books, anime, role-playing games, console video games, indie rock, imported toys and mecha models, bad American and great British sitcoms, and all the tech that let's me experience these hobbies to their fullest.

Now that I'm married with children, I've had to strike a balance between supporting and pleasing my family and feeding my geekery hunger. Lucky for me, my wife is very accomodating and even geeks out with me on occasion (the ladies love Joss Whedon's "Firefly"). My two year old likes anything that moves on the front projection screen and makes noise, so far she is easy to please.

Geekwithfamily.com exists to enrich the lives of fellow geeks and the friends and family who put up with them.

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