Help! Small space needs Ethan-style recommendations!

timlaw
New Member

I am a RealTraps Mondo kit owner. My music: http://www.soundcloud.com/timothylawsnyder

Posts: 3

Help! Small space needs Ethan-style recommendations! Jan 4, 2021 4:27:24 GMT

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Post by timlaw on Jan 4, 2021 4:27:24 GMT

Hello Friends,

I have owned a RealTraps Mondo Kit for years and have enjoyed it. I have four questions and hope you can help me.

I am moving to a new space that is

13'10.5" x 11'6" x 9'9".

I attached a drawing of the space that may help you visualize it. (Sorry it is so low-tech!)

Here are my questions:
1. The space is obviously small. The attached diagram shows that I will have little space behind my speakers and console if I honor the "38% from the front wall" rule.
How far back can I move from that? One source I found claimed that one could extend another 5%, to 43%. Is that OK? (I know that I can listen and "try it," but moving everything is a monster task, once one gets it all set up.)

2. How do you recommend I place my Mondo Kit? I would suggest: the 4 MondoTraps in the 4 corners; the 4 MiniTraps at the center of each wall where the wall meets its ceiling; 1 MicroTrap on the ceiling between my monitors and me; and 2 MicroTraps on the sidewalls for first reflections. This is recommended by RealTraps, but I want to be sure that my room being small does not change that recommendation.

3. My ceiling is a "trap" ceiling. That is, around the entire perimeter of the room, an angled panel is attached where the wall meets the ceiling, essentially "triangulating" it. I calculated the angle as 38 degrees (upward from horizontal). The panels extend just over 15" inward toward the room, and just over 12" from the top. Does this do anything for or against good acoustics? Does it change how I should arrange my RealTraps?

4. Finally, given the size of the room, I was considering purchasing 4 of the 2x2 corner MondoTraps (not sure how to install them, given the trap ceiling!), and a diffuser for the back wall, which right now is empty. I also could use another MondoTrap on the back wall instead of the diffuser. Any ideas on this? Worthy?

Thank you for your generous help. I know these are a lot of questions. I've read everything on Ethan's site and also followed his advice that I post here rather than bug him. : )

Happy New Year!
Tim

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Hexspa
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Am I A Musician Or?

Posts: 2,176

Help! Small space needs Ethan-style recommendations! Jan 4, 2021 5:10:01 GMT rock and pingpangpong like this

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Post by Hexspa on Jan 4, 2021 5:10:01 GMT

I think that 'Ethan-style advice' is 'more absorption is better'. That's certainly the most efficient way to think of it.

There's no way I can argue about Real Traps' recommendation. Corners are a great place to put panels and you need a RFZ. Having odd-shaped corners shouldn't matter too much - I'd just treat them like any other.

More than likely, given that you don't have more than 15% surface absorption, you'll be better off with rear wall absorption as opposed to a diffuser. Absorbers have the dual benefit of handling bass in addition to upper frequencies whereas most diffusers don't help bass.

You don't need to set everything up in different locations to test. While I don't have a large enough sample size to call it scientifically valid, I have done a 'talk test' when setting up my rooms. To do it, find your mathemetical 38% then start talking in the empty room near the first point. There will be a point, perhaps the same one, where your voice sounds most natural to you - mark that point as well. Then, once your gear is in place, measure both points to see which is best. From what I recall, the talk test has been helpful in guiding me to the most neutral point. Also be sure to leave some wiggle room for your speakers so you can best place those.

Last Edit: Jan 4, 2021 5:15:04 GMT by Hexspa

Words and music.

timlaw
New Member

I am a RealTraps Mondo kit owner. My music: http://www.soundcloud.com/timothylawsnyder

Posts: 3

Help! Small space needs Ethan-style recommendations! Jan 5, 2021 22:26:24 GMT Hexspa and rock like this

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Post by timlaw on Jan 5, 2021 22:26:24 GMT

Hexspa,

What superb advice. Thanks so much! I have the miniTraps, which might suffice as RFZs, or so I hope. I can def get another MondoTrap (maybe a Mega!!) for the real wall.

I love the "talk test" you suggest. Stands to reason, and like any inventive idea, it has that "I could have thought of tha,t" character--followed by an unspoken: "[...uh, but I didn't.]" : )

All the best,
Tim

timlaw New Member I am a RealTraps Mondo kit owner. My music: http://www.soundcloud.com/timothylawsnyder Posts: 3	Help! Small space needs Ethan-style recommendations! Jan 6, 2021 4:04:45 GMT Hexspa likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by timlaw on Jan 6, 2021 4:04:45 GMT Uhm, let's go with Fat MondoTrap on the rear wall. : )

Help! Small space needs Ethan-style recommendations!

Post by timlaw on Jan 4, 2021 4:27:24 GMT

Post by Hexspa on Jan 4, 2021 5:10:01 GMT

Post by timlaw on Jan 5, 2021 22:26:24 GMT

Post by timlaw on Jan 6, 2021 4:04:45 GMT