Structural Integrity
Posted by: David C on 08 May 2002
Dear All,
I am interested in room tuning and generally improving the quality of the acoustics in my listening room.
I have just completed a bout of decorating and was really horrified how much resonance there is in the walls when playing at any volume. I live in a shonky modern property with two of my internal walls being plasterboard.
I would really appreciate any words of wisdom if anyone has tried enhancing a room of this type.
Regards
David
I am interested in room tuning and generally improving the quality of the acoustics in my listening room.
I have just completed a bout of decorating and was really horrified how much resonance there is in the walls when playing at any volume. I live in a shonky modern property with two of my internal walls being plasterboard.
I would really appreciate any words of wisdom if anyone has tried enhancing a room of this type.
Regards
David
Posted on: 08 May 2002 by David C
Richard,
Unfortunately Blackheath and Greenwich property prices are not conducive to moving, and I would not want to leave this area. In addition when I was looking at properties two years ago the older places had small rooms, I have Quad's which means that I need a big room.
I should have said that I have thick carpet floors with very thick underlay. There are two two seater settees in the room and a couple of 6ft bookcases, one full of lp's the other full of books. I have heavy lined velvet curtains at the windows.
I believe that if I could calm the walls down in a reasonably effective manner it would pay substantial dividends until I am ready to move house.
Cheers
David
Unfortunately Blackheath and Greenwich property prices are not conducive to moving, and I would not want to leave this area. In addition when I was looking at properties two years ago the older places had small rooms, I have Quad's which means that I need a big room.
I should have said that I have thick carpet floors with very thick underlay. There are two two seater settees in the room and a couple of 6ft bookcases, one full of lp's the other full of books. I have heavy lined velvet curtains at the windows.
I believe that if I could calm the walls down in a reasonably effective manner it would pay substantial dividends until I am ready to move house.
Cheers
David
Posted on: 08 May 2002 by Alex S.
Sounds lovely.
Alex
PS Could be RPG foam time - I'll let you know all about it.
Alex
PS Could be RPG foam time - I'll let you know all about it.
Posted on: 08 May 2002 by dave brubeck
If everybody stopped buying these s***e houses then the Government would stop building them.
Whilst I realise this is not always possible due to financial realities and the excitement often felt by young couples when buying a paper house is the only route open to achieving marital bliss and accommodation for 2.2 children, one must take one's hifi into consideration.
If the timber walls of a house are not at least 150mm thick overall with sound deafening properly fitted do not buy. Dense blockwork is far superior.
I hate new houses - they don't build them like they used to.
Whilst I realise this is not always possible due to financial realities and the excitement often felt by young couples when buying a paper house is the only route open to achieving marital bliss and accommodation for 2.2 children, one must take one's hifi into consideration.
If the timber walls of a house are not at least 150mm thick overall with sound deafening properly fitted do not buy. Dense blockwork is far superior.
I hate new houses - they don't build them like they used to.
Posted on: 08 May 2002 by Steve B
quote:
Demolishing the place and building a house out of something more solid?
I disagree. (I think).
IMO sound will bounce off a solid wall just as effectively (if not more so) than a plasterboard one.
Soft furnishings help, as will hanging paintings, mirrors, deer heads and all that sort of stuff on the walls.
Steve B
Posted on: 08 May 2002 by Markus
Dave,
How long do you expect to be in this place? If you plan to live there a good long while you may want to try adding another layer of sheetrock to your walls. Try searching the Forum for past messages on this topic. I know I read something about it. Basically the idea is to simultaneously stiffen and add mass to the walls to reduce resonance...
YMMV,
Markus
How long do you expect to be in this place? If you plan to live there a good long while you may want to try adding another layer of sheetrock to your walls. Try searching the Forum for past messages on this topic. I know I read something about it. Basically the idea is to simultaneously stiffen and add mass to the walls to reduce resonance...
YMMV,
Markus
Posted on: 08 May 2002 by Allan Probin
Although it does seem to most people that if a house is old it must therefore be better, it's not necessarily true. What matters is the design of the house, the quality of materials and the skill of the builders. You get what you pay for. There are good and bad examples of any age.
As for room tuning, from my experience and preference I've found that I get the best musical results from using no more than the minimum amount of absorption required to prevent noticeable echoes in the room. Beyond that use diffusion to reduce hardness and strong reflections. If your listening room isn't a dedicated listening room then generally there will be sufficient clutter (suitably arranged if necessary) to sort all this out anyway.
Allan
As for room tuning, from my experience and preference I've found that I get the best musical results from using no more than the minimum amount of absorption required to prevent noticeable echoes in the room. Beyond that use diffusion to reduce hardness and strong reflections. If your listening room isn't a dedicated listening room then generally there will be sufficient clutter (suitably arranged if necessary) to sort all this out anyway.
Allan
Posted on: 08 May 2002 by David C
Guys,
Thanks for the feedback. Alex, you need to be careful I might move down the hill and lower the tone of Greenwich :-)
When I bought my flat a couple of years ago it was interesting looking at the quality of some of the conversions on older properties. If you look at a development like the Royal Herbert Pavilions in London you have got an old Military Hospital converted into apartments, depending on which block you live in depends on which contracting company did the conversion and therefore the build quality. My room suffers in that i have long plasterboard walls secured to battons plasterboard making the next wall on the otherside. The wall that my speakers back onto is much better as it is plasterboard fixed to batons to brick and is much more solid and secure.
If I find anything interesting on the mission then I will report back.
Regards
David
Thanks for the feedback. Alex, you need to be careful I might move down the hill and lower the tone of Greenwich :-)
When I bought my flat a couple of years ago it was interesting looking at the quality of some of the conversions on older properties. If you look at a development like the Royal Herbert Pavilions in London you have got an old Military Hospital converted into apartments, depending on which block you live in depends on which contracting company did the conversion and therefore the build quality. My room suffers in that i have long plasterboard walls secured to battons plasterboard making the next wall on the otherside. The wall that my speakers back onto is much better as it is plasterboard fixed to batons to brick and is much more solid and secure.
If I find anything interesting on the mission then I will report back.
Regards
David
Posted on: 09 May 2002 by Martin Clark
quote:
My room suffers in that i have long I have just completed a bout of decorating and was really horrified how much resonance there is in the walls when playing at any volume. I live in a shonky modern property with two of my internal walls being plasterboard.
David, there'a a brief summary of the problem and some possibilities on the acoustica site under 'soundproofing'.
Martin