Made it this far...how bout' some advice.

Okay. Here is the dilemma I am faced with. I am not sure what would be the best way to finish my "speaker cabinets" out. The sides are constructed out of 3/4" MDF, and the back is made out of 1/2" MDF. I still have to make the box that surrounds the monitor. Now my main question is what to cover the front with? My original idea was to cover it with 1/2" Ash slats. I already have the material so it's still a possibility. You will have to view the pictures to see exactly how the cabinets are made. They are sealed air tight. They are 8' tall. I have 4" and 2" Mineral Wool to line the inside with. I was thinking of covering it with burlap that way it would absorb high frequencies also, but then again I don't really know what I am doing....so. The room has 2 - 2'X4' absorbers (made from 2" MW with a 1" airspace between the insulation and the wall) on the side walls and a 2'X'4 hanging over the mix position. 2'X8'X4" Mineral Wool Bass Traps in both rear corners. Should I be putting my system in here and testing it before I go any further? They have black cloth on them right now (as you can see in the pic). The space on the rear wall will be also be covered with some type of absorber/slat resonator/etc... which brings me to my next question. What would you guys suggest? I have a good 6' to work with so I could make a cloth covered absorber 4'X6', or a slat resonator. I hope I have given enough clear information. The ceilings are 7' in the front and slope up to 8' in the back. The floor is painted concrete. The second blueprint shows the location of the absorbers in gray. There will be an additional absorber on the front wall under the window, if that would be the best suggestion.

You're not showing it, but are you considering any surround work or just stereo? There's a link in the Design forum to the official recommendations for surround production if you're considering that. If so, you'd want the room more dry to counter any early reflections from surround speakers... Steve

No surround work, just stereo.

Aloha Joseph,

I am not sure what would be the best way to finish my "speaker cabinets" out. The sides are constructed out of 3/4" MDF, and the back is made out of 1/2" MDF. I still have to make the box that surrounds the monitor. Now my main question is what to cover the front with? My original idea was to cover it with 1/2" Ash slats.

I recently soffit mounted my speakers http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4091 and read:

Screw mount a rigid bezel to the outer framing. The bezel should be flush with both the front wall and the front of the speaker. The more massive and rigid the bezel the better. The opening should not contact the monitor cabinet, but the gap should be no more than 5mm (3/16 inch). You might have the idea of filling the gap with some sort of gasket, but this is both unnecessary and detrimental. Any gasket will increase the transfer of vibrations to the bezel, therefore, effectively increasing the cabinet radiation surface area. Gaps less than a half wavelength will have little effect on wave propagation. 5mm is less than 1/3 wavelength at 20kHz, so audible diffraction induced by the gap isn't an issue. In any case most tweeters radiate very little energy 90° off axis at 20kHz. When you upgrade your monitors all you need to do is remove the bezel and cut a larger size opening, readjust the shelf, then mount the new speaker and screw the bezel back in. http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=718

I did mine with two layers of 3/4" mdf glued and screwed. You could then cover the bezel with your slats, veneer or cloth, being careful to keep the 3/16" gap clear. If your monitors are active, you may want to provide vents to keep them from overheating.

Should I be putting my system in here and testing it before I go any further? They have black cloth on them right now (as you can see in the pic).

I had gone about four months without the bezels and it wasnt until they were installed did I really hear the beginings of a controlled environment.

The space on the rear wall will be also be covered with some type of absorber/slat resonator/etc... which brings me to my next question. What would you guys suggest? I have a good 6' to work with so I could make a cloth covered absorber 4'X6', or a slat resonator.

See attached rear absorber plans.

There will be an additional absorber on the front wall under the window, if that would be the best suggestion.

I would do it. In fact, I did! :wink: The front wall and under each soffit. The reason being that small rooms tend to have a lot of build up of bass and benefits from the added absorption. Hope this helps, Aloha 8)