Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Surrounds to combat a live room?

The M50 to M5 thread -
https://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/u...-to-m5hp-upgrade-expectations#Post440662
- drifted over to surrounds and it triggered a thought:

I am about to set up a stereo system in what I fear is a too reflective room and I have two concerns (one on the liveliness and one on the stereo):
(1) I've really gotten use to using all-channel stereo to give me an artificially rich sound, and I think I'm going to miss it.
(2) How to correct a the live room without room treatments.

Would QS4s help with both of those? (I'd run the QS4 surrounds in "stereo" mode.)

Hmm... I have to think that the best way to combat a live room is to make it a bit less live.

That will take room treatments but all kinds of things count as treatments, from a carpet on the floor to wall hangings to a bookcase full of books to replacing/removing a glass coffee table.

Ditto what Mr. Bridgman said.

Peel drywall off in areas where treatment is desired. Stuff cavity with Safe n Sound. Cover cavity with stretched fabric or linen. Add moulding to suit taste to cover edges.

About to do it in a bar in the washroom corridor.

Low (no) profile solution that is reversible if you keep the rectangle of drywall removed.

With a modern hard surface living space- leave openings open. Open windows. Sound has to decay into something to reduce in volume. Creating a larger container or paths where reflections cannot recombine with the direct signal will improve sound quality.

Yes, QS series speakers could even out the soundfield and allow you to listen at a lower output overall. Less energy = less problems to deal with. More speakers in more places is always a good strategy for non ideal setups (usually in surround though)

Think of lighting a room, Are 2 bright lights or 6 potlights better? Well.... you will have to decide based on being there and personal taste.

Interesting alternatives Trevor. Not sure I’d picture frame a piece of cloth in my living room though. Good points on openings.

I think as long as you want to be surrounded by sound with no direction and don’t mine the loss of definition a lively room may actually enhance the effect. Objects and rugs would probably keep it reasonable. I’m thinking ambient sound. ... QS10s in mono.

Back in the day, I used to practice cello in a small (8x6?) practice room. If you clapped your hand it took 1 or two second for it to decay. The sound was grand and everywhere. I’d go as far as to say it was awesome.

The alternative is to get some 1x4 boards and make a picture frame with a cross board going across the middle. Glue down the safe and sound then wrap with speaker fabric. Make several and hang them to your wall. Easily removable.

Acoustic panels are fairly easy to build. NickBuol and I used Owens Corning 703 2x3 insulated sheets and built wood frames, followed by some black material and white sheet backing.

Yeah, they dont have to be ugly. Can look like whatever you want.

Here's one we built as a recording tool to help vocalists hear themselves in the booth.

One side vocal kicker, other side pure absorber.

7' x 4' framed, 2.5" (maybe 3 don't remember) of Roxul, acoustically transparent fabric cover. Works to tame a reflective room.

Nice!