Corner Bass Trap

[VSpaceBoy]

Ethan,

What do you think about a corner version of your DIY trap. Pretty much the same design, but just in the corner.

The reason I'm asking is.. for my home theater.
I have a 19x15 room with my TV and home theater set up centered on the 19 foot wall. My loveseat <main listening area> is centered backed up to the wall, right across. I can hear tons of bass collecting in the corners < behind the surrounds> and my bass response is horrible from the sub. Only good thing about the room is the ceiling does vault from 8 to 17 feet.

Let me know your thoughts, thanks,

Ron

<I know this isn't for a studio but I'm sure is could help>

 

[laptoppop]

When you put a bass trap across a corner, you do two things --
1) cut out the angle at the corner itself
2) use the depth to make the depth of the box of the traps deeper - making the whole unit handle deeper frequencies.

If you put panel bass traps across a corner, you'll do 1, but you won't take advantage of 2. I don't know the formula for the frequency response of panel bass traps offhand -- if it includes the depth of the box (I'd expect it to), then maybe by building a triangular box instead of a square box you'd get a deeper response.

-lee-

 

[c7sus]

Put slot resonators in front of the triangular box and you'll have broadband tuning, too.

Have you tried listening from about 2/3's of the way back rather than against the wall?

Just moving the couch could help some.

 

[VSpaceBoy]

if it includes the depth of the box (I'd expect it to), then maybe by building a triangular box instead of a square box you'd get a deeper response.

-lee-

Thats exactly what I'm thinkin'

Ron

 

[VSpaceBoy]

Put slot resonators in front of the triangular box and you'll have broadband tuning, too.

Have you tried listening from about 2/3's of the way back rather than against the wall?

Just moving the couch could help some.

I have thought about the slats. But I'm not sure how that would look as far as decorating. The room is my main family room. <kids, wife, etc..>

I could pull out the couch some, I'll try that also.

Thanks for the comments.

Ron

 

[Ethan Winer]

Ron,

If you build one panel trap into each of the corners you'll help only an octave's worth of frequencies. What you really need is to trap at least two octaves (about 80 to 320 Hz), and preferably an even wider range. If you plan to build panel traps, you'll do much better putting one of each type in each corner, flat on the walls, as explained in my plans article.

> main listening area ... is centered backed up to the wall <

That's about the worst place you can sit. Much better is to be about 1/3 of the way back from the front wall.

By the way, the acoustic treatment requirements for a home theater are exactly the same as for a recording studio control room. Surround sound usually requires a slightly deader sounding space than a two-channel listening room, but the basic strategy is identical.

--Ethan

 

[VSpaceBoy]

.. What you really need is to trap at least two octaves (about 80 to 320 Hz), and preferably an even wider range. If you plan to build panel traps, you'll do much better putting one of each type in each corner, flat on the walls, as explained in my plans article.
--Ethan

Ok.. I do understand but I have to balance the room acoustics with normal family living. I wouldn't be able to pull off the kind of treatments that I saw in your room.

I attached a pic of the layout. <again this is for home theater but we all could learn from it>

I was thinking on building a trap in each corner <like shown> by just screwing a 2x2 into each wall, filling with insulation, and then putting ply on an angle.

Ethan, are you suggesting to put another trap where you see the red X's?
What about some sort of bass trap under the rear window behind the couch?
I was thinking about some sort of diffuser on the east wall to break it up since the opposite wall is open and the room is not symetrical.

Thanks for the help.

Ron

 

[Ethan Winer]

Ron,

> I wouldn't be able to pull off the kind of treatments that I saw in your room. <

I understand completely. But then you won't get the high quality of sound I enjoy! So try to sneak them in a few at a time. With any luck the family won't even notice until it's too late to complain!

> I was thinking on building a trap in each corner <like shown> by just screwing a 2x2 into each wall, filling with insulation, and then putting ply on an angle. <

Fine, but forget the plywood.

> are you suggesting to put another trap where you see the red X's? <

I'm suggesting you put in as many traps as you can manage. The more you install, the flatter and tighter the low end will be. Walls are good, especially the rear wall, and corners are even better.

--Ethan

 

[VSpaceBoy]

Got it. Thanks for the info.

Ron