Room Acoustics Forum by Rives Audio

Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share you ideas and experiences.

Return to Room Acoustics Forum by Rives Audio

Room Acoustics Forum by Rives Audio

most effective off-the-shelf basstrap?

209.21.98.216

Does anyone (I'm betting Ethan does!) have the performance specs handy for RealTraps MondoTraps vs. RPG Modex vs. ASC TubeTrap vs. whatever the GIK basstrap is called such that they can confidently say "*THIS* one offers the best acoustical performance" (irrespective of cost)? Thanks.

Follow Ups:

RE: most effective off-the-shelf basstrap? - David Aiken 14:07:26 01/28/08 (1)
In addition to Ethan's comments, I'll add one.

There is a standard test method for testing absorption and it does not take into account where manufacturer's intend products to be placed. In particular it does not use corner placement because many absorptive products aren't primarily used in corners, in fact corners make up a very small proportion of room surface area which is probably why corner placement isn't required.

Manufacturers can certainly get their products tested in corners and Ethan's test data for some of his products shows results for both in corner placement and standard test placement, and they are different.

If you're going to compare data for different products, Ethan's comment about testing in the exact same places in the same lab should at least be read as requiring, if the tests are from different labs as they usually are, that the products at least be placed in a similar location within their respective test rooms. This isn't something you can simply assume and you only have to look at Ethan's data for his own traps to see the differences between results with corner placement and results with wall placement.

Try and make sure the products you're comparing were tested in similar locations within the test room and also try to ensure that the location in which they were tested is similar to the location in which you intend to use them before you try basing your opinions on what performance to expect in your room on that data.

As a general rule you can expect absorption performance at bass frequencies to be better in corners than along the wall but you certainly can't expect that each product will perform better to the same degree at bass frequencies when placed in the corner vs placement along the wall. The same probably goes for changes in performance at non-bass frequencies.

David Aiken
- RE: most effective off-the-shelf basstrap? - Ethan Winer 10:03:09 01/29/08 (0)
  Also, I have an article about exactly this topic in the current issue of Sound & Vibration, a magazine by and for professional acousticians. As soon as the next issue comes out, and this one is no longer current, I'll put it on the RealTraps site.
  
  --Ethan
RE: most effective off-the-shelf basstrap? - Ethan Winer 09:26:49 01/28/08 (1)
Nobody knows for sure which products are best unless they're tested side by side in the exact same places in the same lab, preferably on the same day. I have tested a few competing brands that way as shown on our Product Data page, but not the ones you mentioned. I'll go out on a limb and say that all of the traps you mentioned work well. So then it's down to:

1) Which vendor will give you the best advice?

2) Which products are well made and look nice in person (versus web photos)?

3) Which products are easier to install?

I won't turn this into a sale pitch, and I certainly won't bash other vendors in public or in private. But if you'd like my extended response "Why RealTraps" you're welcome to email me from the Contact page of our site. Just remind me of this thread. Some of that is also in our FAQ, first entry:

RealTraps FAQ

This comes up often enough that I'm now in the process of making a video along the lines of the TV show How it's made showing the skill and craftsmanship that goes into designing and fabricating our products. With luck it will be ready in a month or so.

--Ethan
- RE: most effective off-the-shelf basstrap? - Ethan Winer 09:44:39 02/23/08 (0)
  Just to follow up - the video I mentioned is now done if anyone cares. It's called Made in Connecticut and you'll find it fourth in the list on our Videos page:
  
  RealTraps Videos
  
  --Ethan

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.