Acoustic Properties of different colour curtains.
Posted by: Sloop John B on 14 March 2018
..... is a topic that one doesn’t often see discussed here.
Whilst I appreciate it is difficult to do direct A / B comparisons and the need to dem in one’s own room is absolutely essential I’m quite surprised by the silence on the topic here.
We have gleaned that PB has grey curtains. These are not ones I have heard personally but one of the more astonishing revelations in this strange hobby was when I changed an insipid green pair of curtains for a rich burgundy set. Well jaw drop, night and day, old curtains sounded broken, black box upgrade - take your pick, the difference was astounding. And of course the beauty is that the effect is evident through many other upgrades. I’ve gone from 282/250 at the time to a 552/300 now and at each step of the ladder the curtains certainly held their own bringing previously unheard aspects of the sound to the fore.
Now I know not everyone thinks that curtain colour can make a difference and that any sepia shade will do and they question the science surrounding the subject but I cannot deny what my ears have heard, can’t unring the bell. I have been in touch with a local Draper and hope to have a curtain shoot- out in the not too distant future. He claims that there are some curtains from China that sound nearly as good as equivalent British ones at a fraction of the price. Once again, I’ll let my ears decide.
.sjb
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Gavin B
I wonder what colour curtains were favoured by the late Peter Belt?
I don't think it mattered so long as there was a small piece of paper pinned to each curtain.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Innocent Bystander
Wasn’t one curtain supposed to dip into a bowl of water?
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by notnaim man
Just back from John Lewis, they say they they have never heard of Naim curtains!
Mind you if you enter Linn in their search bar you get a ladies top. I've spent too long trying to think of an appropriate comment about the longer back, perhaps it's for mullets?
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by ChrisSU
I'm thinking of taking bets on what happens first, this thread runs to a second page, or to the padded cell!
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by kevin J Carden
I can confirm that colour doesn’t make a blind (or curtain) bit of difference.
You’re right Clive. I’ve heard of the concept of a blind listening test, but never one for curtains.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Mulberry
We just did our room in F&B ‘Skimming Stone’...I hope I haven’t messed up the acoustics!
G
Skimming Stone? This will obviously harden the sound 
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Innocent Bystander
I'm thinking of taking bets on what happens first, this thread runs to a second page, or to the padded cell!
As the acoustic properties of different coloured curtains (paint, wallpaper, blinds, carpet, etc) is critical to enjoyable listening, the hifi corner surely is the appropriate forum.
Meanwhile a related question occurs to me: do colourblind people hear differently from those who see in full colour, and does the colour of the curtains make any difference to the acoustics for them?
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by ChrisSU
I'm thinking of taking bets on what happens first, this thread runs to a second page, or to the padded cell!
As the acoustic properties of different coloured curtains (paint, wallpaper, blinds, carpet, etc) is critical to enjoyable listening, the hifi corner surely is the appropriate forum.
Yes, but that is not the subject of this thread, as you can see from the title and OP.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Beachcomber
We just did our room in F&B ‘Skimming Stone’...I hope I haven’t messed up the acoustics!
G
Skimming Stone? This will obviously harden the sound
And presumably it would introduce some flutter, wouldn't it?
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Eoink
We just did our room in F&B ‘Skimming Stone’...I hope I haven’t messed up the acoustics!
G
Skimming Stone? This will obviously harden the sound
And presumably it would introduce some flutter, wouldn't it?
Not just flutter, it's sure to cause multiple skips.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by SongStream
I've not found that the colour makes much difference. However, when listening during the day, I find the difference between having the curtains drawn, or open, is literally a night and day difference. Incredible how much impact they have.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by TOBYJUG
I have found everything sounds better with no curtains and the windows wide open.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Innocent Bystander
I have found everything sounds better with no curtains and the windows wide open.
Very likely (though the neighbours might not agree!)
the best music reproduction I have heard ever was playing mine with the speakers in the garden - not my current system, though excellent speakers, an amp capable of driving them well, and pretty decent CD and vinyl players. I can’t possibly say how things like detail compared to now, but in terms of some indescribable overall quality arising from breadth and depth of response, smoothness and openness it was simply wonderful. I wish I could do that all the time, but unfortunately neighbours wouldn’t appreciate - and where I live the weather is rarely conducive. 
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by TK421
After much deliberation I eventually pulled myself together and chose a pair in deepest darkest red.
I really am struggling to put into words the SQ improvements that I am now hearing, blimey.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Innocent Bystander
After much deliberation I eventually pulled myself together and chose a pair in deepest darkest red.
I really am struggling to put into words the SQ improvements that I am now hearing, blimey.
That’s scary, the SQ improvements due to darkest deepest red curtains blinding you. Try putting the lights on, in case they just happen to be blackout curtains causing a lack of light.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Innocent Bystander
I'm thinking of taking bets on what happens first, this thread runs to a second page, or to the padded cell!
Who won?
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by SongStream
Pure white goose down sounds better than ducks. Nothing beats blu-tak though.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by nigelb
I think Richard should be given a prize for allowing this thread to continue here. His prize?. Got to be a set of his very own audiophile curtains. Have we decided on the best aural colour yet? Stupid question, still only on page 2.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Foot tapper
Does the make of curtain draw cable affect the sound quality too?
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Eoink
Does the make of curtain draw cable affect the sound quality too?
The most obvious point is that the curtains must not touch the floor.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by nigelb
I have heard on the grapevine you can now get Naim audio curtains with pictures of the type of fish that best matches your system i.e. mullet, flatfish or monkfish curtains. Naim have called them 'synergy curtains' and they will be available in the summer, just not sure if that is this year or next! Something about some certification they need to get before launch?
Later they will launch a special Wool version of these called SuperLoominaSynergyCurtains. Can't wait.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by TOBYJUG
For those whose curtains are drawn on a single rail. Perhaps you should consider the DR upgrade to a double rail.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by benjy
Now remember,for best sq curtains MUST be vacuumed at least once a week and across,not up and down- oh why can't these things ever be simple! Also if a properly placed burndy is used as a tie-back for the curtains -well, truly amazing (I've been told).
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by TOBYJUG
I have recently had good results from wearing Sushi socks whilst listening to my more Ambient material.
Posted on: 14 March 2018 by Innocent Bystander
Ah, I hadn’t considered sock colour and sound quality - presumably depending on how elevated your feet are in front of you when listening, the brightness of the socks will effect the brightness of the sound - or is it an inverse effect?
Of much greater import, however, will be the trousers, fabric and fit if not colour, and indeed whether you are wearing any - most significant to “trouser flapping bass”: even speakers with the very best bass may struggle if you are not wearing trousers, though they may cause other things to flap...
