Suggestions to improve sound clarity based on REW

[funnyprogrammer]

Hello All,

I am new to using REW. I did a few measurements with different subwoofer placement and crossover. Got good results.
Next, I am trying to reduce reverb time as my room is small (11*11) clarity is lacking.

Do we have any service in India that can suggest acoustic panels based on the REW measurements? I don't want to do a complete room treatment but looking for a minimal treatment.

Attaching REW waterfall and Spectrograph screenshots here. Please do suggest if there are obvious problems and any improvement I can make by moving speakers or listening positions.

Here is the complete measurement set attached in Google Drive.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

Hello All,

I am new to using REW. I did a few measurements with different subwoofer placement and crossover. Got good results.
Next, I am trying to reduce reverb time as my room is small (11*11) clarity is lacking.

Do we have any service in India that can suggest acoustic panels based on the REW measurements? I don't want to do a complete room treatment but looking for a minimal treatment.

Attaching REW waterfall and Spectrograph screenshots here. Please do suggest if there are obvious problems and any improvement I can make by moving speakers or listening positions.

Here is the complete measurement set attached in Google Drive.

View attachment 83553



View attachment 83554View attachment 83555

Hi

Iam no acoustics expert. But have a passing understanding of what the above graphs are showing. Basically, there is a very high reverb time in the room from 20 hz to almost 3 khz. And there is again high reverb from 8 khz onwards. Having bass issues in small rooms is common, but this room is notorious all across the spectrum .

I would suspect that this is a bare walled room with very little in way of furnishings, and very echoey. As the issues are all over, and not limited to one frequency band, you can start by adding broadband absorbers as generously as possible. Ideally, bass absorbers in the corners, and broad band absorbers at first reflection points is the way to start.

If you dont wan to experiment and go through a long drawn trial and error process, you can send a drawing of your room along with your above measurements to GIK acoustics or vicoustic. And they will send you a detailed plan of what to place where from their collection of acoustic treatments.

Alternately, you can also reach out to auralex at the below link. And they will also suggest how exactly to proceed with their available treatments. This will be better than trial and error. All the best

Contact Us

Aural Exchange is India's largest distributor for technical acoustic materials, with warehouses in multiple cities across India and a preferred resource for acoustic consultants, sound engineers, architects, interior designers, turnkey acoustic contractors, and music professionals. We do not...

www.auralexchange.com

By the way, please dont let the poor measurements let you down. I had the "bada battar baap" of all rooms, and I managed to sort it out to a certain extent. It sounds so much better now. I guess bad rooms are a blessing in disguise, as they force us to treat, which then becomes a free upgrade to whatever kit you add next.

 

[funnyprogrammer]

I would suspect that this is a bare walled room

You are spot on. There is no additional furniture other than chairs and foot stool.

of your room along with your above measurements to GIK acoustics

do they operate in India as well? I did fill their form. Awaiting for their response.

This will be better than trial and error. All the best

yeah that’s the plan. Thanks.

And i did upgrade my AVR to x3800h which has better Audyssey. It did improve a bit but not sure exactly what it has done, yet to take measurements with REW.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

You are spot on. There is no additional furniture other than chairs and foot stool.

do they operate in India as well? I did fill their form. Awaiting for their response.

yeah that’s the plan. Thanks.

And i did upgrade my AVR to x3800h which has better Audyssey. It did improve a bit but not sure exactly what it has done, yet to take measurements with REW.

GIK's dealers in India are audionote India, located in Mumbai. But not sure if GIK extend their free consultation services in our country. I doubt even if vicoustics does that. So the best bet is auralexchange.

Audyssey cant do anything much with respect to decay and reverb times. Though it will try to even out some peaks in the frequency response to the extent possible, and try to time align and level balance all the speakers. But no dsp can correct room reverberant behaviour. It will take physical treatment to tame those Iam afraid.

 

[funnyprogrammer]

But no dsp can correct room reverberant behaviour. It will take physical treatment to tame those Iam afraid

Agree, I will speak to auralexchange. Planning to do minimal for now, not the entire room.

 

[funnyprogrammer]

Just a quick update on this.
After adding four bass traps and a recliner, bass and clarity has improved a lot.

https://www.auralexchange.com/product/nankarrow-protrap-premium-corner-bass-trap-set-of-2/

Attaching waterfall and RT60.





I might need to add thicker absorption panels to handle those low frequencies.

 

[kratu]

Looking at the waterfall and RT60 graph, this is good improvement over the previous iteration. I’m sure this would have felt with sound.

There could be more refinement done, to remove the peaks and troughs in the lows and lower midrange. There seems to be some areas where the low frequencies are stagnating. This will be very challenging. I would also add some absorption panel at the first reflection points. Add a thick carpet, some heavy curtains, bookshelves, etc. It will act as diffusers and reduce the peaks.

Little tweaks can sometimes make a big difference. Experiment with these. One thing you can try is stack the bass traps on top of each other and place them at the rear wall (back of listening position).

 

[funnyprogrammer]

There seems to be some areas where the low frequencies are stagnating.

How can i identify those ?I am planning to add more bass traps.

One thing you can try is stack the bass traps on top of each other and place them at the rear wall

You mean broadband absorbers ? Most of the bass traps I find are made for corners. Please share link.

I do have a carpet. Need to add some absorption panels.

 

[kratu]

How can i identify those ?I am planning to add more bass traps.

You mean broadband absorbers ? Most of the bass traps I find are made for corners. Please share link.

I do have a carpet. Need to add some absorption panels.

I have stacked two corner bass traps one top of the each other. This gives more absorption. And I found major difference when they are placed at the rear wall corners than front.

Identifying the issues involves measuring the room and making iterative improvements.

I mean corner bass traps. Not sure about broadband absorbers.

You may also consider adding two sets of bass traps and stack them.

Here is my room’s RT60

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

Just a quick update on this.
After adding four bass traps and a recliner, bass and clarity has improved a lot.

https://www.auralexchange.com/product/nankarrow-protrap-premium-corner-bass-trap-set-of-2/

Attaching waterfall and RT60.

View attachment 85078

View attachment 85079

I might need to add thicker absorption panels to handle those low frequencies.

That is a very nice improvement indeed. Depending on your room size, you will need to split the spectrum above and below 200 to 250 hz as separate entities. You currently have 400hz and upwards already at or below 400 ms which is very nice and is almost the ideal balance for a home listening room, though it is again room and size dependent.


Since the remaining issue is below 400hz, looks like probably between 50hz to 200hz, you need to get innovative to create spaces to chuck more bass traps into the room. The panels you linked seem to have peak absorption at 250hz, and some others I checked out have peak absorption at 200hz. We will need a lot more of these to address the bass below 100hz.

Panels that will address these frequencies need a lot of mass and will be heavy to ship. So best to send a mail to Aurlaex as to what they suggest from their ready made kits. Failing which, I would recommend going DIY with building your own traps with Geowool.

If the ceiling corners are not yet addressed, then there can be sizable gains there. If there is possibility to add bass traps on the ceiling, we can do there as well. Basically, the more surface area and mass you can add to the room the better. But maybe better not to add anything at first reflection points on side walls just yet. We are targeting the 50 to 200hz zone here, and whatever you add to the room to address this area, will already effect the times above 400hz also.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

I have stacked two corner bass traps one top of the each other. This gives more absorption. And I found major difference when they are placed at the rear wall corners than front.

Identifying the issues involves measuring the room and making iterative improvements.

I mean corner bass traps. Not sure about broadband absorbers.

You may also consider adding two sets of bass traps and stack them.

Here is my room’s RT60

That is an excellent sounding room you have there

Wish mine was anywhere close to that . I have more bass trapping to add

 

[funnyprogrammer]

If the ceiling corners are not yet addressed, then there can be sizable gains there

Ceiling corners are not covered. Won't be able to DIY. Should I add same bass traps even though they are effective at 250?
Other option i have is Timber acoustics.

https://www.timberacoustics.com/products/timber-acoustics%C2%AE-corner-bass-traps-2x4x5-roxul-rockwool-acoustic-room-treatment-set-of-2-grey