I'm planning on having a house built in next 2-3 years and need a little advice; although I definitely plan to include a dedicated media room for movies and music, I would also like a library. I don't want the house to be to big because I don't feel like spending all my time cleaning it. Anyway, my question is this: Would shelves(most likely along both side walls to give sound equal treatment)with books and such on the shelves act as diffusers or would the empty spaces in the shelves above books and at ends of shelves tend to act as a trap? If this wouldn't work well in the room I will not put the bookshelves in there but unfortunately they are not going to get their own room. Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dom

This message was edited by dominic stoltz on 12/23/01 03:23.08.

Dom,

At the risk of oversimplifying:

A bookshelf can make an excellent diffuser, but only if the books are of different heights and depths. A uniform wall of identical sized books (rows of paperbacks, for example) won't help. Empty spaces are not a MAJOR problem, but should be minimized where possible.

BTW, a common location for such a diffuser bookshelf is along the back wall.

-Bruce

Dom; Check out the thread in "Installer's" forum for a lot of great info (note golden room dimensions).
[Link: remotecentral.com]
I posted a question about the INSIDE of the room, as I also, will be building in the future. RE: Book shelves; Wy not build them into the walls or make cabinets? you could close up the doors, (glass would be aesthetic) & have them "disappear" & solve your problem, and have the best of both worlds. Further, would not cabinets keep dust off the books & make your house easier to keep clean!! Bye the way being that you will be building the house in the future you have the luxury of being able to build the room acoustically ISOLATED as opposed to the MUCH inferior INSOLATED method. I.E. staggered floor joists & wall studs, (both set on dampening material)-bass. Parasonic channel & board, use of sound NOT thermal insulating bats etc etc.For example using a steel exterior foam-insulated door(s)(2 different materials steel & foam = 2 sound transmittal problems solved!) from the HT room to the adjacent room(s) instead of interior doors pays off in spades! The use of acoustical caulking & poly vapor barriers on INSIDE adjacent walls, sealing the back of all adjoining wall electrical outlet boxes (remember sound travels through air!)-upper mid & treble.
The cost & effort by the way are NEGLIGIBLE - the end result is stellar!!
Dougofthenorth

This message was edited by Dougofthenorth on 12/23/01 10:04.49.

The book shelves also will break up any second reflections in the mid/high range. Use the mirror trick (I think it's on the same page as the ratios) helps to know where to put the stuff.

Although, adding glass doors would make the second reflections worse.

This message was edited by Matt on 12/23/01 11:33.04.

Matt; Thanks,I think I'll stick to room surfaces outwards (my domain) as opposed to inwards (your domain).
Although with pro's around this site the likes of you my friend it won't be long before I can actually open
my mouth about INSIDES & having something to offer without having to pull my size 12 EEE's out of it.(heh heh)
Dougofthenorth (head hung in a sign of humility)

LOL, well my 15's would be worse...

Hey, are we talking shoe sizes or woofer sizes here? : - )

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Lol....well, I only have a 10 inch sub, but I couldn't be happier with it. The NHT SW2p. Nice tight bass, very musical, which is important to me, but also hits the bottom end real hard.