By Juan C. Ayllon As some of you know, I recently replaced my center front wall acoustic diffuser panel with an absorption one made of rigid, one inch thick Owens Corning 703 fiberglass insulation (a local custom starlit acoustic cloud installer sold me some inexpensively) , and the results were very satisfying -- a deeper soundstage that Belle and I both noticed immediately whether listening to music or watching an HD movie. However, after I posted some photos of it on an audiophile Facebook page, Norman Varney sent me an Instant Messenger message suggesting that I add in some extra panels to tame first order reflections on the front wall. For those who aren't familiar with Norm, he runs A/V Room Service, makes EVP Equipment Vibration Protectors (that I used under my DAC and preamplifier) and performs professional A/V room installations. "There is a first order reflection point on all six surfaces of the room for each speaker," he wrote. "Addressing the first order reflections controls second order, etc." To get the placement right, he suggested putting a piece of tape between my tweeter and midrange drivers on the inside front corner of each speaker and have Belle hold a mirror flat on the front wall until I see the tape's reflection; that point would be the center point for the panel. Knowing that Belle doesn't care for the idea of more acoustic panels, I didn't bother asking her but, instead, late last night when she was sleeping, I pulled out a larger mirror from storage, arranged it on the wall in the approximate areas that I anticipated the tape's reflection appearing, placed a piece of red tape at the inside corner of each speaker at the tweeter level (my speakers employ the D'Apolito array, with the tweeter between two midrange drivers and the fiberglass insulation material I'd be using for the absorption panels would be tall enough to cover the entire height of the speakers). Sure enough, I found the red tapes' reflection right where I thought they'd be. I then compared listening to music with and without the naked panels there. I listened to music with and without the new panels in place and, to my delight, I appreciated the results with them in place! The result was subtle, but nevertheless a slight softening of the high frequencies, rendering a more organic, natural presentation. Removed, the sound was also excellent, but had a slightly harder edge to it. Nice. But, here's the rub. Just like she doesn't like another acoustic absorption panel I place atop the fireplace screen at the first reflection point on the right sidewall, she won't like them. My solution? As with the latter offending panel, I will use them for some serious listening, but put them away after I'm done. Eventually, I will likely wrap these new panels with cloth, but given that they're not out all that often, they'll remain naked for the time being.
Thanks for the tip, Norman!
1 Comment
3/30/2022 10:09:54 pm
I very much appreciate it. Thank you for this excellent article. Keep posting!
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Juan C. AyllonA writer, artist, educator and owner of Prairie Audio Man Cave, he lives with his wife, Isabel (AKA Belle), and their Goldendoodle, Liam, enjoys listening to high fidelity music and all things hi-fi at their home in the greater Chicagoland area.. Archives
March 2024
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