Wood Floors

I wanted to see if anyone has any information on the room tonal difference between laminate wood floor and real hardwood floor? I would like to use a real hardwood floor figuring it would have a "Sound" to my live room, but it's so expensive. Considering there is a finish applied I would assume that it would kind of nullify the actual tonal characteristics of have a wood floor and if I was to use a laminate floor I would not really be able to distinguish it from a finished hardwood floor.

Carl, all of the studios i've worked on used floors similar to Bruce, Hartco, etc. Never a problem - I don't believe you could tell the difference from a purely acoustical point of view. Rod

A Lot of us have done the wood parquet flooring. Cheaper then the other wood manufacturers and you get the wood sound. I am sure there is a difference in tone between laminate (PLASTIC) and wood. :) Heck, walk on them and you hear a tonal difference. Now whether it will affect what you hear, only the golden ears can tell you this one...... And personally, I like the sound of wood in a room versus laminates. Bryan Giles

That's what I am thinking too. I don't like the ink jet printer and fake grain look on Pergo and stuff. Now just to deceide whether I want to use Light Maple or Birch? Hmmmm.