Wilson Electronics The Duette, Owner'S Manual, Page: 61 / 81

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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
• Illbruck Sonex®
• Air duct board
• Cork panels
• Large ceiling to floor drapes
• Carpeting to wall surfaces
In many domestic listening environments, heavy stuffed furnishings reduce slap
echo somewhat. Unfortunately, their effectiveness is not predictable. Diffusers are
sometimes also used to very good subjective effect, particularly in quite large rooms.
Sound absorbent materials such as described above will alter the tonal characteris -
tic of the room by making it sound “deader,” less “bright and alive,” and “quieter.”
Soundtrack effects will be more localized. However, over-damping the room can ren -
der 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