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Dimensions of a perfect listening room?

BmWr75

BmWr75

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In a few years I plan to build a new house and have a dedicated 2 channel listening room and home theater. Sonically, what are the dimensions (or length/width/height ratios) of a listening room? Is it feasible to build a room that places the 2 channel system in one end on a short wall and the home theater on the other end?

Am guessing the room should have a carpeted floor. Be wide enough to keep the speakers away from the side walls. Be long enough to allow speakers to be placed 6'to8' feet from the back walls.

What about ceiling configuration? Does vaulted cause problems?

Just looking for opinions or links to resources on this topic.
 
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I would have a room of about 16w, 24-28d and 10ft in height...my current room is 14X24X7 and I wish I had more height and more room for speakers from side wall.
 
Size isn't as important, afaik, as the ratio between L, W, and H. You want to avoid even multiples that set up more resonances...at least as I understand it.

Check this for ideas.

Or this.
 
Mine is 13' x 23' x 9' and it sounds pretty damn good to me. But then, what do I know? :no: Actually, I wish my room was about 6 feet wider and about 10 feet longer because I too have both my HT and 2 channel rigs in the same room and it's pretty cozy with all of that gear in there. Also, my laptop system is in the back of the room. My laptop speakers are on top of my rear towers and my fronts, Polk SDA CRS are on top of my stacked Advents that I use for 2 channel. Then, with 2 subs, it's pretty crowded. :yes:
In my opinion, I'd make the room as large as you can afford. Then, I'd make it bigger. :D I made mine as big as I could afford 16 years ago. Now I can afford a bigger room, but I'm too old to build another house or move into a bigger one.
 
The thing I have found that kills a listening room more than any other feature is an opening that can't be closed. An open stairwell. A pass through to another room with out a door.

A good listening room should be capable of being sealed (fully enclosed)

Here is a 9 page article on the listening room the folks at PS audio built recently

http://www.psaudio.com/arcles/listening_room_1.asp
 
If you want the room done exceptionally well, be sure to include acoustical treatments in the budget. And, I'm not talking an overstuffed couch and some heavy drapes...I mean the REAL stuff. :)
 
I disagree with a closed room. while I am not saying I would like an open room I do like my door opened for music (centered on short rear wall) but closed for movies as it a dual use room, I have back wall treated with panels aswell.
 
I've been told that the dimensions of the room shouldn't have any common multiples, even being based off of prime numbers. Maybe not very practical in practice.

One idea I've always wanted to try would be to frame a room normally, 2x4 or even 2x6 walls, and drywall the outside wall with 3 layers of adhesive-sprayed 1/4 inch drywall, overlapping joints (there's a product like this commercially available, but you can't overlap joints).

Inside the room there would be the open framed wood, without any covering.

In the 14 1/2 inch spaces left from the framing, you'd install open faced (both sides) fiberglass insulation.

To cover the wall, you'd go to a fabric store and find some attractively patterned cloth you'd cover the inside wall with, stapling the fabric to the wall, and covering the staples with wood strips 1 3/4 inches wide, and 1/4 inch thick, rounding the corners on the wood strips would leave a nice 'feel' to the installation. Try to select a fabric that seems to be acoustically transparent, that's up to your judgement.

Electric outlets would have to be figured out, maybe the wall the equipment would be on could be drywalled normally.

With this method the room would probably act as its own acoustical treatment.

Mike
 
BmWr75 said:
What about ceiling configuration? Does vaulted cause problems?
Click to expand...

Vaulted ceilings shouldn't cause a problem, in fact it should help as it adds a non-parallel surface to the floor. Having no parallel walls is the best but is expensive.

As someone else suggested adding acoustical treatments is a good idea if you have the budget. If you're going to go that route hire an acoustician and having your room frequency swept for problem areas, don't just add random acoustical treatment.
 
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