Hardwood speaker wall

[confooshus]

I'm wanting to do something similar to the attached photo (Chalice Recording, Studio B), where the speaker wall is a deep, rich colored hardwood. The only difference is that my speakers won't be soffit mounted, they'll be on stands. I know these studios are designed with alot of the absorption/acoustic treatment to be concealed, but my question is this: Is it ok to have no absorption on the front wall? For instance, when using the mirror method to find first reflections, there will be many areas on the front wall that I can see the *back* of the speakers from the mix position, does that count? Or is it only necessary to treat spots that will reflect from the front of the speakers?

[confooshus]

Oops, here's the pic:

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by confooshus

Is it ok to have no absorption on the front wall?

Yes, see this detailed examination of that very question:

RealTraps - Front Wall Absorption

--Ethan

[confooshus]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Yes, see this detailed examination of that very question:

RealTraps - Front Wall Absorption

--Ethan

Excellent info, thanks!

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by confooshus

I'm wanting to do something similar to the attached photo (Chalice Recording, Studio B), where the speaker wall is a deep, rich colored hardwood. The only difference is that my speakers won't be soffit mounted, they'll be on stands. I know these studios are designed with alot of the absorption/acoustic treatment to be concealed, but my question is this: Is it ok to have no absorption on the front wall? For instance, when using the mirror method to find first reflections, there will be many areas on the front wall that I can see the *back* of the speakers from the mix position, does that count? Or is it only necessary to treat spots that will reflect from the front of the speakers?

There are many professionally designed rooms that have plenty of reflective surfaces at the front, and some even place diffusion dead center front. There usually is at least some absorption in front, somewhere. I wouldn't leave the whole front of the room reflective, but there's no need to have the entire front soft either. It depends on the speakers, placement, intended application of the room (what kind of work, surround or stereo etc), and whole room plan.

The original LEDE concept had a very soft front and a reflective, diffuse rear. Though the original Chips Davis spec is not used much anymore, many modern rooms use a modified version of it which works just fine; but it is not the only way to solve the problem. Nor is it wrong to go soft up front. Again, it's how you do it and what else you are doing in the room.