AcousticArt Panel in the studio

[jdandy]

I have been thinking of covering my studio widescreen television with an acoustical panel for quite some time. I located a company in Tampa, Florida (AcoustiMac.com) that manufactures acoustic panels and acoustic art panels. They accommodate custom sizes with no problem so I ordered a 29" x 49" by 2" thick closed back acoustic panel with Owens Corning 703 fiberglass and special cover art from their catalog. The panel arrived today and only took me fifteen minutes to attach my special fabricated hangers and then hang the panel over the television. I also replaced the ivory colored acoustic panel above the television with a burgundy one to match the burgundy bass traps. The new AcousticArt panel and new burgundy panel ties the entire end of the room together and looks very nice. I am pleased with the results.


BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[Mike]

Nice!

 

[soundqcar]

That looks great. Good call. Nice difference in apparent depth and quality of image I'd wager....

 

[joeinid]

Looks really nice Dan. Great call.

 

[sleepysurf]

Looks fabulous! If possible, can you post a pic showing your custom hangers?

 

[jdandy]

That looks great. Good call. Nice difference in apparent depth and quality of image I'd wager....

soundqcar.......Your wager is correct. The sound stage developed more depth and there was an improvement in the focus and overall clarity of the sound. I had been experimenting with a heavy blanket over the TV, then a spare 24" x 48" acoustic panel I hung in front of the television. I knew from those experiments there was going to be some acoustic improvements with the new AcousticArt panel in place. I am very pleased with the visial and audible improvements.

 

[jdandy]

Looks fabulous! If possible, can you post a pic showing your custom hangers?

sleepysurf.......The two hangers I fabricated are shown below. They are made from high tensile strength steel fish tape that electricians use to pull wire through conduit. It is very difficult to bend and once shaped remains that way. The bottom of the hanger is bent to hook into the holes I drilled in the back of the panel. The top of the hanger is formed to the shape of the top of the widescreen television. Both hangers are identical. I used shrink wrap tubing over the part of the hanger that contacts the television frame to keep the steel from scratching the TV frame. Once the hanger was hooked into the hole and aligned upright I shot a staple around the hanger to hold it in place. That way I can easily lift the panel on and off of the television without having to try and hold the hangers in place. It works like a charm.

 

[sleepysurf]

Nice! Simple solution!

I plan on upgrading to a 70" flat screen HDTV this year, and plan on doing the same thing!

 

[mep]

Looks great Dan!

 

[KeithR]

Dumb question- how do you reach your TT?

 

[Bobvin]

Nice! I really like your image choice.

But I have a question... you already have some diffusion behind the speakers, and most treatment I have seen would put a big diffusor where your screen is. Did you experiment with other possibilities before choosing strict absorption?

 

[jdandy]

Nice! I really like your image choice.

But I have a question... you already have some diffusion behind the speakers, and most treatment I have seen would put a big diffusor where your screen is. Did you experiment with other possibilities before choosing strict absorption?

Bob.......Where the two Vicoustic Wavewood diffusion panels are on each side of the widescreen there used to be 2' x 2' x 2" thick absorption panels. I also had 2' x 4' x 2" thick absorption panels across the back wall behind my listening position. Overall the room was too dead. I replaced the panels behind my listening position with Vicoustic Wavewood diffusion panels and replaced the two absorption panels at the front of the room above each rack. That livened up the room considerable. Then I began experimenting with covering the widescreen with a blanket and found the overall sound stage focus improved so I moved forward with the absorption panel. I could have probably figured out a way to apply diffusion to the widescreen television but felt the sound stage benefited with the addition of absorption. Perhaps in the future I may give some thought to how I might apply diffusion to the widescreen television and give it a try. It would still have to be portable so that I can use the widescreen for movies. You know how this hobby is, it never ends no matter what you do. The good thing with my present application, it is not permanent.

Here is a look at the before and after of the rear wall with the absorption panels up, then the Vicoustic Wavewood diffusion panels installed.

 

[jdandy]

Dumb question- how do you reach your TT?

KeithR.......The turntable is not so high that I have any difficulty using it.

 

[Bobvin]

Given the listening position is so close to the rear wall, I can see how diffusion would have a very positive effect in your space, which looks great!

 

[jdandy]

Given the listening position is so close to the rear wall, I can see how diffusion would have a very positive effect in your space, which looks great!

Bob.......The listening position is not shown well in those photos. The couch is about 18" off the rear wall. Coupled with the thickness of the couch frame and cushions the back of my head ends up being 3' from the rear wall when I am seated. It works very well with the Vicoustic Wavewood panels in place.

 

[petek]

I am planning on purchasing 3 of their 2X3X2 in art panels. I am holding off as I asked for a discount and was promptly told no but maybe in July.
Since moving the computer gear out of the room I basically have one side wall full of Ikea Kallax filled with records, but the parallel side wall is now "bare".

 

[jdandy]

petek.......The AcousticArt panels at http://AcoustiMac.com are not inexpensive but they often have closeout specials on ready-made panels. Go to their website and click on Specials in the banner at the top of the page. They have quite a few attractive panels there that have decent discounts applied.

I am still very pleased with the AcousticArt panel I have over the widescreen television in the studio. That scene of the path through the autumn colored trees still captures my imagination.

 

[petek]

Yes, thanks---the 3 panels I have picked out cost total 610.00. I was hoping I could snag 10 or 15% off... not tht that is a deal breaker though. I will likely hold out until July and see if they offer a code. I do want to be able to select the artwork from their gallery---so...for now...no discount. Glad to know the product works for you and I've seen other favourable reviews.

petek.......The AcousticArt panels at http://AcoustiMac.com are not inexpensive but they often have closeout specials on ready-made panels. Go to their website and click on Specials in the banner at the top of the page. They have quite a few attractive panels there that have decent discounts applied.

I am still very pleased with the AcousticArt panel I have over the widescreen television in the studio. That scene of the path through the autumn colored trees still captures my imagination.

 

[petek]

Working with a room acoustic person at GIK. Will likely go with 3 scatter plated 24X36 3.625" art panels, 4 narrow monster bass traps (244s) scatter plated for the rear, and 4 16" wide and 7 inch thick monster bass panels for the front corners with range limiters.

 

[petek]

Got my GIK stuff up today---room is sounding fab!