SonoSuede Listening Tests and Conclusion
After cleaning the room up and moving all of the furniture and speakers back into position, including putting the subs and main front speakers on the SubDude platforms, it was time for the moment of truth. Would the hours of planning and installation pay off? Just how much of a difference would it make? Would my wife notice the difference?
For the
record, the answer to the question was yes, she did. She even commented that dialogue seemed to be
easier to understand in movies. Soon
after I had completed the install, I was walking around the house talking on my
phone. As I walked from the great room
into the theater room, I completely lost my train of thought, and had to ask
the person on the phone to hold on a minute.
Prior to the treatment, the theater room sounded just like the great
room (loud, with quite a bit of ambient noise).
It was now very quiet. The
previously "live" sonic quality of the room was now very subdued, and
felt very controlled. And this was just
the sound of my own voice talking on the phone. I spent many years in the music
business in Nashville earlier in my career, and I suddenly felt like I was back
in a recording studio. You walk into the
studio and it is so QUIET. After
installing the SonoSuede panels, I suddenly had created a room with acoustics
more similar to that of a control room in a studio than a living room! Improving the acoustics of the room actually
makes carrying on a conversation more pleasant - things just aren't as noisy in
there.
I quickly began listening to CDs and DVDs that I was familiar with, and was thrilled with the results. The bass response was much better - much more controlled and tighter than before the treatment. Ultimately, I still have bass issues in this room. I continue to experiment with location of my subwoofers, as well as trying it with or without the SubDude platforms. But without question, my bass is in much better shape.
The overall sonic quality of any material I played was improved. The room does not have the reverberation that I had struggled with before, and the soundstage feels much smoother. The couch in the room is sort of a giant "half stop sign" design. Typically, the center of the couch was the ideal sweet spot for both music and film. After the treatment, the entire couch seems to benefit, having improved staging from the "end" seats.
Conclusion
Initially, I was bummed to be taking down all of my memorabilia from the walls of the room. But an unexpected result of the project is a very cool aesthetic. People seem to really like the way the room looks dressed out in the suede panels. I was also concerned that having diffusors hanging from the ceiling might not look good. But they really turned out great, seemingly "floating" above the room. So far, I've received nothing but compliments, even from a few of my wife's more decorator-savvy friends.
The Auralex treatments have absolutely improved my room. And the products are high-quality, attractive, and easy to install. If you have invested time and energy into your home theater and it's components but still feel like you are not getting the results you desire, it is time for you to consider improving your room. Auralex offers affordable solutions that you would be wise to consider.
For more information:
Auralex Acoustics, Inc.
6853
Hillsdale Court
Indianapolis,
IN 46250
1-800-959-3343
www.auralex.com
The Score Card
The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:
Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating
Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.
Audioholics Rating Scale
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I bought the Sonosuede Panels, and the are great. They deffinately helped with my room acoustics and I as well as all of my friends think they look spectacular.
I also got fantastically built products ATS Acoustics. They are also beautiful looking and helped in my very live room. I know I need more room treatment but it has made a huge difference for me.
I also love the look of the Ready Acoustics stuff, Chameleon Acoustic Frames are a fantasic idea, and look great. With all the WAF problems around, its nice to see some companies stepping up to the plate to offer great ideas.
Thought you'd like a pic...
Bryan
jaseman;279536
I don't doubt that room treatments help with the sound... to a certain degree... but the cost is nearly as much as some top quality speakers, etc, etc.
I find it really hard to justify the cost for what amounts to some foam rubber glued to the walls.
Room treatments are the best way to spend your money. Speakers & electronics are simply prisoners in their surrounding room. Unless your room is properly treated, you have no clue as to how good your present rig can sound. Start doing some research. I find it comical that folks will drop thousands on gear & speakers & never bother to factor in the room as the biggest contributer to sound quality.
My current JBL center will fit no problem because it is tiny in comparison.
