Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register
Decware Audio Forums
03/28/24 at 21:14:16 




Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
Getting back to building diffusers (Read 2032 times)
Lonely Raven
Seasoned Member
****


Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567
Getting back to building diffusers
06/04/14 at 16:02:35
 

I've started working on diffusers again. Since I need a CNC Router to make the jig I need for the Prime 31 QRD diffuser I've designed. I did a dumbed down design for this proof of concept. This is a Prime 11, 6" deep, with 2" wide wells. It's pretty much a 24" by 48" prime 11 diffuser.

Back to top
 
 
WWW Lonely Raven   IP Logged
4krow
Seasoned Member
****


IMAGINE WHIRLLED
PEAS

Posts: 1606
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #1 - 06/04/14 at 22:44:13
 
When I think about diffusers, it kind of blows my mind. This happens because of the variety of materials that could be used, and their arrangement. Of course, that makes me wonder what would be best and why. I get overwhelmed and switched another thought. Why don't I just buy magical cables, and all of my problems go away?
Back to top
 
 

Decware 34I.3 integrated amp/Forte' 3 bass amp/Velodyne SMS-1 bass mngmnt system/Decware ZOB speakers/Audio Nirvana 8" bass drivers/Xiang Seng DAC/ LR Audio Computer/Rega Apollo R CDP/Emotiva ERC3 CDP/BPT 3.0 power cond.
  IP Logged
Lonely Raven
Seasoned Member
****


Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #2 - 06/06/14 at 15:21:30
 
I've been trying to find this video since it was released about a year ago. and just stumbled into it today.

It's a neat experiment that visually shows the harmonics, or modes that sound is creating on this plate. Now, if you take this, and imagine it in a cube, *that* is why we have sound absorbers and diffusers. Those nodes, or hot and dead spots are what mess with the frequency response at our listening position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yaqUI4b974

Back to top
 
 
WWW Lonely Raven   IP Logged
Lonely Raven
Seasoned Member
****


Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #3 - 06/20/14 at 20:00:42
 

I got my jig made last weekend, but I've not had time to start cutting tops and bottoms for my fleet of diffusers. I hope to start that this weekend. I'm thinking some hardwood and plywood ones to start. Basically whatever materials I have on hand. Make a few prototypes, get into the swing of cutting. Next, I have to make an assembly jig. This will basically be a panel with wood or foam blocks set to the correct depth needed for each well. That way, I take all my parts, set them on the assembly jig, and simply start gluing it all together. If all goes well, (and I can afford it) think I could start making two of these a week.

The Jig for step one!  :)

Back to top
 
 
WWW Lonely Raven   IP Logged
Ace-Tone
Seasoned Member
****


8+ years with
Decware gear and
Loving it!!!

Posts: 775
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #4 - 11/21/14 at 16:47:53
 
Hey L Raven,   Is your diffusion build complete?  I've installed absorbtion bit by bit over the last 4 months....trying to sneak up on a well tuned room.  next step will be 1st reflection on ceiling, then I will start thinking about diffusion. Interested to know more details of you room and experiences with acoustic treatments.
Back to top
 
 

SE84UFO25, ZP3, Zstage, ZR2, ZSB, DM947, HERESY iii
VPI-Traveler2 +SS Zephyr MKIIIes.
Cambridge CXC. Schiit Bimby DAC
IC's Audio Envy, Decware, RAC-PC's, Mapleshade Dbl Helix+Spkr wires & jumpers
Blue Circle PLC FX2X0e, Herbies, GIK, PI Audio DIY treatment
  IP Logged
Lonely Raven
Seasoned Member
****


Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #5 - 12/01/14 at 17:02:20
 

I had to put my duffers on pause for house projects. We are demoing our basement, and further working on replacing the aluminum wire we found in our house with copper. All this has pretty much trashed my garage workshop since half the basement got stored in the garage.

My design is pretty amazing, nobody makes anything this broadband (off the shelf). It's also very complicated to build. I've got two version I'm working on to see which is easier to build. Once I get a build method down, I need to build about 24 of these 12" (deep) 30" X 36" diffusers, and at a cost of approximately $115 each, not including replacing/sharpening table saw blade, glue, screws and whatever. If I wasn't pushing myself to make such a crazy-complex diffuser, I'd have had these done a year ago.

Over-engineering/Overbuilding is a fault of mine.
Back to top
 
 
WWW Lonely Raven   IP Logged
Ace-Tone
Seasoned Member
****


8+ years with
Decware gear and
Loving it!!!

Posts: 775
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #6 - 12/01/14 at 22:53:29
 
Wow! that's a lot of diffusers. But, I've seen a few of your room pics and understand there's a lot of sq/ft to cover. My room is only 11' x 16' x 8 H. So not a lot to cover, just deciding what to do, and where to put it. This is my retirement project so I have 18 months of tweaking if I want it done by then. But, as many have stated in these forums...is ever done?
Back to top
 
 

SE84UFO25, ZP3, Zstage, ZR2, ZSB, DM947, HERESY iii
VPI-Traveler2 +SS Zephyr MKIIIes.
Cambridge CXC. Schiit Bimby DAC
IC's Audio Envy, Decware, RAC-PC's, Mapleshade Dbl Helix+Spkr wires & jumpers
Blue Circle PLC FX2X0e, Herbies, GIK, PI Audio DIY treatment
  IP Logged
Lonely Raven
Seasoned Member
****


Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #7 - 12/03/14 at 19:53:08
 

Diffuser placement is pretty easy to start with.

IMHO, you should have diffusers on *all* first reflection points, including the ceiling. At every least, I would have diffusers between the speaker on the front wall, on the back wall, and first reflections on the side wall.

What's great about covering those four points, is that you're getting more than just 4 reflection points, because the diffusers will catch secondary reflections from other diffusers, as well as untreated parts of the room...which is often why ceilings get left alone.

Then you build yourself several sound absorber panels to cover other areas, act as bass traps, and you can do most of your fine tuning by ear.

I threw some (similar) ideas at Palomino, and he's cobbled together some traps and poly-cylindrical "diffusers" (using the term very loosely), and I think he's even done a couple small skyline diffusers for fun, and through some suggestions, and mostly his tuning by ear, he has some of the best imaging I've ever heard. And I swear to you his *whole system* costs less than what I paid for my ZMA!

Sound treatment is where I'm failing miserably. I need to either move my system to a dedicated room, and wing the sound treatment like he did, or get off my arse and build a fleet of diffusers to help fix my dreaded "L shaped room"
Back to top
 
 
WWW Lonely Raven   IP Logged
Ace-Tone
Seasoned Member
****


8+ years with
Decware gear and
Loving it!!!

Posts: 775
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #8 - 12/03/14 at 21:58:23
 
LR,  thanks much for the info. Since my room is so small I wonder about diffusion in 1st reflections...11' x 16' x 8'.  I've read so much it makes my head spin. Guess I'll give Steve a call when I have the funds to take next step(s). A lot to consider going forward.
Back to top
 
 

SE84UFO25, ZP3, Zstage, ZR2, ZSB, DM947, HERESY iii
VPI-Traveler2 +SS Zephyr MKIIIes.
Cambridge CXC. Schiit Bimby DAC
IC's Audio Envy, Decware, RAC-PC's, Mapleshade Dbl Helix+Spkr wires & jumpers
Blue Circle PLC FX2X0e, Herbies, GIK, PI Audio DIY treatment
  IP Logged
Lonely Raven
Seasoned Member
****


Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #9 - 12/05/14 at 05:13:55
 
11 X 16 is a very respectable room. If you were saying 9 X 8 or something, then I'd say yeah, you've got problems.

The only thing to keep in mind with diffusers, is that you need a few feet between them and your ears for them to disperse the sound evenly. Otherwise you could get some peaky diffusion. The diffusers Steve sells (or maybe only sells plans to now? I've not looked in ages) are a great compromise as they cover the upper ranges where diffusers are most effective, and they only need a couple feet between them and your ears.

https://www.decware.com/p1312.htm

Don't get scared off from diffusers, they can do so much more then absorbers, and they help keep the sound energy in the room, rather then dumping it into an absorber. They also help keep your frequencies even while keeping the room live.
Back to top
 
 
WWW Lonely Raven   IP Logged
Ace-Tone
Seasoned Member
****


8+ years with
Decware gear and
Loving it!!!

Posts: 775
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #10 - 12/08/14 at 19:35:18
 
Thanks LR...good to know. I will be saving for a few pair that I will likely put on back wall - behind speakers. Then play with more placement when I am able to purchase more diffusion! Basically going over budget, but I believe the pay off will be worth it.
Back to top
 
 

SE84UFO25, ZP3, Zstage, ZR2, ZSB, DM947, HERESY iii
VPI-Traveler2 +SS Zephyr MKIIIes.
Cambridge CXC. Schiit Bimby DAC
IC's Audio Envy, Decware, RAC-PC's, Mapleshade Dbl Helix+Spkr wires & jumpers
Blue Circle PLC FX2X0e, Herbies, GIK, PI Audio DIY treatment
  IP Logged
Lonely Raven
Seasoned Member
****


Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #11 - 12/09/14 at 15:21:10
 

If I had the cash, i wouldn't even flinch from paying twice what my speakers cost on room treatment. It makes that much of a difference.
Back to top
 
 
WWW Lonely Raven   IP Logged
Lon
Seasoned Member
****


"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 23309
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #12 - 12/09/14 at 15:51:56
 
You're lucky that you own a home and have acceptance/permission from Brianne to set up room treatments. I've never had both at the same time and probably won't. That said, there are other ways to skin a cat and I've my share of successful hides. Smiley It's also part of why I don't strive for perfect playback as without going that route what's the point?

I'm glad I don't actually because as exploratory and fidgety as I am without treatment I would probably be even worse with treatment, and I find that this part of the hobby takes me further away from musical enjoyment than I'd like. I'm always struggling to swing the balance back towards just relaxing and listening and from analyzing and tweaking. When I had more time it was a luxury that is now impinging on my real listening time.
Back to top
 
 

HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
  IP Logged
Ace-Tone
Seasoned Member
****


8+ years with
Decware gear and
Loving it!!!

Posts: 775
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #13 - 12/19/14 at 00:21:07
 
Lon, I hear you there.  I've spent >800 on absorbers and will now add diffusion. It's a 2 + year project (retiring mid 2016'). I hope to have everything set by then so I may sit, listen and enjoy!  Diffusion, better cartridge, power regeneration, nos tubes all on the wish list with 18+ months to go.
Back to top
 
 

SE84UFO25, ZP3, Zstage, ZR2, ZSB, DM947, HERESY iii
VPI-Traveler2 +SS Zephyr MKIIIes.
Cambridge CXC. Schiit Bimby DAC
IC's Audio Envy, Decware, RAC-PC's, Mapleshade Dbl Helix+Spkr wires & jumpers
Blue Circle PLC FX2X0e, Herbies, GIK, PI Audio DIY treatment
  IP Logged
Lon
Seasoned Member
****


"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 23309
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #14 - 12/19/14 at 04:03:18
 
Ambitious and excellent plans. Hope they come to fruition! Smiley
Back to top
 
 

HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
  IP Logged
Lonely Raven
Seasoned Member
****


Jack of all Trades,
Master of None

Posts: 3567
Re: Getting back to building diffusers
Reply #15 - 12/21/14 at 15:58:19
 
Acetone, that sound like an awesome plan!

Keep posting about your progress in the forums!
Back to top
 
 
WWW Lonely Raven   IP Logged
Pages: 1
Send Topic Print