Room Acoustics

Room Acoustics for Better Home Theater Sound

Room acoustics can affect your home theater audio more than you realize. Sure, having great speakers and plenty of power from your receiver helps, but all of that work can go to waste if your room sounds boomy. Dialogue may become difficult to understand and your music can start to sound sloppy.

Room surfaces including walls, ceiling, floor, furnishings all play a part in what you hear. Hard surfaces cause reflections around the room while acoustic treatment helps manage those reflections. No need to pull out the wallpaper either. Strategic placement of a few acoustic treatments can go a long way.

If you have a dedicated theater room consider what surfaces sound is reflecting off of before installing anything. Start treating your first reflection points. Low frequency ringing can also be an issue, especially in larger rooms. Consider some degree of low frequency treatment as well.

Room Acoustics is not trying to make your room completely dead. You want to tame down the sound so your speakers can perform the way they should.

Plus, every room is different. There is no magical acoustic recipe that will work for all rooms and setups. Take into consideration the room itself, your listening position and what you are hearing. Build your treatment around the issues you’re having.