Barriers with "Holes" - www.AcousticFields.com

[@stealth418]

I ended up just putting two 3/4" MDF boards in each window held in tightly with closed cell foam on the edges with a 1 inch air gap between the window and the board. There's another 1 inch air gap between the two boards. Then I mounted MLV to the outer edge of the window frame and sealed it with foam to the drywall and held it with screws. It drapes kinda loosely and doesn't touch the MDF board behind it, but it is sealed air tight to the window frame. Lastly, I have some closed cell foam stuck to the MLV to absorb the echos and high frequencies in the roam. It's a relatively cheap window plug, but it gets the job done pretty well.

[@stealth418]

As for my use case, it's a home theater room and I don't want my neighbors to complain...

[@AcousticFields]

S, Good use of materials and their function. Well done.

[@curiositatibus2846]

Triple glazed windows, of different thicknesses of glass and air gaps, including one laminated pane, are very effective at cutting external noise entry into a room, particularly with an angled internal pane. We used live near an airport and the method certainly worked with the inner tertiary glazing the depth of the window sill. As to internal reflections... dense absorbers across the window are useful at night, but some of us like listen to music in the day. Triple glazing is common throughout Europe, where we have to pay more for our energy. Even a double glazed conservatory attached to a listening room through a closed glazed room door can be a very effective method of stopping the entry of external noise into a music room. In the real world many people have to work with what they have. Acoustic design is about making the best of what exists for the intended purpose. Perfection is rare and very much down to individual preferences, even amongst professional artists and engineers. Not offering designs to leave windows in rooms seems to be a little self indulgent.

[@AcousticFields]

Windows are problematic from two perspectives. First, they are usually the weakest link in the wall/window structure so they perpetuate noise transmission issues at all frequencies. Secondly, windows placed within walls in small rooms are positioned in the wall in places that have a negative impact on first, second, and tertiary reflection time signatures. The management of the reflections and their associated interaction with the wanted direct energy from sources which is a requirement in two and multichannel treatments is made much more difficult with windows at those three reflection points. Windows can be used in a room if they are positioned properly within the room. In a two channel or small theater room, the windows can be positioned closer to the ceiling wall intersection. We have built rooms with smaller sizes spread across the surface area of the wall. This places glass out of the soundfields that require treatment and still permits ambient natural light.

[@stephenfrancisvoros382]

Exactly what I've had to deal with in my room, with a big window 6"x8" to the left of my listening position, I've only partially covered window with sound absorption, nearer to my left font stage tower speaker, and behind left side surround speaker, each speaker situated at each end of window, seeing this I'll make more panels, I can put in place and fully cover window when need be, I've spent a fair bit of money on my sound system and I want to get everything thing I can out of it, with your help I'm achieving it, keep up the great work Denis. Cheers Stephen

[@BrianPellerin]

I’ve heard that helium-filled double-pane glass helps trap sound within the helium partition

[@AcousticFields]

We have no experience with this technology.

[@djentlover]

Not feeling claustrophobic and seeing the nature can be more beneficial than treating a problem in audio. Appreciate the advice though.

[@AcousticFields]

D, Yes, the best room is no room.

[@alb.1911]

What about placing some transparent plexiglass diffuser in front of the window if we can’t remove them? Thanks.

[@AcousticFields]

P, Do you need diffusion for your usage?

[@alb.1911]

@@AcousticFields well, I was thinking about them because looks like the only "static" option that don't stop the light coming from the window...

[@AcousticFields]

P, We focus on sound quality to match usage. Placing a diffuser on a window depends on many factors. First, is a diffuser in the location of the window match usage requirements. Secondly, if it does match usage requirements, do you have enough distance for the diffuser to work correctly. Thirdly, does the prime number diffuser chosen match the usage and distance requirements.

[@carlosfernandoramirezsanto4417]

Hello. What if you have to keep a window the size of the entire wall from left to right, where should it be for the best? Maybe behind the speakers will help to let the sound get away and have less reflections that way?

[@AcousticFields]

C, All windows covered and treated behind the listening position

[@chilepepper48]

In my finished basement is 10.71m x 3.35m and height 2.42. I have two window(0.91m x 0.6m) sitting high up on the wall. Would it be proper to put acoustic curtains on the windows to correct the hole?

[@AcousticFields]

There are no such things as "acoustical curtains". Curtains are not "acoustical". The industry has placed the adjective "Acoustical" in front of curtains. They do this for many reasons. One reason is for search engines since people search for this term. Secondly, with the word "Acoustical' in front of the word curtain they make it sound like it has special properties and therefore they can charge more for the curtain. There are curtains that may or may not absorb energy. A limp mass material such as a curtain will not address the low-frequency issues within your room. You must deal with the low-frequency energy issues < 125 Hz. These issues are due to your low ceiling height. They overwhelm every other issue and must be treated.

[@chilepepper48]

@@AcousticFields Thank you... so it looks like I have to hang a couple of panels on the ceiling to help rid of most the reflections?

[@AcousticFields]

The ceiling accounts for 17% of your acoustical issues. You must treat over 70% coverage to have a effective treatment.

[@danicooke346]

Love your videos, so much to learn. In a stereo listening room use case, I was thinking maybe a window could be used to an advantage in a front/back location, as you mentioned a window is the ultimate absorber (it just lets all sound out). Like an audio blackhole (in my imagination). I realize this is a severe over-generalization and I have been reading your comments to others about what is the use case, what is the distance to the listener etc. The only reason it comes to mind is because as I slowly build up some learnings from your videos (and yes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, kind of like googling health issues), I think the general idea, for a stereo listening room set-up, is to diffuse sound on the left and right (to slow down wall reflections and give better imaging) and to absorb front and rear (for better depth). Maybe a window is too much “absorption” for any listening room use-case? Sorry for suggesting something just plain silly in advance. Probably too many variables in this scenario for any meaningful commentary.

[@AcousticFields]

D, We do not use diffusion for sidewalls. We use absorption with the proper rates and levels for music and voice. Absorption assists us with image definition, position, and separation. We then apply diffusion to front and rear walls and sometimes the ceiling to magnify that definition and separation.

[@danicooke346]

@@AcousticFields Thanks for clarifying that much appreciated!!

[@RHINE9]

Ever heard of Indow Windows? They make inserts for your windows (custom).

[@AcousticFields]

E, You are missing the point of the video. A large variable in noise technology is mass or density. A window is much lower mass and density than a wall. This weak point is the hole issue. You must first measure the frequency and amplitude of the noise then decide on what barrier to build to attenuate those frequencies and amplitudes. With noise there is no easy fix and guessing is a fool's game when it comes to noise issues.

[@RHINE9]

Acoustic Fields I have not missed the point, in fact I appreciate the point. I was merely asking if you had heard of them. Merely changing the density/mass is one thing, however; if noise can enter the window you still have an issue to address. Good video 👍🏻

[@AcousticFields]

E, We do not use those product types. We design our own. Using this method, we fix 100 % of the issues and then can move forward with the treatment phase. Most lack specifications to rely upon for analysis and we know of none that are effective below 125 Hz. Window noise can be minimized. We just finished a must have window noise design where we used 3 - 1" clear acrylic sheets with calculated air space to attenuate down to 40 Hz.

[@rb032682]

good stuff

[@AcousticFields]

RB, Thanks for your comments.

[@MrGurushit]

Thanks, D

[@ARGBlackCloud]

Yep glass , it's always been the Bain of any room , the same goes with live music venues , it's impossible to make the room "behave" or the sound "behave" when it's full of windows. The next topic should be getting fresh air into a room without consequences of the air handling tunnels turning into tuned wave guides !!!

[@ahmtTyln]

sir, you re amongst a very few educated men who knows what he is doing.

[@AcousticFields]

We appreciate your support and following.

[@marklydon435]

So 100% of the sound doesn't go through the window if it effects the sound you hear a lot must be reflected.

[@AcousticFields]

Three things happen with sound energy. It is absorbed, reflected, or diffused.

[@panca4238]

so..barrier with holes is a myth?

[@AcousticFields]

P, How can a hole stop sound?

[@panca4238]

@@AcousticFields I know, just to make sure😊

[@rockyslay4310]

It's the window or me!