Minimalist Room Acoustics

I love music but I don't think I want to comprimise the comfort of my flat to get the last drop of sound from my stereo, I have to draw the line somewhere.

Next step is to get some 1" thick acoustical foam insulation, although expanded polystyrene would also do - studio supply stores can help here. Cut it to the size of the stretchers less a bit such that the foam can sit inside the back (wall) side of the canvas and either tape it there find some means of fixing.

Mount canvas or canvasses on the wall and you have art which doubles as an acoustical treatment.

This is what I plan to do when I get a bigger room. For now I use real oil paintings, without the backing (as my room isn't minimalist so the big comfy sofas suffice!)

HTH,

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

quote:

---

Anybody using Naim in a minimalist style room i.e. wooden floors, leather furniture (and little of it), etc?

---

My flat is modern / minimal, and the living room where the stereo is has a maple floor. It has been a bit of an effort to get the acoustics manageable, and I have had to compromise a little on the minimalism bit.

The room was pretty useless acoustically until I put a rug down in front of the speakers, I have also strategically placed my (large) record collection on a big Ikea Expidit rack which helped a lot. A sizeable amount of CDs are also shelved up and positioned to defuse sound in another area of the room. I like modern art, and have a couple of quite large paintings on canvas which again are strategically positioned. I also like houseplants, so I have a couple of big ones that again act as pretty effective diffusers. I went for really big paper lantern type lampshades as again these unobtrusively help with reflections on the ceiling.

My room is still not perfect acoustically, certainly nowhere near as good as it would be say if I put a carpet down, but each thing I have done has helped a noticeable amount, and the cumulative effect is great. As a general rule with each pair of facing walls and the floor / ceiling try and deaden or diffuse one.

Tony.

Beyond that, you can hide quite a lot. What's the ceiling? you can finely perforate ceilings to good effect...or use stretched cloth over the whole to hide some selective treatments above.

Cheers,
MC

Forget this minimalist milarky....very 1970's in a swedish sort of way.

Get some wall to wall carpeting, get a rug, hang up curtains and pictures with a few lampshades etc to break up the sound.

Your flat will look better and your music will sound better. Win win situation.

Regards

Mick

2. Use RPG Foam and Skylines. These can be white and not the crumbly looking stuff in the picture.

I listen in a large concrete box which used to have an awful echo. I put a chequerboard of foam behind the speakers in fetching white and purple and 6 Skylines behind my head.

Result: Minimalist, polystyrene chic + no echo and great, ie not deadened, sound.

As big an upgrade as CD3 > CDX or a separate spur if not bigger (in my case).

Alex

quote:

---

Forget this minimalist milarky....very 1970's in a swedish sort of way.

Get some wall to wall carpeting, get a rug, hang up curtains and pictures with a few lampshades etc to break up the sound.

---

This gives me an excellent idea for a TV show, we could have Mick Parry "sorting out" modern buildings…

Picture a say classic 50s Frank Lloyd Wright apartment, Mick would arrive and say, "something just ain't right here, all this light and space is just horrible…" and proceed to carpet it, stick in a fake Victorian fireplace, a dado rail, sash windows, a sturdy Welsh dresser, and a few paintings, perhaps portraying kittens or dogs playing cards… Mrs Parry could then come in and strategically apply some alarmingly ornate teapots.

If the series caught on our loveable Parrys could fix some bigger projects, say the National Theatre or the Lloyds Building.

I would never miss an episode.

Tony.

1. Ignore Alex

2. Great idea Tony, there is hope for you yet.

Regards

Mick

Where did you get the Skylines? I note from the RPG website that they do not have a UK distributor.

Did you take any room measurements before hanging the Skylines or did you just experiment?

Cheers
Steve

I'd love to see some pics of your listening room! I know, I'll send some of mine (albeit without purple polystyerene on walls) and we can put your suggestions to the vote. Call it a focus group test before we decide to go live with the TV show...

You make yer choice then pays yer money. I wasn't prepared to compromise the room aesthetic when, in actuality, it would have been far cheaper to get the lampshades and rugs in. Anyway, wallpaper and fitted carpets have been making their way back for some time now...wait a bit longer and you'll be OK - I'll be the one in trouble.

Steve

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

They advised me on minimum requirements, went away a brought them back - 2 packs acoustic foam and 6 Skylines. The foam goes behind the speakers to stop reflections off the back wall, and on the side walls to minimise side reflections. The Skylines should go behind you at ear level. Mine are higher for practical reasons.

The good thing about Skylines is they throw extraneous sound around (diffuse) instead of purely absorb which is what the foam does. Absorption only can lead to a dead sound which I didn't want.

RPG stuff is expensive - I spent about £600 in all (Skylines are £50 each) but it works! Many have said to me - why not use a pile of upholstery foam and cardboard boxes. I say why not sell all your Naim and buy a midi-system.

I have a big room - a normal minimum might be 1 pack of foam and 4 Skylines.

They make cheaper foam - but if your house burns down the insurance could be tricky - I bought the fire retardent stuff.

Alex