$29 bass traps...quick and easy...yet another DIY bass trap project!

[bamm]

Are we tired of these threads yet? The truth is, that bass traps make a tremendous difference in a room. I had 10-15db nodes at 80 and 125 and huge decay times. 100% better now.

Looking at the other project threads (all very creative btw!), I had no interest in the frame building aspect of the project...oh ya...did I mention I'm cheap also? Anyway, here is my take on it. Hope it helps someone on a budget.

I used black felt from Joann Fabrics since it comes in a 72" width (which is necessary with this design) and it's only $4.99/yard.

Be sure to use the rigid rockwool panels for this (not the fluffy stuff)
Owens Corning 703, Roxul Mineral Wool, and Other Acoustic Materials

I will post some room application photos in the next post.

[Herman Munster]

I can't tell exactly how you did this based on the photos. Did you use the 24x48 inch Rockboard panels? Did you just connect the 2 pieces with a nail through a long piece of wood? Lastly, did you feel the felt was porous enough to not be reflective? Thanks.

[bamm]

Yes to the 2x4 Rockboard panels. Here is a photo of them in use. I used a screw and washer into the end of the 1x2 with a 16 gauge wire and hung them about 4" from the wall. If the panels were for horizontal use, I oriented the 1x2 (cut to 2' length insted of 4') in the other direction.

As far as the acoustic properties of the felt, I'm no expert, but you can see light through it if that means anything. I was going for low-band absorption since I have plenty of acoustic foam in the room for the high end. The sweep tests on the room revealed improvement in the high-end also so the felt seems useful.

This is a listening area in the back of our control room. Disregard the large cabs at the bottom...they are from our live rig, but make okay furniture.

[s.d.finley]

Very Nice!!!!

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Herman Munster

I can't tell exactly how you did this based on the photos. Did you use the 24x48 inch Rockboard panels? Did you just connect the 2 pieces with a nail through a long piece of wood? Lastly, did you feel the felt was porous enough to not be reflective? Thanks.

Yes felt will work fine.

Glenn

[bitman]

All right!

Bass traps I can afford both time wise and money wise.

God Bless,
:Ron

[bamm]

That's what I was going for Ron! Thanks for the encouragement!

In my attempt to be cheap, I think the 3/4" airspace in the center may be contributing to the performance, but would need an expert to weigh in on that.

[TheGetDown]

awesome, this looks like the easiest project yet!

[s.d.finley]

Bamm,

how did ya hang them on your wall?

Looks like I have a project for next weekend!!



thanx!!

[bamm]

Hey s.d.,

Sorry for the low-res photo...trying to stay under the GS 195K limit. I actually hung them from the ceiling with ordinary 16 gauge hobby wire so I could keep them off the walls 4+ inches.

I'll see if I can describe this effectively...I ran a 1 1/4" drywall screw into the end-grain of both 1x2 spacers with a #10 flat washer and left it out a little (very important: run the screw backwards for a few seconds to "drill out" the fabric first so it doesn't bunch-up when you run the screw in). I then snuck the end of the wire (pre-measured) through the hole in the washer. When you crank down on the screw, the wire becomes trapped between the head of the screw and the washer. I did the same thing at the celing after first installing those "new" plastic drill-in drywall anchors (mine were rated for 32 lbs each and the panels barely weigh 10). Two per panel gets it done just fine. Enlist another set of hands to support the traps while you set the screws and plumb everything up.

That's pretty much it!

[truth123123]

what works better the joann fabric or the burlap.....cuz im pretty sure the best is maybe guilford of maine or others.

[daverich]

almost identical to mine.

Yes they work well - I've also lined the recording booth with similar panels to improve the sound-proofness.

Kind regards

Dave Rich

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by bamm

In my attempt to be cheap, I think the 3/4" airspace in the center may be contributing to the performance, but would need an expert to weigh in on that.

I would think that having the gap the way you have done it is not really helping so much. Yes you are making a gap, but you are also putting something solid in the middle which is not helping at all. The best thing to do is make them solid mineral wool or rigid fiberglass, 4" or more and straddle corners. If placing on the wall space it off the wall the thickness of the panel.

Glenn

[DivineMusic]

you know what thanks for that link. they have premade 4inch 2x4 pannel for $46 each.. thats a steal.
not to mention the 2inch pannels for $37.. i needed this link

[bamm]

Truth,

I chose the felt because of the 72" width (and the $4.99/yard price tag) where most fabrics are 56". This particular design requires at least 58". If you can score the burlap in 72"...go for it!

Glen,

Thanks for your expert opinion! Knowing that objects transfer low energy better than air, I was afraid of that. I guess I rationalized the 1 1/2" + 1 1/2" (3") would not be as much of a factor, but that was a guess at best!

Divine,

Great link, isn't it? My $29 cost was including shipping, fabric, lumber and an open back design. The ATS at 48x24x4, open back and shipped at $69 are still a steal!

[Glenn Kuras]

"Glen,

Thanks for your expert opinion! Knowing that objects transfer low energy better than air, I was afraid of that. I guess I rationalized the 1 1/2" + 1 1/2" (3") would not be as much of a factor, but that was a guess at best!"

No problem.

It is not like you totally messed them up. They will work ok for a DYI project.




"Great link, isn't it? My $29 cost was including shipping, fabric, lumber and an open back design. The ATS at 48x24x4, open back and shipped at $69 are still a steal![/QUOTE]"

I would like to see some true lab numbers on that before I would say the same.

Glenn

[bamm]

Thanks Glen. I was probably a bit overstated with that remark. The problem with ATS is they don't seem to have any data on their panels without the wood backing. Clearly their products (and obviously mine) do not appear to employ the quality and comprehensive design of the GIK products.

[homestudioguy]

Here are "instructions" to build a low-cost wall mount for your panels!
BUILD THIS HSG ACOUSTIC PANEL WALL MOUNT
Here is a side-view

[bamm]

Thanks Homestudioguy,

Looks like a clever approach to mounting panels. It would be nice if the angle brackets were not visible on the face. I prefer the wire method and hanging from the ceiling since it seems to transfer the least amount of energy back into the structure of the room. Also, I believe I read somewhere that low frequency energy will actually try to "push" (virtually unmeasureable, I'm sure) a hanging trap, thereby increasing its effectiveness.

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by bamm

Thanks Glen. I was probably a bit overstated with that remark. The problem with ATS is they don't seem to have any data on their panels without the wood backing. Clearly their products (and obviously mine) do not appear to employ the quality and comprehensive design of the GIK products.

That’s cool. I just look at there testing for "A" mount compared to ours and see some pretty big differences below 125 hz. Nothing against there stuff, but I just don't see it as a bass trap.

Glenn

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by bamm

Thanks Homestudioguy,

Looks like a clever approach to mounting panels. It would be nice if the angle brackets were not visible on the face. .

I guess you could paint them black or what every color you made the panels.

Glenn

[jcc449]

it looks very good and supposed to work well too.
But i just don't like Rockwool
Not because rockwool can't do a good job for acoustic treatment.
It is because rockwool can harm your healthy badly.
rockwool is banish for causing Lung Cancer.
This is why people are using fiber-glass instead of rockwool now days.
(fiberglass can also caused breathing issue; however, not as horrified as rockwool).
Even though Rockwool works the best.

I sersiously suggesting you guys treated rockwool carefully. Make sure you seal the rockwool with extra glue and multiple layers of materials. It is because rockwool's dust is very small and most likely will leak and spread out badly. They can even go through your skin and bites.

The Regular Curtains and cutton will not able to lock the rockwool's dust beacuse their pores are too big to lock rockwool.

[jimcroisdale]

Cue Glenn or Frank to dispel this myth....

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by jimcroisdale

Cue Glenn or Frank to dispel this myth....

Or Ethan?

American Lung Association

--Ethan

[Insomniaclown]

FAQ's About Mineral Wool (Rock and Slag Wool) Insulation

Just found this little bit of info.; I have rockwool bass traps in my basement studio, so of course this thread got me a bit worried. However, it would seem that neither fibreglass or rockwool are tied to lung cancer and/respitory problems. The only issue I really have with rockwool is that it smeels kinda funny.

[TurboJets]

Originally Posted by bamm

The ATS at 48x24x4, open back and shipped at $69 are still a steal!

I have all ATS panels in my studio and they're a huuuuge bargain IMO. They made an amazing improvement on my listening environment.

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by Insomniaclown

However, it would seem that neither fibreglass or rockwool are tied to lung cancer and/respitory problems. The only issue I really have with rockwool is that it smeels kinda funny.

Neither rock wool nor rigid fiberglass have been tied to any kind of cancer. There are lots of studies out there that establish this pretty firmly as fact.

Frank

[Vintageblue02]

Originally Posted by bamm

Are we tired of these threads yet? The truth is, that bass traps make a tremendous difference in a room. I had 10-15db nodes at 80 and 125 and huge decay times. 100% better now.

Looking at the other project threads (all very creative btw!), I had no interest in the frame building aspect of the project...oh ya...did I mention I'm cheap also? Anyway, here is my take on it. Hope it helps someone on a budget.

I used black felt from Joann Fabrics since it comes in a 72" width (which is necessary with this design) and it's only $4.99/yard.

Be sure to use the rigid rockwool panels for this (not the fluffy stuff)
Owens Corning 703, Roxul Mineral Wool, and Other Acoustic Materials

I will post some room application photos in the next post.

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Awsome!

[kesslerjesus]

thanks for the info! these seems like a great and cost effective way to treat a room

[matthew.hall111]

Did you use spray adhesive to affix the wood to the rockwool before you constructed it? Did you also apply six screws and washers to the other side of the trap?

Thank you for this post!

-Matt