7
Room Treatment
(continued)
sizes. Alternatively, you can buy purpose-designed room treatments (some sources
listed under References, below).
The important things to remember are these: a good room should have a balance of
absorption and diffusion; and if you are going to treat only a few areas of the room,
the first reflection points are the most important ones to treat.
Professional Acoustic Design
Does this all sound too complicated? For good reason: it
is
complicated.
The difference between the average listening room and one that is professionally
designed and implemented is huge. A great listening room will disappear to an
astonishing degree, letting the experiences captured in your recordings speak to
you directly. A well-designed room is also quieter and more comfortable. It can
easily become a favorite retreat for peace and rejuvenation.
If you decide to investigate the possibility of improving your room with the help of
a professional, it is important to find someone who focuses on residential spaces.
Most acousticians are trained to deal with large spaces — airports, auditoriums,
lobbies in commercial buildings, etc. The problems seen in “small” rooms
(residential spaces) are quite different, and outside the experience of most
acousticians. Find someone who specializes in and has a great deal of experience
designing home studios, home theaters, and the like. Your Wisdom Audio dealer
may be such a person; failing that, he/she can help you find such a professional.
References
Books on Acoustics:
The Master Handbook of Acoustics
, F. Alton Everest, TAB Books
Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and
Rooms
by Dr. Floyd Toole, Focal Press
