WILSON AUDIO Watch Dog, Owner'S Manual

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W i l s o n A u d i o S p e c i a l t i e s
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Sound absorbent materials such as described above will alter the tonal characteristic
of the room by making it sound “deader,” less “bright and alive,” and “quieter.” These
changes usually make the room more pleasant for conversation, but sometimes render
it too dull in the high frequencies to be musically involving. Soundtrack effects will be
more localized. However, over-damping the room can render reproduced sound that is
lacking in musical involvement and “aliveness.”
Diffusers, on the other hand, do not affect the tonal balance characteristic of the
room as much. Placed properly, diffusers create a smoother and more open sound.
Some diffusers, due to their construction, create narrow midrange peaks and suck out
the warmth region. Do not use diffusers on the wall behind the speakers or on the
sidewalls directly beside the speakers. It is our experience that all of these room treat-
ment devices should be used judiciously.
Standing Waves
Another type of reflection phenomenon is “standing waves.” Standing waves
cause the unnatural boosting or accentuation of certain frequencies, typically in the
bass, to be found at certain discreet locations in the room. These locations differ ac-
cording to room dimension and size. A room generating severe standing waves creates
difficulty in setup. In these rooms, the speaker will sound radically different as it is
moved around. The effects of standing waves on a loudspeaker’s performance are pri-
marily in the areas listed.
• Tonal balance
• Resolution of low-level detail
• Soundstaging