Side Reflection Absorbers

[The Savage]

Hey everyone, this is my first post here. I've been doing tons of research on acoustics and I have a long post for later with pictures of my project studio and questions with that. For now, however, i just have a quick question.

for the first reflection points on either side of me, I have built two 2ft x 4ft panels. I read on here that you should get a mirror and when you can see both speakers, that is the place to put the panels. I have reflective walls on both sides of me (sheetrock and/or plaster) and the panels, when in the speaker path, arent actually directly next to my head. Would I benefit more from hanging the panels vertically or horizontally? I figure horizontally so that they absorb what is directly next to my ears as well as the first reflection points. Am I correct in this thinking? Any ideas?

-sean

[knightfly]

A panel that's only 2 feet wide will probably NOT cover reflection points for BOTH speakers, where a 4 foot wide one probably will (this is of course geometry dependent, things like width between speakers, distance from them, whether walls are splayed, anything that changes angular displacement)

2 feet TALL would be pretty minimal for all but higher frequencies, so placement would be fairly critical.

If you can't make the panels wider, then I'd put them horizontal and center them in the reflection path; otherwise I'd make them at least a foot taller (3' tall by 4' wide) -

I'd also make them PORTABLE, maybe a rail system to hang them on - if you're not sure what I mean, say so and I'll look for a sketch I drew some time back, don't remember the name ATM.

Reason for portable - you may wanna move the desk, speakers, etc, plus do a search on moulton - I posted a couple of links in the last week or two regarding alternate thinking on room layout that will be a good read... Steve

[The Savage]

thanks a ton knightfly, ive been reading articles off of the Moulton Labs website. It has given me a few ideas to experiment with. Im going to try a few of them for the time being and see how things go.

I think i may have mislead you, however, as the "panels" i was talking about are actually just 4" thick mineral wool in a frame. Are you talking about a membrane absorber? I was under the impression broadband absorbers like mine didn't have a frequency/width relationship, they just absorbed more of same frequencies over a larger area? Just for reference, im using 8" woofer nearfields at a 4' equilateral triangle from my head. Sorry for the confusion, i was in too much of a hurry typing that post. I do intend to make larger ones however, this was kind of a trial run, i may tear them apart and rebuild into bigger frames if need be.

Moulton's idea of reflective sidewalls is pretty interesting. I have a feeling that idea may only work with wider rooms, or room with angled walls. Am I completely misreading?

Again thanks for the response, I love all this new info, and im going to keep reading. I'm also going to start my own thread on the overall room with more questions and diagrams explaining my entire situation in the next day or two hopefully. Ill keep posted! Thanks.

-sean

[knightfly]

Size - only thinking about full coverage of the reflection zone on either side of the mix area. Have someone move a mirror along the wall and mark the two points where your two speakers are visible, add at least a foot beyond these two points in either direction, and that's the minimum size I'd use. No membrane involved.

Haven't tried a comparison on reflective vs. absorptive either, that's why I suggested making the panels removable so you can make your own comparison. Moulton didn't say much about room size, but his own "experiment chamber" is fairly large IIRC... Steve