Looking for acoustic panels for behind my Magnepans

Lee

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2011
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Alpharetta, Georgia
Hey folks!

Just moved into a new and improved listening room at a new townhouse. I need some foam panels, etc. to break up the back wave on my Magnepan 1.7s. Are there any inexpensive options for doing this? Room is 18x14 with 10 foot ceilings.

I have been using plastic ficus trees but want to get away from the look in the long-term. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Lee
 

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
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Sonex foam panels are inexpensive.
 

Bruce B

WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Apr 25, 2010
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www.pugetsoundstudios.com
Hey folks!

Just moved into a new and improved listening room at a new townhouse. I need some foam panels, etc. to break up the back wave on my Magnepan 1.7s. Are there any inexpensive options for doing this? Room is 18x14 with 10 foot ceilings.

I have been using plastic ficus trees but want to get away from the look in the long-term. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Lee

Lee, I would take caution in this. I moved my Maggies to the studio and they sounded dead. The back wall is 703 fiberglass. I sure wish they would have worked in the studio.
My opinion, you would want something diffusive, instead of absorptive!
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
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Lee, I would take caution in this. I moved my Maggies to the studio and they sounded dead. The back wall is 703 fiberglass. I sure wish they would have worked in the studio.
My opinion, you would want something diffusive, instead of absorptive!

I have always found absorbers behind panels to make the sound dead. Same with my Summits, and another Analysis audio I tried
 

twitch

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2010
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SE Pa
I have always found absorbers behind panels to make the sound dead. Same with my Summits, and another Analysis audio I tried

assuming you have provided enough space (4' min IMO) I agree
 

caesar

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May 30, 2010
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I ditto other replies suggesting that killing the back wave will kill the liveliness of your speakers. (Yet it's fair to say that some in this hobby may like it like dead, as there is taste for every fetish in this hobby.)

But if you add bass traps to as many corners of the room as possible (ceiling also), such as products by GIK corner traps, tube traps soffits, and others, not only will your bass response improve greatly, but you will also improve clarity in midrange and highs, dynamics, imaging, etc. You will, in effect, have a much upgraded system.

Good Luck navigating this!
 

microstrip

VIP/Donor
May 30, 2010
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I ditto other replies suggesting that killing the back wave will kill the liveliness of your speakers. (Yet it's fair to say that some in this hobby may like it like dead, as there is taste for every fetish in this hobby.)

But if you add bass traps to as many corners of the room as possible (ceiling also), such as products by GIK corner traps, tube traps soffits, and others, not only will your bass response improve greatly, but you will also improve clarity in midrange and highs, dynamics, imaging, etc. You will, in effect, have a much upgraded system.

Good Luck navigating this!

Yes, in this hobby killing corners is different from killing the front wall! :) Diffusor are a good choice for this wall - as they are partially absorptive they will also deal with the excess of back radiated energy.
 

thekong

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2012
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Room is 18x14 with 10 foot ceilings.

Hi Lee, are you sure you need the panels, do you experience any problem with the current setting?

The dimensions of your room look excellent! I would suggest just trying the room as is, and only make adjustments if needed. It may be a good idea to have some light absorbers at the front wall, in the form of thin hanging rugs (those you can get from Ikea will do), instead of the heavy absorbers like foam / fiberglass.
 

Believe High Fidelity

[Industry Expert]
Nov 19, 2015
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Hutto TX
ibelieveinhifi.com
I would challenge the dead sound to the speaker and not the acoustic absorption. Panels are not known for their dynamics as their strongest asset.

As a long time panel guy, I was able to get a more dynamic sound from the room when using diffusion on the front wall and absorption for the side wall reflections. However, in doing this I always knew that the extra oomph in the dynamics came from hearing the room rather than the speaker getting better or more alive.

The use of heavy absorption will just exacerbate panels deficiency in the delivering dynamics especially for 1.7. I would go with diffusion for any treatments you end up wanting to add including side wall reflections.
 

mullard88

Well-Known Member
Jun 5, 2010
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I had good results with Magnepans by using one tube trap on the middle of the wall behind the Magnepans.
 

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