Do I Need Acoustic Treatments in this Odd Shaped Room?

[STucker]

Hello,

I have been reviewing several of the "Room Acoustics and Treatments" threads yesterday and today and I still need some assistance with advice for room treatments in my odd shaped room. The room is the above the garage with carpeting and kneewalls that extend partially down both sides of the room. I attaching photos for review.

The back of the room has 3 doors all at different depths from the seating - the closest door is 5.5 feet from the seating.
The knee wall on the left side extends from the front of the room (TV and window) 6.75 feet so the knee wall is the same on both sides of the room for only 6.75 feet.
The knee wall before the slope starts is 7.0 feet from the MLP.
I recently unfinished bass traps in the front corners to fix a null found with REW. As part of the effort and feedback from the REW forum, I also placed both subs in the left of the room.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Does it sound too lively in the room now? Is there echo?

With this odd-shaped room, I think you will probably have to experiment with placement if you feel it's needed. You might start with the first reflection points of the main front speakers. I wouldn't worry too much about the surround speakers.

 

[basscleaner]

The first step for any installation is to get as smooth as possible FR in low range. With accordance to you speakers this role belongs to subs only. The main difficulty is that subs placement may correlate with main speakers position and if subs will placed far from their places and generate distortion, therefore stereo picture will be blurred. Try to use all the opportunities to probe possible positions for subs including height changes round the front speakers placement. You should begin test without your DIY bass-traps, besides there are no powerful axial LF modes, due to "odd room geometry" and most likely, they are not needed at all. It doesn't mean, that there are no any LF modes at all. Tangent and oblique modes seems to me more powerful in the room. After you will find appropriate subs position (you better do it consequently one by one, trying to compensate disadvantages of each other) with EQ use, it will be time for the second step - to work with mid and high F ranges. I suggest, there is not any echo, because there are no any conditions for it due to complex room geometry. If you hear flutter echo - tell about this and we will tell you what to do. Then, if finishing material at wall and ceiling surfaces is rigid, hence your reverberation times will be to high in mid and maybe high ranges too. After you will define front speakers position you need to mount absorbing panels to play with first reflections values and RT60 (reverberation times) to understand the sound you like with accordance to your preferable sound ambience.
If you are familiar with acoustical modeling, I can advice CaraCAD (www.caracad.de) code, but must warn you, this may take more calculating times for complex geometry. REW is not suitable for it.
Your rear wall is better to drape with curtain, or even to listen with opened doors, if it will not bother to others in your house. This will influence to RT60 too as well as floor carpet. For now, that's all about the room treatment.

 

[STucker]

Hello - Sonnie and Basscleaner, thanks for the responses. I am sidelined for a few days with a bad upper respiratory infection. I should be able to get back to working on my room again after Thanksgiving. Thanks again for the assist.

Steve

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Hello - Sonnie and Basscleaner, thanks for the responses. I am sidelined for a few days with a bad upper respiratory infection. I should be able to get back to working on my room again after Thanksgiving. Thanks again for the assist.

Steve

Sorry to hear this... hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[basscleaner]

Join in Sonnie Parker wishes. Have a good news and future health!