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RealTraps SoffitTraps don't ...

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MarylandMike

RealTraps SoffitTraps don't do much in my room.
I decided to check my room resonances, so I bought a Radio Shack SPL meter and a Rives test CD. When I tested, I found a 10 db peak at 100 hz. I went to the RealTraps website and saw this claim: "SoffitTraps offer a huge amount of absorption below 200 Hz." This is just the thing for me, I thought. So I called Ethan and ordered one. He tried to get me to buy a Mondo Trap, but I wanted to get a "huge amount of absorption," so I insisted on the Soffit Trap.
It arrived this week, and I checked it today. It is a large cardboard box. I would guess it is empty inside, but I can't tell. Running the Rives test CD with the RS SPL meter, I still have a 10 db peak at 100 hz. I moved the cardboard box from corner to corner. Tried it on the floor, up against the wall. Nothing.
The only place that I noticed a difference is when I put the box next to the chair with the SPL meter. Then the sound level dropped one db.
Maybe it will work for you, but it didn't for me.
So I now have a $200 cardboard box in the corner and don't know what to do with it.

Follow Ups:

Re: RealTraps SoffitTraps don't ... - markjohnson22@comcast.net 16:34:16 03/08/06 (0)
Just a few comments from someone who recently went the DIY route for a new listening area. I studied the many posts and many other great sources of information on low frequency issues (peaks and nulls).
My problems were very obvious based on initial listening and confirmed using a couple of simple mode spreadsheets (found from links on this forum). I did not need a sound meter or test CD to validate my problem, it was severe (however, I do understand their value).
I installed corner traps, low frequency wall traps, etc. (as much as I could get away with and still keep the wife happy, a hint to getting what you need; they are not "sound traps", they are "accent panels" and "design elements"). I must say the results were fantastic. It was like night and day. As I added traps there was a very, very small effect, however the cumulative effect of all the traps in place was truly amazing.
I followed, as best I could, the constant theme from Nathan regarding low frequency issues: "more is better, thicker is better, you cannot have enough, more traps would be much better, etc.". Based on my experience (and the laws of Physics) he is correct.
Re: RealTraps SoffitTraps don't ... - Inmate51 11:50:31 03/05/06 (1)
Mike,
I don't know Mr. Winer, never met him, never talked with him. I sent him an email once to give a tiny bit of advice about curving a piece of wood. With that preface, I'd say your post was both inaccurate and unfair.
"RealTraps SoffitTraps don't do much in my room."
Correction: ONE 4 foot SoffitTrap (singular, not plural) didn't do much in your room. Nor will it do much in any room. It ain't magic pebbles, dude. It's real physics, and physics says you can't treat a room with one bass trap (unless it's a really huge bass trap ;) ).
"I would guess it is empty inside, but I can't tell."
Then why would you guess that it's empty, and why are you making an unfounded assumption?
"He tried to get me to buy a Mondo Trap"
And you decided to ignor his expert advice.
These items aside, it is poor form, and not very mature, to post a derogatory message without making at least a reasonable effort to discuss the matter with the manufacturer first, whoever the manufacturer might be.
- Re: RealTraps SoffitTraps don't ... - beefstu 15:08:10 03/08/06 (0)
  One probably will not do too much. I think it is pretty clear on the realtraps website, and anyone else realtraps or otherwise will probably tell you the same.
Re: RealTraps SoffitTraps don't ... - Ethan Winer 14:45:29 03/04/06 (0)
Mike,
> So I now have a $200 cardboard box in the corner and don't know what to do with it. <
You are absolutely entitled to return it for a full refund (less shipping).
This is a problem for both us and our customers when someone wants to "try" only one trap. Had you bought four or more of them I'm certain you'd have measured and heard an improvement. I don't know of any bass trap that absorbs more than a SoffitTrap (BTW it's not an empty box), but you can't expect one trap to make much of an improvement in any room!
I also suspect that if you measure using a more sophisticated program like ETF that you'll see at least a small improvement. Not only in frequency response because ETF can measure to a much finer resolution than 1/3 octave, but also a reduction in low frequency ringing. None the less, if you're not prepared to get enough of them to do the job right, I certainly don't want you to feel stuck with it. Give me a call on Monday and I'll tell you how to return it.
--Ethan
SPL meter was on a tripod - MarylandMike 13:36:17 03/04/06 (1)
I forgot to mention that the SPL meter was mounted on a tripod before placing it on the chair.
- Re: SPL meter was on a tripod - Roscoe East 07:25:42 03/20/06 (0)
  on March 04, 2006 at 13:36:17 MarylandMike wrote:
  > > I forgot to mention that the SPL meter was mounted on a tripod before placing it on the chair. < <
  
  Oh, jeez, well no wonder you had such unimpressive results! Since the 100Hz bump your room suffers from cannot be evenly divided by 3 and still yield a whole number, you will *never* be able to get an accurate measurement of the bass trap's effect with the meter on a tripod.
  You need to mount it on a quadpod.
  (A bipod or a monopod would work also, but you'd have to take your readings very quickly before the meter fell over & hit the floor.)

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