Wilson Electronics Sophia Series 2, 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
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
Standing waves are more difficult to correct than slap echo because they tend to
occur at a lower frequency. Absorbent materials, such as Illbruck Sonex
®
, are ineffec-
tive at controlling reflections in the bass region. Moving speakers about slightly in the
room is, for most people, their only control over standing waves. Sometimes a change
of placement of as little as two or three inches can dramatically alter the tonal balance
of a small system.
Fortunately, minor low frequency standing waves are well controlled by position-
ing ASC Tube Traps™ in the corners of the room. Very serious low frequency accentua-
tion usually requires a custom-designed bass trap system.
Low frequency standing waves can be particularly troublesome in rooms con-
structed of concrete or brick. These materials trap the bass in the room unless it is al-