By Adrian Lo
You've invested a pretty penny in a great
hi-fidelity system, but something still doesn't sound right
to you. Unfortunately, even the most expensive system on its
own won't automatically produce great sound. That's where room
acoustics come in. Room acoustics is an often-misunderstood
field - and one where you can easily be duped into spending
money on solutions that don't deliver what they promise.
Here's a look at seven common myths of room
acoustics.
1: JUST ADD CARPETS AND CURTAINS FOR GREAT
SOUND.
Carpets and curtains don't translate to a
complete acoustic solution. They only address the high frequencies
- and they simply can't provide the defined performance of
lab-tested acoustic panels. Worse, neither tackles the critical
problems of speaker boundary interference and boomy bass.
2: SOUNDPROOFING MEANS GOOD ACOUSTICS.
Soundproofing isn't the same as acoustic treatment.
Soundproofing simply stops sound from entering or leaving
a space - it doesn't address the internal sound reflections
of the space. In fact, the more you soundproof, the more serious
the bass problems will be, as low frequencies are trapped
inside.
3: WE CAN "TWEAK" THAT BOOMY BASS.
The wavelength of bass frequencies means that
"tweaks" can't solve the uneven decay time of bass
in a room. Instead, tweaks usually change the balance of mid
to high frequencies relative to the bass, causing you toperceive
less bass boom - but the problem is still there.
4: ROOM TREATMENT MAKES YOUR ROOM DEAD AND
LIFELESS.
Professional acoustical design creates living
spaces. It's rampant misuses of thin acoustic material - like
egg crate foam - that over-absorbs high frequencies and deadens
the sound in a room. Smart solutions aim for flat absorption/diffusion
across the audible spectrum.
5: ROOM TREATMENT IS UGLY.
Today's acoustic panels blend seamlessly with
your interior design and add beauty to your space. The trick
is to integrate room treatment when you design and build your
listening room, instead of adding it later.
6: ROOM TREATMENT IS EXPENSIVE.
You'll find a range of prices for options
in room acoustics. An experienced consultant can help you
be a savvy shopper and create an affordable room where you
can truly enjoy the media equipment you've already purchased.
7: I CAN FIND THE ANSWERS ON THE INTERNET.
Every space is unique, and the Internet can't
address the complexities of your individual acoustic challenges.
An experienced consultant with first-hand experience can save
you time and money, particularly when brought onto the project
early.
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