bass traps

[emcnelis]

I have read through many of the bass trap threads on this forum and found a lot of really helpful information, however i'm also pretty confused at this point. I plan on starting off by making 4 traps to straddle the 4 main corners of the room, but i want to be certain that what i make is going to be as effective as possible, not "just sort of works."

So my question is: can i use 4 inch 703 glued to a plywood panel and simply cover it with fabric, or is an air gap necessary, and therefore i should build a frame to achieve this? I'd also like to do this for as cheap as possible without sacrificing effectiveness, which is why i ask this question. Thanks in advance.

Eric

[PaulP]

Welcome Eric.

Originally Posted by emcnelis

I have read through many of the bass trap threads on this forum and found a lot of really helpful information, however i'm also pretty confused at this point.

That's perfectly normal and you'll recover .

I plan on starting off by making 4 traps to straddle the 4 main corners of the room, but i want to be certain that what i make is going to be as effective as possible, not "just sort of works."

You won't know what effect they'll have until you install them. There's a
lot of trial and error involved. There should also be a lot of study and
planning done beforehand to get a good idea of where you are now and
where you want to go. For instance the size and shape of your room and
the type of activity you want to do in it are very important items that will
direct the treatment you need.

One way of judging the effectiveness of each piece of treatment is to run
acoustic tests of your room before and after installation. Room EQ Wizard
(REW) is a free application that you can use for this purpose.

So my question is: can i use 4 inch 703 glued to a plywood panel and simply cover it with fabric, or is an air gap necessary, and therefore i should build a frame to achieve this?

Against a wall it doesn't matter but for straddling a corner, or if you want
an airgap between the absorber and the wall, your absorber must be open
at the back for air to move through it.

I'd also like to do this for as cheap as possible without sacrificing effectiveness, which is why i ask this question.

Cheap won't necessarily be good. Absorption is not expensive if you make
your own panels but your room may end up too dead or with an uneven
response (this depends on what you're doing in your room). If you want
more life you'll need diffusion and that is not cheap.

REW Help Page
Home Theater Shack - REW forum.

Paul P