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Client Goals

Our client is building his 2 channel audio room, but it is also a family / den area in the house. He wants it to have an inviting feel and be completely relaxed. Thus, we must design a room that is acoustically outstanding without showing any acoustical treatment.

The room is somewhat small and has a room mode problem. We carefully use bookcases to house a Helmholtz resonator. The back half of the ceiling is fabric covered and houses a large acoustical trap. The wainscoting houses both absorption and diffusion panels.

The end result is one that no one would suspect was ever designed by an acoustical engineering group--until they hear the sound!
Description and comments
The size of this room was pre-deterimined. It had already been framed when Rives was asked to work on the design. However, none of the finishing had been done, so there was plenty of room to make this work.

First we had to deal with the room modes, that because of the dimensions were going to be a problem. For this we crafted a narrow band Helmhotz resonator that is carefully hidden in the corner of the book case.

The room was rather small and we needed some pressure relief. This is all done in the ceiling and covered in fabric, so visually it is not apparent.

Lastly, was the need for diffusion. The wainscoting panels utilize a combination of diffusors and absorbers hidden behind their fabric covering.

As Mr. W will attest. This room immediately sounds different--you can hear it in your voice when you walk in. But none of it is visually intrusive, which is exactly what I wanted.
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