Posted by Inmate51 (A) on February 05, 2006 at 07:57:38

In Reply to: Re: Help with panel placements posted by Ethan Winer on February 3, 2006 at 10:21:56:

I would add in addition to Ethan's excellent advice, that when you place your side wall absorption to eliminate the flutter echo, don't make it symmetrical. In other words, not exactly lined up on opposite walls. This is because you will still have flutter echo between the walls where there isn't any absorption. (I'm talking about the general listening area, not the area behind the speakers or at the first reflection points.)

To clarify, imagine side walls where there is absorption starting at, say six feet from the front wall, and extending three feet long. Then, a bare wall section of, say, four feet; then another absorber. If you stand somewhere in that untreated four foot section and clap your hands, you will still have a flutter echo. So, mix it up a little. Smaller absorbers make it easier to do this and still have a good balance between the two sides of the room. Ethan alluded to this when he said "I favor a stripes pattern or checkerboard". (The room mode issue is another matter, and Ethan has addressed that.)

The same goes for front/back walls, although you'll likely be handling that differently anyway.

I hope this doesn't confuse the situation.