Diffusion and Absorption
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Diffusion and Absorption

Getting the acoustics in a room just right can be a bit of a balancing act. Jeff and Charlie discuss the two main ways that this balance can be achieved if you cannot afford an expensive remodel.

Key Points:
  • The are three main ways to use acoustics to mitigate challenges in a room: architecture, absorption, and diffusion 
    • Architecture: One of the top ways, but most expensive ways to treat a room is to reduce the amount of parallel surfaces in the room.
    • Absorption: The reflection and direct sound comes into an absorber that turns the reflection into heat and prevents the sound from reflecting back out. Too much absorption can eliminate reflection all together which can be disorienting and sound unnatural.
    • Diffusion: The reflection and direct sound hit a diffuser and scatter the sound, reducing the energy of the sound wave. You will want enough diffusion in the room to make sure the sound feels more natural.
  • You will want to include both absorption and diffusion when treating a room as a way to mitigate any reflection and phasing issues to reduce the RT60 time.

Pro Tip: You want to think of your listening space as where your head is and your ears are directed. You want the listening area in front of your head and ears to be in the dead end, meaning very little reflection. You want everything behind your head and ears to employ more diffusion to make things sound and feel more lively and natural.

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