Do's And Don'ts Of Room Setup For Audiophiles - www.AcousticFields.com

[@AcousticFields]

📢 *_Watch Part 2 Here:_* kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoWwfZKvp7ZmmdU

[@hastingb]

Just cemented in the chimney and boarded up the windows. Shag carpet will be here next week.

[@GraveMistake1]

Hahahaha

[@chrislowe357]

why not just get rid of the chimney altogether?

[@woodybear8298]

Hope you bought enough for the walls too.

[@dadof8kids712]

Damn, I boarded up the windows 1st so I had to rent a crane to lift up the cement truck so I could pour directly into the chimney

[@joesbarbecue1]

Told my girl I'd have to forget her, Rather buy me a new ampereter, So she made tracks saying this is the end now, My speakers they talk back, they're just two way friends now.

[@btinaustin]

LOL, We are looking at buying a new house. My wife doesn't know it, but every home we look at I mentally picture where my stereo setup would go....Is that bad?

[@firebladerio]

Me too

[@marottajoe]

A wise man once said. It is easier to apologize than to ask permission.

[@Lucas-ck1po]

+Giuseppe Marotta HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[@baneparkour]

btinaustin not a bit mate

[@ElectricEclectic]

I have told my wife about all the acoustic problems in our homes at least several times per week for the past 10 years. Yeah I’m that nutty about acoustics. I can tell if something has been moved, or added or subtracted just by ear alone... and I get a little weird about it. For example, the ottoman position interferes with center channel clarity. She can’t hear it, but knows it bothers me. Our current house was chosen specifically because it has an acoustically detached 400 sq foot room that is twice as long as it is wide, with flat 8’ ceilings. I told her it was to be the theater room... but it had already been discussed thousands of times before, so she already knew. Anyway, a few weeks after moving in I had a team of contractors dismantle the room to run the wires and install the speakers. mount the projector, etc. Needless to say, if it was a surprise to her... it might not have been a welcome one. So... tell your wife. If she objects... get a new wife. :)

[@mattbeall9482]

Well stated and true. But again, if you don't have a dedicated room but instead are using an L shaped living room with picture windows --- no luck. It'd be useful to have a video on how to deal with rooms that are far from perfect, since that's what many of us are dealing with.

[@AcousticFields]

Hi ***** The problem is that irregular shaped rooms create too many acoustical distortions. Equipment set up, side wall reflections, and a host of other variables make these rooms impossible to support accurate musical playback. Some acoustical manufacturers will advise you otherwise in order to sell you product telling you such issues can be overcome... I simply will not. I'd rather be honest with people than make a quick buck off of mis-selling. Thanks Dennis

[@richardsinger01]

Thats so funny. While you search for the elusive audio nirvana at the end of the rainbow I'll get on and enjoy my music. How that I know my house is completely incompatible with good sound reproduction can save a lot of money by not upgrading my equipment too :)

[@Magnulus76]

Indeed. Lots of people enjoyed music on less than ideal equipment.

[@FURognar]

most of us simply dont have ideal rooms. In which case I say room EQ is your friend.

[@HollywoodNobody]

“I’m seeing some things that are very disturbing.” We’re talking about improper room setup for listening to music here - not ISIS torture videos, right? 😁

[@Condor1970]

This gentleman obviously doesn't realize most people have their nice stereos in rooms where there is lots of furniture, a kitchen or dining room entrance, lots of windows and odd coves and angles. It's called a HOUSE. Virtually any room can be made acoustically pleasing with properly positioned sound absorption panels and bass traps. These things can also be disguised as things like hanging tapestries, floor rugs, and odd shaped art works and upholstered furniture.

[@AcousticFields]

+Condor1970 We work with dual usage (living/listening) rooms on a regular basis. The balancing act is always aesthetics versus acoustic function. Men prefer function. Woman prefer appearance. Most of the time, the appearance factor over rides function. Our data and experience do not support your statement that most rooms are dual usage. I would say that the ratio is 40 % dual usage and 60 % dedicated based upon our experience with end users over the last 8 years..

[@petarst]

+HurtlockerTwo he is right, you are wrong.

[@HellaHipHop]

hurtlockertwo. he is right, you are wrong. stop bitching at FREE information. its all to be taken with a grain of salt and or backed against other resources.

[@Xyphren]

your "End users"... you mean rich people right?

[@rwoodford9812]

Great points! I have a horrible room, worst then most. I use the McIntosh MEN-220 room correction system. it completely changed my sound in positive ways. Best investment I have ever made. I could not move my room around to accommodate my system, so I decided to use Room Correction and it was amazing how it fixed so many issues. It was most likely less than flying a so called expert to tear up our living space to attempt to correct room issue that can't be corrected without some kind of room correction.

[@FrightfulAccountant]

I drive 3 hours a day and i listen to the stereo all the time. The influence of the windows on my sound is the last of my worries. Getting the audio to beat the buzzy Honda engine with a 6800 rpm redline, that is the real issue!

[@AcousticFields]

F, Yes, noise is everywhere in a car environment. This is a much different listening environment than a room with windows. I have done extensive noise and absorption work inside a car environment. The noise floor which you are referring to is the first issue that must be dealt with in any mobile audio environment. After that issue is addressed (minimized) then comes absorption and diffusion treatments.

[@daviddavidsonn3578]

buy a better car that is better acoustically treated, won't be cheap though

[@AlmaRockeraOficial]

I hate covering up the only window in my studio, I did it for a long time. I felt like I was in solitary confinement 😂 so came to the conclusion that it was more enjoyable to be in my studio for hours when I can get a break and take a look outside see the trees, plants birds etc... it doesn’t feel like I’m closed up in a box and I get more creative writing music. So I decided to get me a $600 pair of head phones to get the room out the way when mixing, I switch between my speakers 🔊and headphones 🎧 all the time and my room feels alive.

[@FlorentNoirot]

straight to the point, no bs, not trying to sell you anything besides implicitly his services. Kudos

[@AcousticFields]

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

[@shmehfleh3115]

After watching this, I've come to the conclusion that I'd be better off setting my stereo up in a train station than the room it's in. I'm sad now.

[@AcousticFields]

+Shmeh Fleh Room size and volume must be matched to usage. There is a direct relationship between volume and usage. Fill out the room form information and I will compare your room size and volume to our data base. www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-room/

[@KapinKrunch]

Me too... It makes me want to return all my shit. I have 2 windows and 2 sliding glass closet doors. looks like I have to buy a heck of a lot of treatment panels or heavy carpet. covering the closet doors in carpet will look horrible

[@seigeengine]

They make closet doors of glass? What?

[@KapinKrunch]

seigeengine​​ Yes they do, but this video is overblown in my opinion. With room correction you can make your system sound pretty damn good. I think you have to know what to listen for to find issues in your room. Because after setting everything up I like my system just fine. Im not worried about acuostics anymore.

[@seigeengine]

Aaron Mcroodle Obviously. The guy is clearly a loon. This entire video basically amounts to "speakers equal distances from the walls, and if your room isn't a perfect featureless box, you might as well just be deaf."

[@RedHmong]

sound like I should live in a box to get the best sound lol

[@drfranzatutube]

in a box and ideally the speakers and the listening point should be suspended mid air. :).

[@bendeco]

That's why movie theaters are boxes.

[@jacobsteele7138]

Wish I could afford to fix my theater room like Dennis recommends. He knows his shit. I have used his advice to make my room much better, especially by elevating my two subs at different heights. It replaced that boomy sound smearing with tight impactfull bass. It cleaned up dialogue as a result. You will not find anyone on KZbin that gives you better advice. Thank you Dennis.

[@Olemier]

This guy is like a stern professor. I was thinking “yes, sir” the entire time.

[@AcousticFields]

O, The issue today is that there is so much misinformation on the web. There are certain requirements that can not be compromised. It is just physics.

[@Olemier]

Acoustic Fields I like that, straight to the point and super informative. I didn’t mean to make it sound negative, the video was awesome and probably the best I’ve seen on the subject. On that note you’d make a good physics professor hahah

[@AcousticFields]

@@Olemier No worries. We all appreciate your following.

[@Gamez4eveR]

This is what I learned and how I made my at best average Philips HTR5000 sound actually unbelievably good (TL;DR): 1. Equilateral triangle is god 2. Tweeters at ear level (I use only 2 satellites, in stereo) 3. Speakers must face you (toed in so that you can only see their fron when looking directly at them) Suddenly my "setup" had real soundstage, separation and imaging. Physics is great. As far as room treatment goes the less echo the better. If you have echo in your room, treatment is the only solution. Echo means reflections. Reflections can lead to all sorts of disasters. Sound is a wave, waves reflect off of surfaces. Obvious, I know.

[@DarthHater100]

Every viewer of this video: "Oh man, I purposely installed a closet and a window thinking it would _improve_ my sound. What a beginner's mistake! Good thing I watched this video and learned I shouldn't do that. I guess since I have a closet and window, I should never listen to audio. Learned so much here!"

[@warywolfen]

Here are some tips. Speakers should be placed about ear level above the floor, around 6 to 8 ft. apart. They should be at least a couple of feet away from walls, otherwise the bass can be "loose" and "boomy." Never stick speakers in corners. If you have a choice of several rooms to choose from, pick the one that has the fewest parallel flat surfaces, ie, a sloping ceiling is better than a flat one. Also, it's for the three pairs of flat surfaces to have different dimensions. For instance, a room that's 12 by 18 feet, with a 7 foot ceiling, is better than one that's 12' X 12' X 7'.

[@AcousticFields]

Clyde Wary Thanks for the comment. Each room size and volume requires different set up distances. Each speaker height and radiation pattern takes different distances apart. A speaker at a 2' distance from a room boundary surface will cause unwanted SBIE artifacts. We always have to be very careful with generalizations.

[@warywolfen]

The 6 - 8 ft spacing is optmum for recreating the proper stereo image, to duplicate the original performance. Of course, if the original recording involved more than two microphones (at ~ 105 degrees) with a mixdown in the studio, this kind of goes out the window. In such a case, there really is no original performance to reproduce. About keeping the speakers away from walls, I can't say EXACTLY how far they should be. But if they're too close, that results in loose and boomy bass.

[@BigYouDog]

Clyde Wary So after listening to this, unless I have the perfect room, save my money and buy an MP3 player. Most of us have to live in the real world and sound from one channel reaching my ears 1000th of a second later than the other, well I will just have to suck it up and live with it.

[@the_nondrive_side]

Clyde Wary your tips are way better than his.. 10×16×24 is approximately the perfect room for modal spacing. So really just not setting up in a small room is the best tip ever. 8x8x8= headphones

[@jackcaynon9746]

He's right. There are Klipsch speakers that are designed to be placed in corners because the folded horn uses the corner as a virtual bass horn. So, you do have to be careful about generalizations.

[@jerryjohnson4625]

I'm having my 8 ft window removed and taking my rear wall out. Gonna be chilly though, its 17° outside.

[@TheSlothofDOOM]

Hahahaha

[@Jedi71]

I kinda want to open a store called "Dos & Donuts."

[@AcousticFields]

M, People miss the importance of a proper set up. Even if the room has no treatment, you must set up correctly.

[@dr.zoidberg4313]

Ah yes, the old one eared robot head principle.

[@danparish1344]

Dr. Zoidberg I laughed, comment underrated!

[@DakTirCue]

great comment. literal lol

[@stephenfrancisvoros382]

Cool, you really know what's going on, you must of seen so many situations to over come, I'm learning more watching your KZbin tutorials than any other one, great work 👍😉

[@atamoura]

I died when you said "PLEASE no glass" hahaha

[@AcousticFields]

T, Yes. Glass has a negative impact on the middle frequency ranges from 800 - 2,000 Hz. I understand the need for small amounts in control rooms. It is function based. However, personal listening rooms and home theaters do not need glass. There is no need to look out the window if the music is good. Use your ears to see the music.

[@atamoura]

Oh I completely believe you, and I love your videos! Thank you for all the info. Just thought it was funny given the fact that you don’t see a lot of people irked by glass. If I want to cover my windows, what solutions do you suggest?

[@AcousticFields]

T, It all depends on room usage and where the windows are located. I will need to know much more about your room. Fill out the information in this link. Include photos of all room surfaces. www.acousticfields.com/free-room-analysis/

[@AcousticFields]

T, It depends on your usage. The position of the window for usage determines treatment.

[@williamnegron4154]

Tamer hillarious! My glass will stay. Don't want any bugs or burglars to steal my expensive equipment

[@MrNiceKnife]

I’ve seen many a video about room correction, et. This was among the best, concise, and to the point.

[@AcousticFields]

Great to hear!

[@viktorcselenyi8119]

So basically build a rectangular bunker with no windows to listen to music :)

[@AcousticFields]

N, A rectangular room is predictable and consistent with its distribution of modal pressure areas. The parallel surfaces dictate this. Treatment type, amount, and position are then applied. They are easier to treat and manage issues within than other shapes. All room shapes require low, middle, and high-frequency management. Glass surfaces produce frequency response aberrations. This is referred to as "glass sound". They produce frequency irregularities from 800 - 2 K. A bunker, I am going to assume, would be a concrete structure underground where the earth and concrete act as a barrier against noise transmission. This would be very desirable in any critical listening environment.

[@zaib4tsu]

So basically, go for the spherical bunker instead.

[@raidernationfullmoonrecord9516]

Lmao

[@khoi83]

Germans built great bunkers!!! That may explains why many good speakers (Canton etc.) Come from Germany xD

[@rwoodford9812]

I have a horrible room, worst then most. I use the McIntosh MEN-220 room correction system. it completely changed my sound in positive ways. Best investment I have ever made. I could not move my room around to accommodate my system, so I decided to use Room Correction and it was amazing how it fixed so many issues. It was most likely less than flying a so called expert to tear up our living space to attempt to correct room issue that can't be corrected without some kind of room correction. If anyone needs feedback I am here to help.

[@SOS89140]

Wow! Nice to see instruction from someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Thanks.

[@AcousticFields]

Thanks. Any time I can help I'm always happy to so drop me a line with any questions. Cheers Dennis

[@Missony74]

Man, it is a great lesson - 90% of people in the entire world listen to music on Headphones, silly Bluetooth speakers and they are so happy!

[@AcousticFields]

I do not know what the percenatges are for the world. I have a good idea of what our clients want.

[@loukola5353]

Good informative video. It makes me cringe when I see 95% of people who spent so much money on gear and cables, yet their rooms never have any treatments and are always oddly shaped with lots of windows, tile floors, and full of furniture.

[@AcousticFields]

Thanks Lou and agreed. It's like buying a Ferrari with a Skoda engine. Sure it looks nice but its leaving so much potential on the table. If you are ever in the Phoenix area I welcome you to come to our studio for a listen. It's a very unique audio experience that I would love for you to experience. All the best, Dennis

[@jamesmarkjackson1979]

Totally agree. I've massively improved my friends set ups just by pulling the speakers out of the corners of the room, or pulling them away from the back wall and toeing them a bit.

[@mondoenterprises6710]

All very good points. Any room with a good system probably is not perfect and needs or would benefit from some acoustic treatment. For my 22x40' living room there is a glass and hard surfaces problem. I thought the floor rug over the uninsulated hardwood floor and 2 sofas would be enough. The 4 4x5' large windows each has a honeycomb vertical shade. Still not enough to stop all the echo and reflections I was hearing. The large glass frame wall art over the enclosed fireplace and large mirror across the room from it and me in the middle of them for my listening position was interfering with my music listening. So I draped 3x4 wool rugs with eggcrate foam behind (about 25% of wall space) and got such a great effect from it, I am a believer in acoustic room treatment for a better listening experience. My sound is dialed in now and fills the space with the warm 70's analog tone but with the clarity of cd which is the sound I have been chasing for years now. I have even ordered acoustic room fabric panels to make the room even sound better and for cleaner design. I also placed carpet tiles under each floor speaker and the sub. Yes, the room is not perfect. But I think my sound has improved 5-10 fold and I am hearing the cd thru the system with much less sonic clutter. I feel like I am hearing my cds the way they were intended for the first time. And yes, though I hate to do it I will probably take down my mirror and glass frame art for even better listening. A painful compromise for sure! But I can listen for hours now with no Fatigue. Sound is warm and focused, no longer hard and bright. And that was not the case before...It's like before I was listening to the sound interact with the room surfaces. Now I listen to just the music thru the mid-fi system closer to how it was intended.

[@AcousticFields]

M, What a journey you have had. I am glad you have reached as the British say,"The top of the mountain".

[@tonyg1951]

I have the situation described - a 2 metre wide patio door on one side of the speakers and an open area on the other side. I have to fire speakers across the room which is 4 metres wide (length is 7 metres) I have thick curtains over the patio door when listening and considering draping a similar curtain on the open side but this will make the room very small (4 x 4 metres). I am installing three 1200 x 600 x 50 wall panels on the facing wall behind me to absorb the reflected sound. Its all about experimenting but also accepting the limits of a home we have to live with

[@AcousticFields]

For some this is the case, for others, it is not. The issue with fabrics and drapes is that you do not know the rate and level of absorption. This data is critical if you are serious about hearing everything in your music and voice.

[@Mrcloc]

This is the difference between me and the audiophile business. I take pride in ALL sound reproduction, and that includes recording. My good quality audio isn't only reserved for my listening room. I record as high quality as I can, and even my PC speakers are set up correctly. So yeah, the difference between me (the guy with a passion for audio), and the audiophile business.

[@AcousticFields]

M, High-resolution recordings are a good start and should be considered throughout the playback and recording process.

[@timber715]

Dang, I can't afford to move to a new house with a perfect room....

[@johnwaterhouse8426]

Thank you Dennis, for the response. I agree that anything worth doing, is worth doing well. Hence, my research. In addition to the laws of physics, the laws of economics dictate a compromise. In order to develope my craft, I will have to make the best with what I have at this moment. Which equates to thinking " outside the box", ( my 10x14x8ft room) to create the best environment to accomplish that. Its inspiring to learn from one who is at the top in their field. From one who is clinging onto his slippery slope. Thank you for raising the bar.

[@seigeengine]

You're talking about someone who you just watched a video of where they moan that any room more complicated than a box is too difficult. If that's the top of any field, that's terrifying.

[@SCMTW]

This is all great professional advice and well presented. At least it's very informative for room "set-up compromises" because very few family houses have the perfect room for acoustics. But I'm still a big advocate for the "Gomer Pyle Sweet Spot". If what you hear makes you close your eyes and smile - then that's all you need. :-)

[@AcousticFields]

Hi SCMTW, You are correct. It is the emotional connection to our music that is most important. One way to work towards this goal is to minimize room impact on our presentations.

[@cme4brain11]

I appreciate these educational videos, but they do not account for the typical rooms that we live in, nor the fact that the listed effects are NOT appreciated by the general public. Rooms are rooms, built as they are, without perfect dimensions. If the main speakers do not have the exact same distance from the walls, then all you do is to set up your AVR to delay the signal to the closer speaker by specifying a different speaker distance. While they suggest no fireplaces, glass walls/windows/doors, if that structure is there, what are you going to do? Only when you are building a room do you have control of this. Also, after the first or may second reflection, the amplitude of the sound has diminished enough to not matter in the real world.

[@AcousticFields]

C, You are correct. Most existing rooms are deficient in many of the requirements necessary for stereo playback. Stereo playback in a room has requirements in order to achieve the full benefit the science offers. Reflections from side walls and their time signatures impact center image focus and definition. Low frequency fundamental management is critical to harmonics through the mid ranges and distances from speakers to boundary surfaces impact both of these variables. If one knows what is required to full fill the science of stereo playback in small rooms, It becomes easier to make adjustments and treat the issues.

[@beyondonethousand]

Glad I saw this. Instead of renting in a old house basement unit I decided build my own custom home. I'll have just enough money left over to buy my brothers 23 year old Bose system. And I DO mean 23 years old.

[@Gluggggen]

I need a room.

[@Bugumir]

And here I was thinking that my audio setup would cost too much. Turns out I need a new home to go with it.

[@AcousticFields]

B, Your equipment produces 50 % of what you hear. Your room produces 50 % of what you can't hear from your equipment. The designers of your equipment made extra efforts to reduce distortion in their electronics. You can decide how much room distortion you want to minimize.

[@Paradroidx]

+Acoustic Fields makes sense, i walk around my apartment when mixing, totally sound's different

[@musabinho]

Valuable information, thanks 🙏

[@AcousticFields]

So nice of you. Thank you for your support.

[@johnwaterhouse8426]

Hi Dennis. Have watched many of your videos. Your knowledge of acoustics and the science of sound is impressive. If I am understanding correctly, there is no perfect room size to conquer all sonic issues. We can, however, minimize these issues to get the best results possible with any given situation. Having said that rooms under 1500 sq ft are not worth considering, the majority of viewers out there, (myself included) are using a spare bedroom which usually falls at, or below that number. Although it is the goal to obtain a final product, our recorded music, as clean as possible without transient frequencies, noise, and the like, our main objective is to sound proof the space we work in so as to keep from having the police show up at our door. lol. Though I do not subscribe to the "fix it in post" to solve issues that could have been avoided during setup before recording, some issues can be cleaned up in the software. Adding reverb at the final stage, for example, will emulate room size. In short, could you maybe do a video that addresses the small room scenerio which will accomplish a compromise between sound-proofing and best equipment arrangement to achieve the best results? At the end of the day, anyone listening to our masterpieces of musical art will probably have their windows down while driving or have earbuds on. If the song is good, most will forgive a little 200hz rumble...Thank you for your efforts.

[@AcousticFields]

I believe this to be a slippery slope. We owe the artist and engineer the tools to create the best sound they can and just as importantly, a room where all sounds can be heard. We owe the music much more. Without history of quality to rely upon as a reference, you do not know if you are advancing the science of sound (music) or going backwards in quality. A compromise at below 200 Hz., reverb to emulate room size, a noisy room, where does the slope begin to turn back to source quality? It doesn't. It just keeps increasing and sliding until anything will pass as sound "quality". We owe our music much more. I know I do.

[@raulxavier1271]

While I don't doubt this man's expertise..but ummm...I literally don't live in a square box

[@AcousticFields]

R, A square room which means that all dimensions are within 10 % of each other is termed coincidental. This means that all low-frequency issues will be exaggerated. Unwanted modal pressure issues can increase by 300 - 800 % in a square room. It is best as a starting point for critical listening audio applications to vary dimensions by at least 30 - 35 %.

[@jeffreyjoshuarollin9554]

Ah ok, so I'll just push the walls out so that the dimensions vary then.

[@karatekraken]

@@jeffreyjoshuarollin9554 I really don't get the logic you use here. He states Facts and you respond in a manner as if he is responsible for your situation and if he would state something that suits you more, it would magicaly change the laws of physics. It is like you want to jump from a cliff and he explains to you "if you jump from a cliff that high, the energy build up during the acceleration in the time it takes to reach the ground will kill you" and you respond with "great, I'll stretch my fluffy wings out and fly, then it won't matter". Do you realize how stupid that sounds to anybody reading/listening?

[@jeffreyjoshuarollin9554]

KarateKraken because remodelling your house to suit the perfect acoustics is always possible.... And you accuse others of sounding stupid.

[@Borgilian]

@@jeffreyjoshuarollin9554 No, you continue to sound stupid... Almost like a child. Who the f is responsible for the way your house is build? The video creator and @KarateKraken simply state facts.

[@dadabaimusic]

Thank you too, nicely explained, regards from Australia

[@Oneness100]

Also, another thing that comes to mind is when we have a listening room, will the amount/type/placement of room treatment change much when we change the speakers in the room? The reason why I ask is that some of the smaller speakers don't produce that much in the 20 to 40+Hz range as will some of the larger speakers. I'm just wondering if we have to be cognizant of that when we perform any room measurements and change from one speaker to another. Should we also be thinking about altering the room treatment to compensate for any such differences?

[@AcousticFields]

It is the low frequency response in our rooms that is the most critical. Speakers with larger diameter, low frequency drivers produce more energy and that energy must now fit into your room. Speakers that produce lower frequency energy must be matched with room size and volume or you just have a bunch of "energies" walking all over each other. More low frequency energy produces more low frequency pressures and this excess pressure requires more low frequency absorption. You need to use an absorption technology that deals with sound pressure issues, not boxes filled with building insulation or foam. Thanks Dennis

[@94nolo]

Absolutely dense with useful information beginning to end. Thank you

[@AcousticFields]

Glad it was helpful!

[@barney6888]

I come along 9 years later and this guy has drawn my living room out to a T. Alcove and all.

[@AcousticFields]

Alcoves are not a large issue if they are located out of the major usage soundfield.

[@barney6888]

@@AcousticFields Thanks!

[@David12005]

Thank you for the great tips. I adjusted my Triton One speakers so that the side walls were equidistant and the imaging improvement was immense. Thanks !

[@AcousticFields]

D, Its all about balance. You must balance the side wall reflections (time delayed room sound) with the direct sound (no room sound) from your loud speakers. The time signature of the reflections from both side walls must have the proper rate and level of absorption. Not all product absorption rates and levels are the same. This is why I spent 8 years developing my foam technology. It has the proper rates and levels.

[@dhelton40]

Really great advice, if you are building a house or picking a house plan. For the rest of us in the real world, we have L shaped rooms, with fixed features like fire places and stairwells. These are not going to change, so maybe we need a video on how to cope with less than optimum speaker placement, or perhaps wall treatment to address these issues.

[@AcousticFields]

If your room is not frequency response friendly, you must make it so. If walls are missing, then create them with free standing panels. If reverb times are too high, lower them with treatment on the walls. Most rooms can be fixed if the intent to succeed is high enough. We find that most people just complain about their rooms with no clear intention on solving the issues. Its almost like the complaining is the goal.

[@tehtapemonkey]

Thank you for this video! Very informative and I learned a lot.

[@AcousticFields]

tehtapemonkey My pleasure, thank you for the feedback, much appreciated. Thanks Dennis

[@Atheistic007]

Do what he recommends. I went from our living room with an odd shape to a small dedicated audio room. My small audio room has made the biggest improvement to sound than any gear I've ever bought. Following what Mr. Foley mentions in this video is simple and is based on simple physics. Now I'm exploring acoustic panels and such. With a proper room, even a small change in toe in/out is obvious; whereas in a living type room toe in/out is meaningless.

[@AcousticFields]

You have just illustrated the importance of boundary surface balance. A good way to think of your room requirements is to view the source of energy. With two speakers and one listener, distance from sidewalls must be equal for both left and right stereo channels. Distance from speakers to listener must be equal to start. The stereo signal requires a balanced output from amp and a "balanced" room.

[@Atheistic007]

@@AcousticFields Yes, my room is a rectangle with one door and NO glass/windows. From my listing position if i lean forward or back 4", the bass changes. It's amazing.

[@ikemi1]

I like this video because he talks about speaker distance from side walls. Not many others talk about that.

[@AcousticFields]

The time signature of the primary, secondary, and tertiary reflections from sidewalls is critical for image focus, resolution, and balance.

[@ikemi1]

@@AcousticFields Thank you Dennis. The reason why I mentioned it is because I'm unhappy with the sound of my setup. My left speaker is 1 metre from the left wall and my right speaker is 5 metres from the right wall. I could change the whole living room around and place the speakers along the shorter wall and this would give me more symmetry.

[@AcousticFields]

@@ikemi1 These are two channel requirements for proper set up. Not my rules. Its our laws of physics.

[@muzman777]

That's it, I'm building a perfectly equally distant room just to play my tunes!

[@AcousticFields]

Choosing the proper room dimensions is a good start. First, if you choose the correct dimensions, you can eliminate coincidental modes. This is the only mode structure you can eliminate with proper room ratios. Coincidental modes are frequencies with 5 Hz. of each other. There is a complex reason why this is the case but suffice it to say they are as audible or more than axial modes. All other axial, tangential, and oblique modes can be reduced in strength but usually never eliminated with proper ratios. Secondly, You minimize the square footage treatment requirements for low -frequency modal issues by choosing the proper dimensions. Less magnitude in the modal issues at each wall location means less treatment. Thirdly, the width dimension if chosen to work with the height and length, will go a long way with image definition and separation since you will have enough distance to manage the time signature of the reflection using the proper rate and level of absorption..

[@betitos007]

Well shit, it sounds like we shouldn't have any speakers in our cars and have a perfect square basement for stereo listening only. I wonder what his listening room looks like? He should make a video showing us his setup. Its impossible for lots of us to have a room anything close to what he's describing 😬

[@AcousticFields]

A, You can visit my personal studio at www.acousticfields.com/sacred-ground/

[@Xyphren]

Rich people is who this guy is talking to

[@visia101y]

I have a stunning vintage audio setup in my room. After watching this video I can see that my room and the surrounds are perfectly placed as well as the speakers. However I've been wanting to move my system into a 2x3 meter garden shed, sheet metal. Do you think this is plausible with sound dampening?

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Visia, The correct term is damping which is a reduction in amplitude or strength of a frequency. I can not think of a worse environment or shell than a sheet metal shed. On top of that issue, it is too small for multiple sources.

[@visia101y]

Acoustic Fields Thanks for the quick reply! Though that may be the case. I'll be looking at it more tomorrow, double checking dimensions and seeing if a change in material may be possible. Otherwise I'll stick with my room! Thanks!

[@ratheruninspired]

I live in a 1930s era bungalow. My living room has windows to one side and is open to the dining room on the other. The room I wanted to use for a listening space has a closet (similar to the abovementioned) and windows on the other side. Hardwood floors throughout. :( Is there any hope? I planned to pull the trigger on my first system this summer but I'm wondering if I shouldn't wait until the basement is finished (which will be way down the road).

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Rachel, Yes there is hope, there is always hope. If you go to this page on my site www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-about-your-room/ and fill in the details about the dimensions of your room I will be able to give you my full feedback. If you then want to repeat the process with your basement layout I can advise as to which will work best. Any questions please let me know. Thanks Dennis

[@AcousticFields]

Rachel Dickson Hi Rachel, hope you are well. Just wanted to check if you'd seen my previous response namely: Yes there is hope, there is always hope. If you go to this page on my site www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-about-your-room/ and fill in the details about the dimensions of your room I will be able to give you my full feedback. If you then want to repeat the process with your basement layout I can advise as to which will work best. Any questions please let me know. Thanks Dennis

[@ratheruninspired]

Thanks Dennis. I purchased my first two channel system last week. I look forward to hearing hearing your thoughts on the best way forward.

[@AcousticFields]

Rachel Dickson Will be happy to. Please fill out the form here www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-about-your-room/ so I can see your room dimensions and I can work the best positioning from there. Thanks

[@ratheruninspired]

I'm measuring now. Thanks!

[@georgeanastasopoulos5865]

Another excellent video. Thumbs up. However, most of us do not have all of these ideal conditions! My stereo system is up against a wall, but behind it is a window; but covered with curtains, and with a middle light curtain. Therefore, what am I going to do to try to get the ideal, correct sound so that music directed to that central point, or area from the two speakers gets? Later I am going to add a small subwoofer. However, for now what can be done if there is a window in front of the house; the living room?

[@chrislowe357]

QUESTION - i want to flush mount a pair of KLIPSCH CORNWALL 3 speakers into a wall. as you know these tower speakers are ported in the front. i've done a little bit of research on this (its hard to find any information on this though) and what i came up with was a design such that i would build a 4 inch concrete structure inside the wall that would house my cornwall 3 cabinets with about 1 inch clearance on the top and sides and then seal the speaker cabinet against the concrete structure with a rubber foam. this design meant to isolate the speaker from the actual wall. its a baffle type wall that will house the rest of my equipment also. speaker cabinets will be flush with the actual wall. what are your thoughts? from what i've read, if i understood it correctly, is that the sound will be amazing except the bass will need to be turned down quite a bit as it will be overwhelm the mids and the highs. my room that i'll be installing this in is not the perfect room shape. its in my home. i'll be compensating a lot with electronics and whatever sound treatments that are practical. the main purpose for this is to build my entire home theater system into a wall for a cleaner look, security, and saving space. your thoughts?

[@Loussiere]

Hi Mr Dennis, I would ask you this, what is more apropiarte on a HI FI or called today HI END audio system for home app, apply a DPS Equalizer with a previews análisis with RTA and Software, and then apply the transposed equalization in order to moderate the room+audio-system response, OR, analice the room acoustics problems and design the specific treatments? or in your own opinión what do yo prefer and why? Your answer surely will be interesting to me!

[@AcousticFields]

G, That depends. If you start with room first and manage as many issues as you can, before you introduce signal processing, you use less and keep the cumulative power of processing to a minimum. Be careful with processing. Our music today is so processed I always wonder if the talent is really in there somewhere. Always get the room correct first, no matter what your usage.

[@Loussiere]

Thank you Mr Dennis, your answer is so clever and help me to much, I have a Facebook group and forum about this beautiful hobby, and we have a grate debate about this teme, there some people from the Car Audio HQ that they advocates is in favor to use DSP for all including equalize! but my facebook group is for hi fi on homes! Than you! Regards.

[@themixedupkid]

Very informative video. Thanks for the advice

[@AcousticFields]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ongbaklegends]

What about glass walls behind the speakers, e.g. in a sun room / conservatory ... ?

[@georgepopescu1327]

What about that alcov, what solution do we have here? Can a thick curtain partially solve this problem or it's useless, you really need a wall?

[@AcousticFields]

G, Alcoves are resonating chambers of energy and produce their own sound. The density and treatment types on all walls impact sound quality.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

wow I just set my living room reference system up before watching this and it's actually 100 percent how I set it up even took out my huge floor model coat rack with huge mirror and it sounded better good stuff man !

[@AcousticFields]

T, You are welcome. Thank you for your support.

[@arnaldogoncalves7838]

I have a problem with the living room that I am refurnishing and including a new table for the Hi-Fi and a pair of speakers I bought abroad. The left side of the room is not exactly the same as the right side. It has a reentrance and a window. Usualy I have a thin curtain covering the window from above the window to the floor. In this case would you suggest something? I apreciate your reply. Thanks a lot. Regards. Arnaldo Goncalves

[@AcousticFields]

A, Fill out the information in this link: www.acousticfields.com/free-room-analysis/

[@bellab2510]

I have room 15' X 20'. Almost just like drawing in this video. Unfortunately ceilings are only 7' high + right above the coach there is a metal support beam that goes from side to side (it's a basement). When I sat in the middle of the room listening to music, all rear part of the room behind me always felt somehow dead. No reflection was coming out at all. I guess that is because that metal beam on a ceiling which creates some sound barrier . After some experimenting I put in the rear corners another set of speakers .That worked .It's still very far from ideal listening room but it somehow compensates sound in the dead area behind me. I keep rear speakers not as loud as the front ones and this somehow revives whole room acoustically. Looks like there is no better way for this particular room. Anyway thanks for all your videos. I really enjoy them .

[@Goozoo965]

With all these modern open concept designs ill end up putting one of my speakers between the dishwasher and the fridge.

[@AcousticFields]

With that set up, you can place your sandwich on the right channel and your drink on the left.

[@showmak]

Thank you for your informative videos. I am placing my speakers on ceramic tiles, I have rubber feet and metal spikes, which one should I use and why?

[@AcousticFields]

+showmak Use rubber feet. Placing two hard surfaces together (steel and ceramic), will not restrict vibration transmission from source and floor and may even damage the ceramic tile surface..

[@showmak]

+Acoustic Fields thanks again for your advise. I man learning a lot from watching your videos. Keep it up.

[@Paradroidx]

I noticed that most audio gear, like midi keyboard and most audio interface have little rubber supports on the bottom

[@chinnuchinchin]

Got a feeling that I would do well for the rest of my life without a home theatre system. Guess we should buy a theatre first before the home theatre system

[@rockyslay4310]

you probably also don't need a penis

[@kschlegelx1]

Good stuff. My room has some challenges for sure. My system is enjoyable but I would love to hear what dialing in a remedy for my issues would deliver. Left side cavity depth issue. Right side brick fireplace and window with wood blinds.

[@AcousticFields]

Fill out the info in this link. Schedule a time slot within the electronic calendar to speak with Dennis

[@nerdMike]

Hi, on 5.1 I ve put my surround speaker 1.5/2 feet above ear level, is it right? Sometime is fine, same case not. Dolby specifies this but most people say the opposite leaving surround on ear level, but they are distracting..

[@tagtag-connected5263]

Some of us depending on built or bought later the dimensions are not always ideal. You do the best you can and get room correction software to do the best you can.

[@AcousticFields]

Always do the best you can and this also holds true for developing a stratedgy to match your chosen usage. We see people constantly using tactics without a strategy. You cant know where you will end up without a plan to get there.

[@NoriBeatz]

Hi, is it better to have a rectangular room or a square room for producing and mixing? What is your take on this? Thank you for your video.

[@AcousticFields]

Recatangular rooms offer predicatable and consistent frequency and amplitude issues. You know where each frequency issues is, and how large it is in a rectangular room. This knowledge makes the treatment prescription more effective thus reducing those issues and increasing resolution.

[@NoriBeatz]

@@AcousticFields Thank you for your answer!

[@pbarangu]

This is a great video. If I have a room with a window, what could i cover the window with for best results? I'm a complete noob

[@AcousticFields]

P, It depends on the position of the window. If it located on side walls then you must match the same rate and level of absorption treatment for each side wall.

[@romavictor1811]

That's nice but if your system is located in the living room that's irregular on all sides? What do you do? Solutions please...

[@AcousticFields]

+Roma Vic Hi Roma, Unfortunately, dual usage rooms present a large sonic compromise.In most cases we review, the living outweighs the listening requirements.

[@honkeyness9427]

My room is basically what is in this video - minus the alcove. I have a 2.1 setup. I'm getting a lot of complaints about not being able to hear or understand vocals - any advice on what to try first? No acoustic treatments yet. Mix of brick and drywall over brick which is balanced. Two small glass windows - basement. Two doors - symmetrical along long axis. Speaker on short wall as in video.

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Honkeyness, Lets take a more detailed look at your room. Fill out the information in this link: www.acousticfields.com/free-room-analysis/

[@mbot48]

He should make a video on how to deal with the irregularities mentioned instead of "no closets" or "your speakers should be equal distance from the wall." This is would be nice to know when building a mixing room from scratch. But when your studio is already set up in a room, how do you deal with it?

[@AcousticFields]

M, Two-channel, stereo playback has requirements no matter if monitoring in a mixing venue or just personal listening. You must have side walls and the front wall that are contiguous at specified distances. Speakers /listening position need to form an equilateral triangle. All of this data is available on the net.

[@mbot48]

Ok, but what do you do, if you can't have your monitor set up to optimal settings. For instance my set up is not in the middle, meaning the walls to the left and right isn't an even distance from my monitors. Will sound absorption panels help at all?

[@AcousticFields]

M, They will help but you will have phase issues. Sound is distant dependent, especially side wall "sound".

[@mendez77054ify]

So what do you do if you that have a wall that’s not symmetrical? I was thinking of putting a shelf and use it as rack and building some thick acoustic panels to put on the side. Will that work? I have one speaker that’s next to the wall and another one that’s like 4 feet from the wall

[@AcousticFields]

Create a new wall that has the same absorption rate and level.

[@JSym92]

This information is mostly relevant for studio environments, where you have an entire room available for just audio and need your audio to be as pure as possible. Obviously for a living room environment the same physics still apply, but it just takes away too much freedom in interior design to be so strict about it. After all, most recreational audiophiles don't only care about the best possible sound experience, but also about a setting that makes them feel comfortable while listening to music or watching movies. Besides, most of us have a partner/kids living with them too, which means they can't just turn their living room into a dark, stale studio environment. It's still good information though, many people don't think about the physics of audio travel when installing their setup into much detail. Though for living room environments, your focus should be to tweak your audio setup to deal with the acoustic challenges that are present within your living room, rather than sterilizing your living room to aim for acoustic perfection. Ofcourse you won't get the absolute best audio experience that way, but by being very selective about your components and placements you can still create an amazing listening experience in a non-ideal environment. For those like me, recreational audiophiles without an entire room available for just audio, it would be helpful to find information on how to deal with those kinds of challenges, rather than to just avoid them completely.

[@AcousticFields]

JS, The issues with listening and living rooms are many when it comes to creating the requirements that two channel audio reproduction demands in order to get the most out of your systems. The positioning of the speakers and listening position, the amount of space requirements for low frequency absorption, furniture, glass tables, and a host of other issues too numerous to mention are all issues that must be addressed. Can you make improvements? Of course, but everyone's definition of improvements are different.

[@AcousticFields]

JS, Fill out the information in this link. Include photos of your room. www.acousticfields.com/free-room-analysis/

[@JSym92]

​@@AcousticFields Thank you for the response! You're right though, furniture and room inconsistencies should not be taken for granted. I just brought this up because I have not yet found any good information on how to deal with this when you can't change things around too much. I did not realize you also did personalized room analysis', which basically answers my suggestion. I applaud that. Though I am currently still looking to buy a house, so I'm not yet able to make use of your service, but I'll definitely keep this in mind for when I've settled in my new place. Subbed btw, you seem like a true audio professional with the sincere intention to share your expertise and help people out.

[@colloidalsilverwater15ppm88]

Very nice. I did not knew about glass.

[@AcousticFields]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thereefaholic]

Well there goes every home I’ve ever lived in. LOL.

[@soundknight]

0:45 sound doesn't travel at a constant speed. 1, at different air pressure it travels faster or slower 2. Through different substance like water or steel it travels at different speeds 3. In space it doesn't travel at all 4. If the object creating the sound is moving away from you or forwards you it travels at different speeds which produces variation in frequency. (Doppler)

[@AcousticFields]

B, This type of comment does not help further understanding of acoustics. Sound does travel at a constant speed when I am referring to sound in small rooms. Pointing out this kind of variance does nothing to contribute to people's understanding of sound in small rooms and does even less to show your real understanding of the issues at hand.

[@kk-iw9uq]

Acoustic Fields are you saying that temperature or atmospheric pressure never fluctuate inside a building? Sure he used some extreme examples but as you’ve referred to how large an affect small discrepancies and unfavorable settings can have isn’t that worth noting? Sure it’s only small changes due to air temperature or density but doesn’t any change make his statement correct? With all the other less than desirable things like coves and cubbies that can create just as small a change isn’t a more appropriate response something along the lines of “you’re correct, I misspoke and misinterpreted the point I was making” instead of belittling his point?

[@mocheen4837]

I have an alcove in my movie room as well. I just use the space that I was given. It sounds pretty decent to me.

[@AcousticFields]

If you are happy then mission accomplished.

[@bbutler5090]

So, if you have an open floor plan where the room isn’t created by four closed in walls, but walls with very large openings and no doors, you’re screwed?

[@AcousticFields]

You can create a room within that open floor plan with our units. All of our units are on casters so "building" your new space is as easy as pushing a panel into place.

[@ijyoyo]

Great video! love your videos. Learning a lot from your videos. Appreciate it so much!

[@AcousticFields]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Chino780]

My left side doesn't have a wall for a while due to a door opening. Any tips on how to help with that?

[@AcousticFields]

You can create a wall with moveable panels. We do it all the time. Make sure each sidewall has the same density and rate and level of absorption or you will produce phase issues at all frequencies.

[@Chino780]

@@AcousticFields Awesome. Thanks for the tip!

[@lucaspezia]

If I have no option, but put one of the speakers near a corner, what should I do to "fix" that problem? Some deflectors and absorbers around that corner could do something?

[@AcousticFields]

L, There are two types of acoustic treatments: absorption and diffusion. If you have to put one speaker in the corner of a room then you will have to place the other speaker in the corner. Both sources must have the same "start" point. The frequency and amplitudes are facing the same room dynamics. I will need to know much more about the room, speaker, and usage to prescribe treatment options.

[@aesopm9200]

So a question... walk in closet a bit behind the listening position, on the side. Pretty large. Put a door there or not? Was originally thinking yes door for symmetry but now wondering about the loss of cubic feet and bass for what is a normal sized, neither tiny n or large rectangular room, small enough there will be bass room nodes. One might imagine some damping in the "closet" if that was an issue but of course it creates an asymmetry, albeit behind the listening position and not on the back wall. Good place for records.

[@AcousticFields]

All empty "boxes" resonate at the frequency of their dimensions. Fill closets with clothes.

[@TeenuArora]

My room is identical to the one you have shown here, left side being bigger than the right and unfortunately I can't change the position or re construct the wall. Can I add some home made Panels of rock wool to both the sides with equal distance? and have more panels behind the these panels on the left and right side for left over frequencies to be absorbed?

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Teenu Arora Thanks for the comment. I answered your question in this week's Google Hangout. You can see the part where I answered your question on this snippet of the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5O6iWypYqatoac If you fill in this form on my site I can take a closer look at your situation. If you can include photos then that would be great: www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-about-your-room/ I hope it helps. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. Thanks Dennis

[@Ryansrangereport]

My room is 186 X 140 and I have to set up my speakers on the "140 side" because of doors. Also if I place them the same distance from the wall I'll hit a speaker w/ the door. I have acoustic treatment on the walls to help, is there anything else I can do to make sure I'm not missing out on a better sound. If I spaced them = distance from the wall they would be almost 8 ft apart.

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Ryan, Fill out the information in this link: www.acousticfields.com/free-room-analysis/. I will run the correct source locations for you.

[@Ryansrangereport]

Thanks, I've actually done that before. I sent you a couple of photos, but I've added some room treatment since then. Today I bought 4 Sonex 24x48 panels to go w/ the 2 ATS 24x48 panels that I already have including the two bass traps.

[@SmittyFan]

At 2:08 you mentioned no cavities. If their is a closet with a closet door would that door cancel out the cavity of the closet or will it just go right through the door?

[@AcousticFields]

J, Cavities resonate and produce sound. Closing the door will provide a barrier against upper frequencies, but will have no impact on lower frequencies. To minimize the resonances, fill the closet with winter clothes and keep the door closed.

[@andysmith-ne1qs]

Your take on L shaped rooms please . Great vids btw , learnt a lot , thanks !

[@AcousticFields]

When you are dealing with a two channel set up, the front wall and sidewalls must all be equal distance from each other.

[@maninthesuit666]

assuming the right side where the glass is, is also your first reflection point, if you place a 20cm thick rockwool basstrap infront of it, but leave the top bit open (because you dont want to make a 3 meter high absorber obviously) would that help the situation?

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Jan Hajšen Glass surfaces must be completely covered. Any part of the glass seen, will be heard. Rockwool destroys the middle range frequencies by over absorbing. It is the biggest myth in acoustics, second only to drywall. Use fabric in layers to cover the glass. Fabric should be 1/2" thick and have numerous layers. Thanks Dennis

[@trignite]

I would've liked to hear more about surround sound speaker placement, e.g whether or not to mount them on the ceiling facing down, how far away from the walls and behind the listening position, does it matter if the sub can't be centered? most people who have a home theater setup can't have a center subwoofer because the cabinet the TV sits on is in the way so it has to be left or right of the cabinet. And other stuff like the floor material e.g carpet, stone, wood etc.

[@AcousticFields]

T, Speaker locations are room size/volume dependent. There is no way for me to generalize.

[@Ta_nuz]

precise & to the point. super. thank you.

[@AcousticFields]

You are welcome

[@mohandeventhiran5314]

Hi Dennis, greetings from India. wealth of information in your channel. Thank you for your time and effort. Learning a lot from your channel. :-) Quick question- i do not have the liberty to place my front speakers equal distance from the sidewalls,my right speaker is about 4 ft from the sidewall but I have only 2 ft for the left speaker to play around. Any suggestions for this setup. Thanks.

[@AcousticFields]

Hi M, You will just have to move things around. Without equal distance, its very problematic.

[@mohandeventhiran5314]

Acoustic Fields Well, problem is I have a door on the right side which remains open. So there is no rear wall. I just have to make a compromise I guess, just that I don't want to compromise too much.

[@TrevorRuby]

What do I do with the 8 Windows I have???

[@AcousticFields]

I would strongly suggest you find another room for your music. Large surface areas of glass produce frequency response issues and also noise issues. "Glass sound" will destroy your middle range music and the glass windows go diaphragmatic and start moving when you place sound pressure against them. This movement produces sound or if you ask your music, noise.This is the reason we design windows between control and live rooms at 1" thicknesses, using two windows with a calculated air space between them. You don't need 8 glass speakers in any music room.

[@sammyfromsydney]

Surely a good set of heavy curtains would mean the room doesn't need to be abandoned?

[@harrij.9542]

Dear Dennis, Can you recommend any good fabric material that is good for covering a window that is a primary reflection point in the monitoring room? Best regards,

[@AcousticFields]

H, There is no good fabric to cover a window. You have to have a technology that has predictable rates and levels of absorption.

[@dandelionboy7820]

I'm trying to build a space well lit by natural light for playback and mixing my music as well as just practicing with instruments. In another video I remember you mentioning to make sure all windows are placed above and outside the listening position. I understand nothing about this can be precisely measured without hearing the room but from your experience and assuming the dimensions of the room are ideal what penalties could be expected from having windows on the wall behind the speakers and on the side walls above the listening position? Also, ideally how tall should the ceilings be in a listening room?

[@AcousticFields]

Place the windows along the wall / ceiling boundary out of the main soundfields.

[@lolmysteries]

You demonstrate a 2 channel system being equidistant to each other and the walls, but what about the rest of the channels in a home theater; especially, the center channel?

[@AcousticFields]

D, Multiple channels produce many issues. Most of those issues relate to the distances involved, the distribution pattern by the speakers, and a host of other variables.

[@guillaumegoudreau2385]

I learned a lot by watching your videos and reading your ebook, Thank you ! I will do my homework in the following days to cover all the basic principle (Rule of third, equilateral triangle, room measurement, etc). I think my room will be a challenge, it's not a dedicated room like many of us don't have access to and I don't expect perfect results. But I want to maximize the performance of that living space, since it's all I have right now. The challenging parameters will be glass on the left side, open on the right side and relatively short compare to the width of it. Do you have analyze open-space type appartement and determine how we can get the most out of them ?

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Guillaume, Go to this link and fill out the information. Lets take a look at your room. www.acousticfields.com/free-room-analysis/

[@Kimdino1]

+Guillaume Goudreau What I would do in this situation is hang a curtain in front of the glass to absorb the sound and so kill that reflection. I would then, ideally, hang a matching curtain on the opposite to balance this. You could even bring the curtains in to reduce the width. This could well reduce the chances of getting a big open sound but that's better than a glass reflection. Not an ideal solution but simple & practical. +Acoustic Fields Is this a sensible answer, or am I talking rubbish?

[@howardmilstein9915]

This video hit my small problem. Your drawing shows the “ alcove” ( pocket on the left of the loudspeaker.) My room has a 4’ wide a opening by 1 foot deep alcove at the middle of the left speaker position to the front adjoining to back wall. I seem to get a touch of image shift to the left... depending on program sources. The right side is STRAIGHT- drywall to the front wall. How could that ‘alcove’ be fixed? 2 bass traps on both sides equally to the front wall? A small room divider ( what material??) on the left alcove strait to he front wall??? Thanks Howard

[@AcousticFields]

H, Yes, it is important that both left and right walls be as similar as possible.

[@PrinceFluffy]

Just bought a new hifi, watched this video and now looking for a new house..

[@AcousticFields]

P, Very nice. I love to see that level of commitment. Send me any room sizes you see before you buy. Lets start correctly from the beginning. Send to [e-mail]

[@mcadid]

The room you describe looks exactly like mine. 14' wide x 18' deep with an alcove in the front left corner. The alcove is there to allow access to the attic via fold down stairs. Do you have suggestions on how to treat this alcove to try and improve the sound of the room?

[@AcousticFields]

Sure McAdid, shoot me an email at [e-mail] and I'll be happy to help. Thanks Dennis

[@StonethrownMusic]

Real World Studios (Peter Gabriel’s studio) has a ton of glass in the control room. How did they treat it?

[@AcousticFields]

S, They work around the issues produced by the glass.