Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: DIY by Jon Risch Bass Panels Accessory by rhyno

Model:	Bass Panels
Category:	Accessory
Suggested Retail Price:	$30 in materials
Description:	DIY acoustic panels
Manufacturer URL:	DIY by Jon Risch
Manufacturer URL:	DIY by Jon Risch

Review by rhyno ( A ) on April 08, 2003 at 06:45:29
IP Address: 63.85.98.101

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for the Bass Panels

refer to jon risch's site for detailed instructions / photos on construction. though i will offer 2 tips: oversize the insultation by 1" on each side, and construct more than 1 panel at a time (as it goes faster that way).
it took about 5 hours to build 2 panels, with integrated stands (the stands took 1/2 the time).
insofar as performance goes, let me begin by saying this: i'm in a small room using a diagonal setup which i was led to believe would take the room out of the equation. and in comparison to a long wall / short wall conventional setup, such statements are true: i heard less of the room w/ the diagonal setup than with any other setup. so i didn't have too high of hopes for the panels.
placed behind the listening seat (as i reasoned that absorbing behind my seat would make the room feel larger, a good thing), the whole sound was dead. no ambiance. no life. this is a bad thing insofar as sound goes, but a good thing in demonstrating the effectiveness of the panels.
placed behind the speakers, bad again. stage got constricted and sound recessed.
placed at the first reflection point, WOW. stage now consumes the whole front of the room, imaging is more focused and denser, low level details are newly revealed, bass response is less smeared. i also find i'm listening at lower volumes to get the same musical involvement---a wonderful thing.
they ain't pretty, but for 5hrs work and $30 in materials, this was the single most cost-effective change i've made to my system. i'd put it on par w/ the introduction of the bybee conditioner, which was enormous in its own right.
if you haven't treated your 1st reflections and are considering the purchase of new equip, i strongly urge you to do this first.
rhyno

Product Weakness: big & kinda ugly.
Product Strengths: kick ass

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	CTC BBQ
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	G&D Reference Preamp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	G&D UTP1> Entec 2.2 Dac w/ TG mods
Speakers:	Merlin VSM-M
Cables/Interconnects:	TG Audio HSR speaker, SLVR power, and DIY silver ICs
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all
Room Size (LxWxH):	11 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	room lenses prior to
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 days
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	TG Audio Bybee conditioner; Nimbus isolation platform
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	big & kinda ugly.
Product Strengths:	kick ass