Topic: Help needed with a Small Music Room Setup (5 x 9 meters)

[coolestboy]

Dear fellow PDVD members,

I am hoping that someone will help me set-up a simple audio system (cd+amp+speakers) in a small 9 meters x 5 meters room (with glass windows and glass doors).

I am no audiophile but i believe the positioning of the speakers will bring out a better sound.  May I also ask for suggestions on what speakers to buy (size, specs) considering that this is only a small room^-^.  I been reading the buy and sell section thread but dont have any idea what to get.

I tried uploading the sketch plan of the room, but wasnt that successful.  Anyway, I just posted a link:

https://flic.kr/p/qnw6kH

Thank you very much in advance!  I'll treat this an invaluable christmas gift from you.

[Nelson de Leon]

You have to post your budget for your gears so that the gurus here can narrow down their suggestions.

[dodie]

since audio lang sir, i prefer the gears be placed dun sa likod ng stairs near the glass door going sa veranda.

[mbtorn]

That's not a small room at all. Looks ideal for audio/ht room for its size.

Suggest start visiting audio stores to audition various audio gears and speakers. You may also request other members to audition their set ups. These may help you decide what kind of set up you will be happy with. Just trust your ears and only your ears.

Totally agree with konsi, budget will play a major role in your decision. But if cost is no object and after long tedious auditions, go for the high end set up to keep you away from the itch to upgrade or better known as "upgraditis".

[fredreadrick]

sir coolestboy,
as far as layout is concerned...

...if you are ok with this [anyway you don't have any other options unless you break down walls, relocate openings, etc..] we'll proceed with room treatments

[coolestboy]

@ nelson - thanks for your kind reply. My budget is around 50k pesos. I am hoping for a basic tt, cd amplifier and speaker set-up.

[coolestboy]

@ dodie, thanks a lot for your suggestion.

[coolestboy]

@mbtorn, thanks for your comment. Im not manila-side by the way.

[coolestboy]

@fredreadrick, thanks for your kind recommendation. I really like the setup. Pls proceed with the room treatment suggestions. I greatly appreciate. kudos!

[audiojunkie]

If you consider the above layout, glass windows behind speakers are very reflective material. That's the first area that requires your attention for acoustic treatment.

[mbtorn]

If you consider the above layout, glass windows behind speakers are very reflective material. That's the first area that requires your attention for acoustic treatment.

A heavy blackout curtains may help tame some of the reflection.

[Nelson de Leon]

Pwede din ang acoustic absorbers.    May nakita ako sa marketplace, madaling kausap. madami siyang design, may egg crate, wedge type, double wedge type and square corner absorbers. Alam ko, very reasonable din ang pricing niya. 

[crazyhog]

Pwede din ang acoustic absorbers.    May nakita ako sa marketplace, madaling kausap. madami siyang design, may egg crate, wedge type, double wedge type and square corner absorbers. Alam ko, very reasonable din ang pricing niya. 

LIKE

[coolestboy]

Thanks audiojunkie, mbtorn (again!), Nelson de Leon (again!) and crazyhog. You are very helpful.

Nelson, where do you suggest the acoustic absorbers be installed.

[Gino]

If you don't study your room's acoustic properties (e.g. room calculators), any application of room treatments will be doing things blind.

Each room dimension will have have different modes of resonances for example. If you don't know what these are,  how do you treat it? Tsamba?

Each treatment must have measured quality of acoustic effect. If the vendor can't give you numbers, how do you know it is right for the job? What is its absorption bandwidth? How much absorption? How much diffusion?

Attacking it blind can make a room worse.

Leave treatment alone until you've done research or somebody has for you.

Research ideal room shape for ideal room response. You have a large space. It can be optimized by adding a wall to shorten the length. A room with an ideal response will be easier to treat.

[audiojunkie]

As sir Gino mentioned it's another option to make the room at ideal dimension and easier for acoustic treatment. The room can be shortened by adding a wall and door creating small lobby at stair area. Setup can be along the longer dimension of the room.

[coolestboy]

thanks Gino...your input is really helpful. 
thanks Audiojunkie, i can no longer change the walls of the room. But i plan to enclose the stair well with glass.  Is glass a good wall substitute?

[audiojunkie]

thanks Gino...your input is really helpful. 
thanks Audiojunkie, i can no longer change the walls of the room. But i plan to enclose the stair well with glass.  Is glass a good wall substitute?

Is the stair well wall up to the ceiling? In the sketch it's shaded as the main wall. If you don't have plan to devide the room to create a rectangular room. A glass door at the end of stair well wall can be installed to isolate the room from area below. You'll have small lobby at the landing of the stair.

[Gino]

How high is your ceiling?

[coolestboy]

Hi Audiojunkie, i am sorry but i forgot to tell you that the shaded wall is actually a glass wall with a glass door.  Kindly see the updated room plan - https://flic.kr/p/pvp5r4.

Hi Gino, the walls are about 9 to 10 feet tall.

[Gino]

That's a good room size acoustically. I sent you a PM. Please click My Messages in menu above Pinoydvd.

[audiojunkie]

Hi Audiojunkie, i am sorry but i forgot to tell you that the shaded wall is actually a glass wall with a glass door.  Kindly see the updated room plan - https://flic.kr/p/pvp5r4.

Hi Gino, the walls are about 9 to 10 feet tall.

got it bro. more glass means additional reflective material. Need to consider also the effect of the small area between stair well and the main room. In my previous post, suggested to have the partition from the short side wall of stair well to opposite external wall. This way you have rectangular room.

Another option to keep a bigger room as you have now, remove the glass wall and instead put wood balustrade on the stair well and the separation door (acoustical treated) below the stair. If this is possible, you can post partial plan how the stair relates to other areas below. May be we can come better solution to locate the door.

Edit: check this from acoustic fields..

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6-dOSD1KoNU

[praktikal]

am not an expert but what i would do with those glass windows? put layers of blackout cloth or other thick fabrics of your choice para natural ang dating aside from you can enjoy the sun any time you want without hassle wag mo lang hanapin sa gabi hehe.

another option would be a sliding acoustic panel to cover those windows when needed na nasa likod lang ng console if not in use. nasa iyo na lang kung ano ang ok at madaling i setup at kung alin ang mas effective. if you choose the sliding panels, i suggest fully covered ang windows for few good reasons; hindi weird tingnan, hindi nakakasilaw at kakailanganin mo ang dilim sa ht.

same thing with car detailing, especially DIY, you work per panel. do the back of the speakers treatment first, observe malay mo matuwa ka na and if not then work on fixing the sides and so on... maganda kung may maimbitahan kang friends to comment.

maganda kung multi-purpose ang approach sa treatment. yun bang parang natural lang ang dating at di halatang mga acoustics pala yun. may mga nakikita kasi akong setup na for some nakaka amaze pero kung iisipin mo ang weird na ng room sa dami ng nakadikit sa walls.

just my 2% of their 2 cents and my sig.

[Nelson de Leon]

Edit: check this from acoustic fields..

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6-dOSD1KoNU

I know Dennis Foley. Magaling yan. Same kami ng principle. He applies science sa acoustics. Madaming tatamaan dito sa Pdvd na "acoustic myths" na ma-busted. Hehe! Simple lang yan tao pero very knowledgeable.

[coolestboy]

audiojunkie, thanks for the dennis foley link. very helpful.  Ill try to consider your rectangular room set up with my architect

praktikal, thanks for your inputs.

Nelson, thanks as usual.

[Gino]

Dennis Foley likes your room. I talked to him about it a few days ago. He wanted you to fill up the free room analysis form at his website. I gave the link in the pm. Are you able to receive a pm (private message?)

Anyway what you decide on depends on your seriousness. It also depends on your wife and interior decorator.

Good luck.

[audiojunkie]

audiojunkie, thanks for the dennis foley link. very helpful.  Ill try to consider your rectangular room set up with my architect

praktikal, thanks for your inputs.

Nelson, thanks as usual.

You're welcome sir. Thank you also for considering my input. The only drawback with that option is having an extra room if not fully utilize the area will become dead space. Whereas in the other option of opening up the whole floor level and relocating the separation door down the staircase. This way you'll have bigger floor space best suited for multi family activities aside from audio room. You can have mini refreshment bar at the far corner to complete the setup.

For other room treatment info, pls. check this link...

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BroP_iFVJvo