Sound quality or proper acoustical quality is difficult to achieve in rooms. Since many rooms are not perfect squares and objects in rooms such as furniture can obstruct sound, it can be difficult to achieve the ideal acoustical quality in a room.
So you''ve just spent big bucks on a Home Theater System and now you can''t wait to sit down with your family to enjoy the latest movie release. The experience may be a good one; however,
more can be done to make it great.
If you are like me, you are very sensitive about sound quality. I''ve often wished to be able to tolerate annoying sounds better; however this has not changed for me. If you paddle along in this same canoe, know that you can improve the investment you made in your Home Theatre System at a cost that proves to be worthwhile. It''s all about "room acoustic treatments," which will be discussed later.
It is a common afterthought to consider the room dimensions where you place your Home Theater System. Most people focus on the actual product they are purchasing, and what it has to offer them visually. After you have researched your options and have purchased the best home theatre system in your budget, take your project a step further to perfect the sound you are listening to as well. The room you have placed your system in is as significant to the sound of your system as the speakers, electronics, and cables. This is not to say that there is any correct room to utilize your system, however, once it has been placed, "work with the room" to get the best possible sound for your ears.
"Room resonances" are sound waves generated by speakers. They range from 20Hz to 300Hz. This is where your specific room comes in to play with your Home Theater System. The dimensions of your room, (length, width, height) decide the frequency of the resonances. And, the resonance can determine the sound; ranging from a weighty bass or a slight bass. Normally, a room has a bass between 50Hz and 70Hz. If you are wondering how you could possibly know what the resonances measure in your particular room, you can gauge them with an "acoustics calculator." You simply enter the dimensions of a room, and the calculator will verify any problem frequencies.
After using the calculator, you will determine the "room resonances" that need to be corrected. One option is to move your speakers to different locations in the room, re-measure the room resonances using the "acoustics calculator," and then see where the Hz measurement falls. As a process that is largely trial and error, it could take you some time to get things just right as you perfect the placement of each speaker.
Using "acoustic bass traps," one room acoustics treatment mentioned previously, is another option for correcting room resonances. By placing these traps in the proper locations throughout the room, you are able to adjust the bass sound in your particular room. The best way to place the bass traps is by sitting in your viewing chair while having a friend move a mirror on the wall around the room. When you can see the speaker in the mirror, you have found a "reflection point." This is where you would place the bass trap.
A third option for achieving ideal acoustical quality in a room is to install affordable fiberglass panels manufactured for this purpose. You have a number of options with these panels. Some absorb mid to high frequencies, while others will absorb low frequencies. By calculating the acoustics and placing these panels in strategic locations, it is very easy to adjust the acoustics of the room. The panels cost anywhere from 300 to 600 dollars and can be covered with fabric for aesthetic purposes.
Of course, there are a number of more expensive solutions to achieving the best acoustical quality for your home system, but it is worth looking into these simple and inexpensive measures first. No matter which method you use, you owe it to yourself to make the most of your investment in an audio system. By putting a little time and work into setting it up, your payoff is years of enjoying a system that is fine tuned to provide the best sound possible in an acoustically optimized room.
