To RFZ or not to RFZ?

[John White]

Not to be too pedantic, it's may be worth stating that I believe you are referring to LEDE in general, not specifically RFZ. I only say this due to the history of this discussion sidetracking otherwise great threads.

I find it beneficial to control early reflections (whether by absorption or deflection) in order to extend the time of the first major reflection. Yes.

(Not a professional.)

[AwwDeOhh]

I guess it depends on if one is critical listening, or just enjoying music.
The former, RFZ; the ladder, it's not as important imho.

[SörenHjalmarsson]

YES: I prefer to mix with ER treatments present. (viz. with destructive/distorting reflections sufficiently attenuated)

YES: This is, to my knowledge, the most common and accepted way of treating a Critical Listening Room.

Cheers,

[seen-da-sizer]

OK, I am not going to vote on the poll, because I am an amateur/hobbyist. However I am wondering how many people haven been in a position to experience in person other acoustics designs besides RFZ, or completely dead. I don't think visiting such a studio for a few hour counts. Working in such an environment for a few weeks may be in order.

In addition there are countless small business studios with space limitations. Big studios who have the required real estate to implement other designs are not in the majority. I am also guessing that more complex implementation do require more knowledge to begin with. That means you need to hire a professional, or dig much deeper into acoustics yourself. It all comes down to money and time.

A RFZ has the advantage that it can be implemented by almost everyone, with a big chance of succeeding. Just follow some basic rules, be vigilant with implementing, and testing. Yes RFZ in my case too, although only by design. My acoustics results are not quite there yet.

[gullfo]

i prefer attenuation/diffusion of most of the early reflection levels, and have small levels of late reflections for a mix or mastering room, but prefer a small amount of diffusive early reflection and slightly more late level reflections in a listening room or home theater. my designs tend to "feel" very lively in terms of HF with overall room decay of around 450ms depending on the size of the room and desired use scenarios.

my philosophy - you can readily make a room deader but making it come back to life tends to be harder
- Victor Frankenstein

[jim1961]

I voted yes, but let me qualify that yes in the context of:

1) In reference to a home listening environment (I have no experience in a mix / studio environment)

2) RFZ in reference to the first 20ms or so (in my case I have a 24ms termination of -10db)

Perhaps there are a fraction of audiophiles that like early reflections but I am not included among them. I feel what is universally true is if you are aiming for a well defined soundstage and seek to hear as much as possible of the original recording then one must keep early reflections to -20db or better. However, in a listening environment, one could have other goals which could include giving higher priority to other factors than the two I mentioned.

[Rod Gervais]

For me it all depends on the clients need's/desires, this both from an acoustic as well as architectural point of view......

In general my rooms tend to be what one would describe as quite lively - albeit very controlled - I always design rooms with diffusion as a key element in the design if given my druthers......

BTW - just so we understand one another - we are talking about controlled reflections as opposed to dead rooms - would that be correct?

RFZ rooms are not reflection free rooms - although your question (referring to the poll question - not the thread heading) does not make that distinction............

Rod

[Jens Eklund]

Originally Posted by Rod Gervais

BTW - just so we understand one another - we are talking about controlled reflections as opposed to dead rooms - would that be correct?

RFZ rooms are not reflection free rooms - although your question does not make that distinction............

Rod

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

... RFZ designs, meaning early reflections from the side walls and ceiling are avoided either with absorption or by splaying with angles.

I assume we are talking about a clean (-20 dB or lower) ISD-gap and a marked termination of it (if LEDE/RFZ design), but even if not; at least 10-12 (or preferably more), milliseconds without early reflections.

[Glenn Kuras]

I take it Ethan is talking about Early/First Reflections points. As in the following.
Video: First Reflection Points
If the client is looking to listen to the mix like the mixing or mastering engineer heard it then they would want to cover the points. If they just like the sound of the reflections then, well that is totally up to them. I will say though that most that fight against it have never really spent much time in a well treated room.

[avare]

Originally Posted by AwwDeOhh

I guess it depends on if one is critical listening, or just enjoying music.
The former, RFZ; the ladder, it's not as important imho.

+1. You summed it up perfectly.

Andre

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Rod Gervais

we are talking about controlled reflections as opposed to dead rooms - would that be correct?

Yes, I'm talking about first reflections from the side walls and ceiling (and floor) in the front of the room. And I further exclude very large rooms where the first reflections aren't early because the walls are very far apart.

--Ethan

[Rod Gervais]

Ethan,

Thanks - my response stands..........

Rod