Ideal Room Size Ratios & How To Apply The Bonello Graph - www.AcousticFields.com

[@AcousticFields]

📢 *_Watch Part 2 Here:_* kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4Saiax9rbqDY80

[@muruganswamy999]

Great Stuff Dennis I have seen most of your videos and learnt a lot, thanks a lot for sharing such valuable information

[@brentleycorey3765]

I guess Im kinda off topic but does anybody know of a good website to watch newly released tv shows online?

[@bradleycyrus4481]

@Brentley Corey Flixportal

[@brentleycorey3765]

@Bradley Cyrus thanks, signed up and it seems like a nice service :) Appreciate it!

[@bradleycyrus4481]

@Brentley Corey Glad I could help xD

[@ignaciocalderon4474]

Hello, at 5:47, that's Bolts Criteria, not Bonello's. In fact Bonello's should be a monotonically increasing curve, where x-axis is frequency per 1/3 band and y-axis modal density

[@carloscordoba_]

+Ignacio Calderon Pobre Bonello. Lo mandaron al tacho con el "zapato" de Bolt.

[@nanalalvithalani8390]

Enjoyed Indeed Understanding the Importance of The Room Ratio for getting the best Acoustical Results! THANKS.

[@AcousticFields]

These guidelines that have been around for 30 - 40 years minimize modal issues. What they do not do is allow for the space requirements necessary to treat the minimized modal issues. Low frequency absorption requirements can take up to 12" and sometimes more on each wall surface area. If you add 12" of treatment to each wall, you now have a new room ratio.

[@Thecheckmate777]

Hey thanks for the accurate information, much appreciated, keep the videos coming! Thanks

[@StevenJonWest]

Hi, enjoyed watching your video - very informative! Your discussion focussed on a rectangular shaped room, presumably because this is the standard room shape, but is there a specific shape to a room which this Bonella character found gave the best acoustics? Or are there any guiding principles of room design for ensuring superior acoustics? I suppose there is no perfect room, and any shape or dimensions will need some work to ensure appropriate reflection, absorption and dispersion of sound, but presumably some shapes would be better than others?

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Steve, Rectangular rooms are easier to treat because the issues you have to address are predictable and consistent throughout the room. There are ratios of room size and volume that work to minimize low frequency pressure issues for the chosen usage. All rooms will require treatment. The goal is to match the room size and volume to usage so that you have enough size and volume to minimize modal issues. Proper size and volume means you need less low frequency treatment which takes up space and increases cost. Vocal rooms have drastically different treatment requirements than a live room.

[@ipresent]

Using the AMROC calculator, 10x17x23 puts the “X” mostly outside the “piano shaped blob.” Decreasing the dimensions to 10x16x22 gets it inside the blob.

[@AcousticFields]

You have not allowed for LF treatment space which takes between 8 - 16"

[@spettromusic]

thank you. i've learned a ton watching all these videos

[@AcousticFields]

Glad to hear it!

[@shahnewazmanto4798]

My rooms L: 14.25 W: 11.458 H: 9.666....Schroederfrequency: 232 Hz , Critical distance: 1.61 ft . what is Critical distance: 1.61 ft ? Volume: 1579.17 cft , Surface: 823.84 sq ft ,RT60: 0.6 sec.how should i treat my room ?

[@RecordingStudio9]

Thanks for this Dennis! Been watching for a while.

[@AcousticFields]

RecordingStudio9.com Hi Vatche, My pleasure. Let me know if you have any questions I can help with. Happy to record something for your channel/blog if you're interested.

[@hijodecally]

Do we have to add 2’ to each measurements for the treatment?

[@AcousticFields]

Low frequency management requires 12" of space on all four walls floor and possibly the ceiling.

[@sciencecompliance235]

I noticed when you mentioned that 17'x10'x23' was a good room dimension, both the length and width were prime numbers, but the height (10') was not. Is this because 10' is a relatively standard ceiling height, in which case 11' ceilings would be even better, or is the spacing of 17 and 23 between 15, 20, and 25 (harmonic modes related to 10) more advantageous than 23's relative proximity to 22 (a potential mode related to 11)?

[@AcousticFields]

S, These three dimensions are a good starting point to use a reference. Most people we talk to, do not have any idea about a starting point in dimensions no matter what the usage. An ideal ceiling height is 14'.

[@joryaock]

May be a stupid question but here goes, when you speak of dimensions of room sizes are you including acoustic treatment material or are you speaking of an untreated room?

[@AcousticFields]

+joryaock We have two sets of data in our data base of now 120 built and measured rooms. Our smallest measured room is 10' w x 8' h x 11' l . Our largest measured room is 30' w x 16' h x 40' l. All other room size volume and dimensions lie somewhere between those two extremes. One set of data is untreated and one set is treated. This is how we arrive at the square footage requirements for low frequency absorption technology and surface area treatments for RT - 60 time measurements.

[@samray3461]

I suspect many people watch this to see if their existing room will utilize a sub well. My room falls outside the Bolt area. Should I just forget adding the sub? Or can DSP help in this scenario? Thanks!

[@AcousticFields]

If your speakers are full range, you do not need a sub.

[@prologodesigns3381]

Hi Dennis, im rly happy there is guys like you, you inspire me to think in a total new way about music. I have question, im planing to make recording studio, mixing room for beginning, my space is 7meter x 3.5 meter with "2.30"meter (is that to small)ceiling. What this room wants the most to work on!? Thank you in advance, im happy to hear for you, love your work!

[@AcousticFields]

Lets take a look at your room. Fill out the information in this link. Schedule a time to speak with Dennis in electronic calendar. www.acousticfields.com/free-room-analysis/

[@QJin-93]

What is mode? What are you referrring to?

[@dougconner4259]

Hi. Just bought an old house in France, and will build studio on top floor. Presently the room is 2.5m W x 4.5m L x 2.5m H. Planning to remove the ceiling, opening up to the roof rafters, where at the center of the Length, it is 4.0m H. In other words, the ceiling will start to rise from the existing tops of the front and back walls. I will rip out the existing interior walls, down to the masonry, but I don't know yet how much extra room that will provide on the Length. I will build a room within this room, starting of course with a floating floor. I can build the interior room in any shape desirable for best acoustic results. Should I use the triangular ceiling matching the roof angles, or build a raised flat ceiling? The edges where tops of the walls meet the ceiling...front and back...would have to be angled perhaps at 45 degrees because the roof rafters start near the tops of the existing 8 foot high front and back walls.

[@AcousticFields]

D, You can not mix in a room that is only 2.5 m wide. Is this a typo?

[@Tim1967artist]

Great video. Thank you very much for the info'. If building a new studio, would you recommend a flat or a pitched ceiling? If pitched would a triangular pitched to center roof be preferable, or would it be better to have it angled with one side higher than the other please? Thank you in advance. All the best Tim.

[@AcousticFields]

Room volume and ceiling height are issues we struggle with all the time. For ceiling heights, 13' is a good number. If we can't get it in a flat roof, we will take it in a pitched one.

[@Tim1967artist]

@@AcousticFields thank you very much. That is great to hear.

[@GerryDiwa]

Thanks for this Dennis!

[@saardean4481]

So the 17x10x23 are the dimensions of the Concrete Walls or after treatment? Sorry if my question sounds st.. d

[@AcousticFields]

S, Use these dimensions as I.D. (internal dimensions) These dimensions assume no noise issues that would require a barrier structure.

[@dallaswright9249]

AS Always your the best thanks Dennis

[@AcousticFields]

I appreciate that!

[@longano_drummer]

thanks Dennis very usefull information ....i think up to now your video.s where the moust interesting i have been watching on you tube...ciao from holland

[@christelhall9379]

Hello You said that 17W 10H 23L is good and below that is bad. But do you mean volume here? Lets take ideal ceiling which is 14. What would be minimal Width and Length of such room with 14 feet ceiling? I also didn’t understand that graph. Based on that graph even smaller rooms are fine. Because there height is 1. Lets say 10 height is our 1. Then we divide length and width on that. Then based on that graph good width starts from 1,2 minimally and not from 1,7 (so 12 foot instead of 17) And length starts from 1,4 and not from from 2,3 (so 14 foot instead of 23)

[@AcousticFields]

Choosing the correct room size and volume is a direct response to three main issues. You must choose a room size that will produce the smallest number of low frequency modal issues for your intended usage. Secondly, you must choose a room size that will allow you to give up 12 - 16" of wall space to treat the existing modal issues that all room sizes produce. Thirdly, the final internal dimensions that you settle on must not produce more issues than the original room size does. Your goal is to improve all the variables you are faced with in small rooms.

[@goutomain]

Thanks for the info.

[@AcousticFields]

G, You are welcome.

[@zenter35]

great video thanks so much

[@npalliyil1]

Very informative

[@jfranciskay]

Good Video Dennis. My room is a bit too long based on the ideal dimensions (my room is 7'4"x12'5"x25'5") I think if i were to reduce the length of the room from 25'5" to 16' it would fall within a reasonable sounding ratio. My question is, is there a way to create a temporary wall that could be moved/removed? I share my space with others and putting up a permanent wall is not feasible. What is the definition of a "wall" sonically? Could I use panels/blankets? Or does it need to be a real wall with 2x4's and drywall? Thanks!

[@AcousticFields]

J, Never use 2 x 4's in the construction of a critical listening environment. They are not strong enough and will cause the walls to go diaphragmatic. This wall movement will produce noise. Stay with 2 x 10's to be sure you have the rigidity requirements met for the low frequencies in your room. You can use panels to plug wall "holes". The density of the panel must equal the density of the existing walls. Your width and height will produce large low-frequency issues that will require more space to treat. Remember that low-frequency issues take 14 - 16" of space to treat.

[@TREVIS1970]

I've got a pair of JBL 308's. I've got a room that's 30' wide, 45' long and 12' high. Are these monitors too small for a room that size? Should I build a smaller room for these speakers? If so, what would be the optimal dimensions for a room with these speakers?

[@AcousticFields]

What are the diameter of each low frequency driver and how many?

[@johnnytrayes4734]

Thanks Denis great video thanks

[@ssmith2019]

Thanks Dennis !

[@StewartMarkley]

Nice video on room mode design. I have to live with the worst possible room, a cube very close to 10.5ft each dimension because I rent my house and use this extra bedroom as my man cave and lab. Very near field listening and EQ makes it tolerable.

[@AcousticFields]

Yes, your only choice is nearfield with your room size and volume.

[@masumwahid9602]

Sir , which size of room is better fo home studio - (11ft/7ft ) or (9ft/9ft) ? Thanks in advance .

[@FudalwokitMusic]

11ft x 7ft

[@iturnal7003]

Very insightful, thank you‼️

[@AcousticFields]

I , You are welcome.

Question, is it known that it is convenient not to have perfectly parallel sides, if, for example, the ceiling is not parallel to the floor, what measure is taken to calculate the size of the room? the average of the high ?, the lowest side; the highest, the one who is in the listening place ?. Thank you.

[@AcousticFields]

S, Splayed walls have their place in control and playback rooms. However, they are a minimal treatment technique. You still need to assign special rates and levels of all frequency absorption to all surface areas. They are not a cure all for anything. The angle of incident must be calculated to match usage, listening position, and room width.

[@mikesemple3728]

What about Vaulted ceilings? my room is 17' x 19' with vaulted ceiling starting at 8' peaking at 16' in the center. thx

[@AcousticFields]

More room volume with vaulted ceilings is always welcome for lower frequencies. You need to be concerned with the angle of the vault in relation to listening position. Most angled ceilings require absorption or diffusion to minimize the time signature of those angled reflections at the listening position.

[@neilwright729]

Excellent!

[@Loussiere]

Mr Dennis, I congratulations for your success youtube channel. I learn a lot with you about acoustics, I recognize your expertise and professionalism, I wold like to ask you, what about the Trapezoidal shape room, my understating is to some speakers designs avoid the 90 degrees angles, is it applicable to the listening rooms, is this trapezoidal shape a good acoustics behavior or Am I wrong considering that shape?

[@AcousticFields]

G, Thank you for you support. Rectangular rooms produce predictable and consistent modal issues that can be easily identified and treated. Their parallel surfaces can be more easily managed when it comes to time signatures of reflections. Different shapes will produce reflection patterns that may not correspond to the listening position and cause destructive interference.

[@Loussiere]

Thanks for your answer, now is more clear for me take a right decision ! I really appreciate your help!

[@kennethblackmore2146]

Would it make a difference if the room were wider than deep? I am looking into building a listening room in the basement that is 12'6" Deep, 22" Wide & 7' High. Music tastes vary dependent upon mood. Room is also to be used as home theater, but mainly listening.

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Kenneth, The ceiling height is too low. You also need more length. A 22' width is good but you will need at least a 27' length.

[@mattsun71]

Would you lower a 8,5 foot ceiling for a better ratio? I'd have to lower to 7 foot for ideal ratio. Would you sacrifice the volume? Thanks

[@AcousticFields]

Never lower the ceiling. The floor to ceiling dimension is the smallest of the three and runs the whole width and length of the room. The modal issues that are involved with less than 14' dimensions are below 125 Hz. The last thing you need in room design is a low ceiling height.

[@hifi2169]

Acoustic Fields The floor above my room is 9’ overhead. Their is a trust system attached under the overhead floor that finished would put the actual physical ceiling at 7.5’ high. But what if I stuffed the truss area with fluffy insulation and put in a trayed panel drop ceiling under the 7.5’ truss supports, with can lights, would it still not be acousticaly a 9’ ceiling?????

[@kendallhoulder5139]

Thank You!!!

[@AcousticFields]

K, You are welcome.

[@Quit13]

Thank you for yours video, it made my mind clear. here is my question - what should be speakers location and listening position in this room, becouse i think it crucial?

[@AcousticFields]

Speaker/listening position must be determined to be at positions that afford the smoothest low end response possible within your room size and volume. Middle and high frequency issues can be dealt with with other methods but positioning must impact all frequencies below 100 Hz. I can assist you with this. Fill out the information in this link. Include photos of all room surfaces. www.acousticfields.com/free-room-analysis/

[@bloodyshrine1369]

I understood the last few seconds about room L*w*h, but the rest just came across as technical babble. So basically if it’s an average sized room, say 13 by 9 feet, you should concentrate on bass?

[@afblima]

Sorry for the roughly dumb question but, can change one measure for other? for instance, instead of 10' for height and 17' for widht, could we use 17' for height and 10' for width? In the metric system, is there a set of measures that is a little less annoying to ask when talking with contractors? thanks in advance.

[@joaocesar7547]

I do not think it's going to work, Antonio. Please look for Room Sizing and Optimization at Low Frequencies (Trevor Cox, Peter D'Antonio and Mark Avis).

[@TaedeMathis]

I just watched your video. My room size 11.5 feet x 8.4 feet x 8.2 feet. Should I put the brakes on building my home studio and just use my headphones to monitor? Please advise.

[@AcousticFields]

T, Full range spectral balance where all frequencies are heard with no irregularities will not be possible. However, if you can add low frequency management to your room, you can work in it. Watch this video of Sam Small Too Small. His room is about your size: www.acousticfields.com/sam-small-studio-project/

[@osamasaid2007]

if that was the good ratio then 14'w X 7'H X 20'L is a good room dimensions too? correct me if i am wrong

[@scottsmith4145]

No not exactly. He said if it was below that dimension there would need to a lot more low end absorption. He's also said in other videos that rooms with 7 ft ceilings are horrible to treat.

[@CrochetNewsNetwork]

Great videos. For home theater and some music any suggestions for a vaulted ceiling? About 13,000 cubic feet. I have B&W diamonds, Devialet power and small REL sub. Thanks

[@AcousticFields]

777, What are your room dimensions?

[@ThaDeka010]

how much is that in m2?i looking for new house and one of room is 6.5m2 is this good or bad size

[@AcousticFields]

+Dejan Glumac Fill out the information in this link and I can give you some starting dimensions. www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-room/

[@larrytate1657]

Is long but narrow ok? I know it's not best but I gotta work with I have due to funds.

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Larry, Rectangle rooms are best for audio because they are predictable and consistent.

[@b9565po]

Thankyou!

[@richkohl]

You should do a video on L shaped rooms.

[@AcousticFields]

Hi Rich, "L" shaped rooms are highly problematic. You must locate two channel system in area where side wall and front wall distances can be calculated.

[@yt555555]

playing in a band i know L shaped rooms are highly problematic with the bass. Did a sound check once and kept being told the bass was to loud. The bass player stopped playing for a song then asked how's the bass? Reply"still too loud"

[@milkman100001]

my room is only 16 x 14 x 8 . ive got bass issues!

[@AcousticFields]

Yes. You have issues at 40 Hz. , 70 Hz., 80 Hz., 106 Hz. The 40 and 70 are double digit peaks and these two fundamental frequencies are in everything.

[@merowsProductions]

hii im building a house and id like to make a studio, in the house map the room dimintions is 260x370 an hight of 270 m what do u think shoud i do?

[@AcousticFields]

F, Your ceiling height is too low. Try to get to 3.5 - 4 M.

[@merowsProductions]

what can i do if i cant and thats the dimensions that i only can do?

[@AcousticFields]

F, You will need extensive low frequency treatment covering both frequency specific issues from 30 - 50 Hz. and all the way through 400 Hz.

[@merowsProductions]

i have a lot of 4cm studio foam like this and 2 bass traps... but i know that i need to place them right and at the right anount but i dont know how to do that, i just place them i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MjI1WDIyNQ==/z/-bkAAOSwnDZUAOif/$_35.JPG?set_id=2

[@AcousticFields]

F, None of those technologies will work for your room size/volume/usage.

[@woohunter1]

No matter where I place my 2 subs, I have a huge null in the center of my 12’x 24’ room.

[@AcousticFields]

W, Raise them off the floor. Reduce the energy output into the room using one sub.

[@Spadetattooboss]

is there anymore size the room could be

[@AcousticFields]

S, These dimensions are a minimum for control rooms. Higher ceiling heights are always welcome.

[@Spadetattooboss]

@@AcousticFields so working with this size what the best hight for the ceiling

[@AcousticFields]

@@Spadetattooboss S, There is no "best". Each of the three dimensions must form a sympathetic ratio that distributes the modal issues evenly or as evenly as possible through the room. When we build new rooms from the ground up, we never build control rooms less than 13'. There is 10% more energy trapped between the floor and ceiling every 8" decrease from 13'.

[@Spadetattooboss]

@@AcousticFields ok so givw me an ideal size to work with

[@Spadetattooboss]

Cause we going to block it up with 6 inches block dem concrete the top but do i of to still build a room inside?

[@googliization]

WTF?! I need the metric system !!! the whole world uses the metric system . except USA ! and then his inches and yards attachment to the metric system . Genius!!!

[@AntonioLoConte]

There are loads of converters around. It's only a matters of ratio. In meters they are: W 5,18 H 3,04 L 7,01.

[@captaincinema5066]

Yah, we Americans who claim we are the best in everything in the world, just can't seem to master what everyone else on the planet have absolutely no trouble with -- the metric system. Maybe that's why we come in number 27th in education. "Number One" is a fantasy/myth with which we like to delude ourselves. We find it easier to use a converter program instead of using our brains. We are lazy and soft...we actually invented a product to eliminate one of our major life crises -- "static cling." I rest my case.

[@tranceemerson8325]

yep we still use British because we can. you guys are glued to the clergy of the SI metric system.

[@scottsmith4145]

What if my plot falls outside the graph??

[@AcousticFields]

+Scott smith Fill out the information in this link and I can better assist you. www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-room/

[@13thAMG]

Dennis, to put my question into context if you wouldn't mind first reading this item about my project (link below) - then could I ask your advice on internal design and dimensions given that the container will be a 40ft 'High Cube" with the following dimensions: Overall 40' = 12192 mm 9’6”' = 2 895.6 mm Internal 39' 3.25"= 12022 mm 9' 1.5" = 2809.6 mm www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/your-story-help-me-shed-light-special-actors/2723785 Thank you in advance for your kind assistance. (Finally, there's someone like you who actually knows what they're talking about on You Tube!) Regards, John

[@AcousticFields]

+13thAMG Dimensions are just one part of the sonic equation. Fill out the information in this link www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-room/ and we can match room size and volume with usage.

[@jasonwilson9775]

There is some weird slap back echo on the audio.

[@AcousticFields]

If you focus more on the content than the presentation value, you run the risk of learning something.

[@billpeirce7456]

Have no clue what u are talking about. Except u recommend 17' width of room × 10' high ceilings × 23' length of the room. What does all the other stuff mean????

[@AcousticFields]

B, The room size and volume stated is a size and volume that is a good starting point for a control or mix room. It minimizes the foot print and treatment requirements. It is offered as a guideline to use in selecting room size/volume/usage.

[@berkayyildiz6727]

Ok

[@paulbishop2161]

What you refer to as 'the Bonello Graph' is in fact Bolt ratios, two different things.

[@AcousticFields]

P, Yes, it was an error that was supposed to be corrected. Thank you for the heads up.

[@AdrianRoig]

200 is the devil.

[@AcousticFields]

+Adrian Roig Yes, 200 cycles is a tough one especially with voice.

[@petercunningham698]

Having just peeked at your STIRLING effort and willingness to assist others. How about accepting some $ for making it idiot proof for me when I build our new modest house in New Zealand? I am a builder currently concept designing, but want to get the basics right in the first place, so, If there is a way I can pay you, and if you could provide me with an idiot proof list of what would be best in a lounge room that will have the typical furniture, no curtains, TV with separate speakers, decent Amplifier - I can then design that room and positioning of 'stuff' accordingly. To add complication, I have just listened to the 'new' ATMOS system.........pretty damned good!!! I need to make it idiot proof because at 65 years old and a lot on my plate, one needs rely on others with relevant expertise.

[@AcousticFields]

+Peter Cunningham To assist you with your room, I will need to know more about it. Please fill out the information in this link and send to me: www.acousticfields.com/free-acoustic-treatment-room-analysis-tell-us-room/ I will then guide you through the proper room size and volume for your chosen usage along with any barrier and treatment technology required.