RFZ_Quest
Seasoned Member
The key to a perfect resonating chamber.
Posts: 296
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Steve,
There is always going to be some sort of compromise when it comes to design and set-up for something like this. Unfortunately, without an anechoic chamber and the proper gear to run accurate test analysis for these changes, we can at best, use math to give us a predetermined idea within a certain degree of the performance curve.
It just becomes a trial and error scenario from that point where careful listening evaluations will be the best form of analysis. I think we have always found that what we actually hear is what really matters anyway, over that obtained from test equipment.
The nice thing about the equipment is that actual data can be produced with relative accuracy, showing what the unit actually does rather than just estimating a value based on the numbers. If the units conform to known values, then we can also maintain a predictable value for it's overall performance.
I will stand behind the following. The only thing that matters in the end is how the changes are audibly perceived. I think that it is fair to say that any type of diffusion is better than none at all, although there can and most likely will be a radical difference in how they respond by their design.
I would say that if a unit of 72 inch square size can effectively cover a range that wide, which I know the math predicts this, then it is covering the vast majority of critical frequencies to the extent of where it makes the most difference anyway. A couple of these units placed strategically within the room along with adequate absorption, would most definitely transform the rooms response to a much more favorable quality factor.
This would be like 'doubling' the surrounding space which is perceived audibly by the listener. It would also be like having a major upgrade to the audio system itself. The one thing that I think is overlooked by most people, therefore reducing the relevance of diffusion properties, is the overall value that this provides to the total systems worth in general.
I know how in-depth your experience runs with room acoustics, so I know that you can easily predict what my results are.
For the typical person who has never experienced acoustical correction and the rewarding results obtained from it (most people), it is very difficult for them to formulate in their mind what this really does and how important it actually is to the quality of music.
Until they physically experience the radical transformation that takes place, the power of diffusion will most likely never be understood for it's value and passed off as an afterthought. It is their misfortune to do so. I can only hope that one day, the light of knowledge will convince these people to focus on this aspect with utmost priority.
One thing to think about. I have a great deal of experience with the equipment and source material in my system, along with many various room set-ups of various acoustical measurements. The one constant that remains, is that every room with it's own set of parameters, is unique in overall response and quality factors. It is probable that no two rooms will ever sound remotely alike, even when all equipment, set up parameters, and source material remains constant.
It is safe to predict that every owner of a particular amplifier for instance, will have a unique experience and perspective from one owner's room to another. I doubt that any two listeners have heard the sound of that amplifier exactly the same, no more likely than sharing similarities of their fingerprints. To make that possible, both would have to listen in the same room for one to understand exactly what the other hears.
Through the art of acoustical design, it is very possible to alter any room for which to custom tailor the sound to taste, or to present a better chance of cloning another room's sound quality.
Without corrective measures, the sound is only ever going to be as good as the room allows. In most cases, unless the room was built specifically for optimum acoustical properties, the pending sound quality will cripple the sound of music. What this means is that one will never know the true potential of their gear or how good the speakers actually are, until conditions are right to expose this.
Why would one bother to upgrade his equipment when the most critical factor has been overlooked for lack of it's significance within the listeners mind?
In this case, it is the unseen fiber for which the threads of a musical canvas can be sewn. The key ingredient to quality sound is that of diffusion with absorption supplementing it's overall effectiveness.
I've proven this to myself many times over and always with favorable results. I simply would not listen to my system
without these treatments in place. I have before and it wasn't a pleasant experience. The better option was to just box the equipment back up with the realization that any attempt to hearing a quality musical experience was simply futile without proper room treatments.
Most every problem that I've had with sound quality was generally corrected with acoustical treatments of some sort.
It all comes down to this; don't bother upgrading a system until that system has been truly exposed for it's current quality. I would bet that the typical system has rarely been heard for it's real capability and quality factor, simply because the room conditions have prevented it.
One would be surprised as to how much upgrade value there really is lurking within the present system without having to replace or alter what is already in place concerning the equipment. Again, the answer lies within the room's condition with far more relevance than the system itself.
Now, as far as the prototype diffusion principal is concerned, I have put some thought into this from a production standpoint. I had to wrap my mind around the design layout and try to predict what was possible from this particular outcome.
As I viewed it's form, the closest formula that I could relate to it was that of an inverted prime 13 sequence with some sort of variable offsets at the outer well placement. This confused my reasoning to make sense of this form, so I put it off for now.
I am now visualizing the possibility of what can be predicted from this innovative concept in diffusion.
I have in my mind, an alternate method for constructing this module which should provide the same degree of effect, which means that dealing with a bunch of staggered tube placement does not necessarily have to be used to pull it off.
I do not think that a open forum is appropriate for discussing possible trade secrets on something under development here, so I will not disclose any more information here concerning this design.
I will say that my take on this would be of hybrid design which takes full advantage of absorption as the principal behind the diffusion coefficients. I could be wrong about this idea, but then again, I have not had a chance to put any real effort into it.
Please get a hold of me at the shop or PM my box and we can discuss this. I just have not had the time to do anything with it yet as the new speaker projects are of the highest concern at this point.
If you would like all the parts cut to spec for your other 72" concept and sent to you for assembly at your end so that you may personally evaluate it's performance, I will calculate the material needed and the cost for that material.
As you can imagine, there will be a considerable amount of labor hours involved in creating these kit parts plus packaging them up for shipment. The parts would have to be shipped in several boxes due to weight and size, so this would be fairly costly to ship.
I will provide the labor for free to do this on this one unit, but I would need an advance payment for the material. Shipping cost would also be your responsibility.
If you are not interested, that's fine. Just thought I'd make the offer in case a unit like this has peaked your curiosity for development.
In the mean time, I will continue to keep your new concept on mind as I have not forgotten about it.
Paul.
BTW: this offer only extends to Steve in case anyone else was wondering.
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