jrisles Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Finally pulled the pin on some of the Real Traps Mega Traps yesterday. 3 sets (6 in total) to put in 2 corners of my room. http://realtraps.com/p_megatraps.htm I have done ALOT of online reading on bass traps and these always come up as a reference piece when compared against other brands for bass traps. I will expect to have to purchase more in the not too distant future. But 3 pairs was enough to start. I am not going to go with any other absorbers other than corner bass traps. I am going to place diffusers at all of the first reflection points to keep the "energy" in the room rather than absorbing it. I won't be receiving them until another months time. I will report back once i have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Triode Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 did you buy through their Aussie distributor or through the factory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Listener Posted April 2, 2014 Share Posted April 2, 2014 Nice purchase. We have a QAC meeting at David. A's in June. Want to volunteer for July? We could do Real Traps two months running. My own DIY traps are still in gestation, or should that be procrastination. Good luck getting them in the door. Steven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted April 3, 2014 Author Share Posted April 3, 2014 Nice purchase. We have a QAC meeting at David. A's in June. Want to volunteer for July? We could do Real Traps two months running. My own DIY traps are still in gestation, or should that be procrastination. Good luck getting them in the door. Steven. I could do a "make up" session given i had to cancel last week at the 11th hour due to illnesse(s) in the family. Both kids were pretty crook and I was getting that sort of glare look from the other half ... so i thought in the interest and safety of all concerned i should cancel. But July should be do-able. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted April 3, 2014 Author Share Posted April 3, 2014 did you buy through their Aussie distributor or through the factory? Bought through their aussie distibutor awave. I have an interesting chat with a chap called Louis - he was telling me they have a local manufacturer making bass traps and diffusers. He is going to send me pics of the diffusers and the traps are currently being tested. I would doubt though that the figures will come back beating the real trap mega bass trap - i haven't found anything online at least & for manufacturers who are prepared to post their test results that beats it. Diffusers is probably a different story. I don't think real traps have the last word on diffusers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Listener Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 (edited) I could do a "make up" session given i had to cancel last week at the 11th hour due to illnesse(s) in the family. Both kids were pretty crook and I was getting that sort of glare look from the other half ... so i thought in the interest and safety of all concerned i should cancel. But July should be do-able. Excellent. Expect a call from the Big Cheese.... Steven. P.S. I know that glare! You ignore it at your peril! Edited April 3, 2014 by Listener Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Triode Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Bought through their aussie distibutor awave. I have an interesting chat with a chap called Louis - he was telling me they have a local manufacturer making bass traps and diffusers. He is going to send me pics of the diffusers and the traps are currently being tested. I would doubt though that the figures will come back beating the real trap mega bass trap - i haven't found anything online at least & for manufacturers who are prepared to post their test results that beats it. Diffusers is probably a different story. I don't think real traps have the last word on diffusers. Awave's pricing of the realtraps is almost double the cost in the states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted April 3, 2014 Author Share Posted April 3, 2014 Awave's pricing of the realtraps is almost double the cost in the states. Yes it is but those US prices are all well and good if you live in the States ... when you get an international freight quote using those dimensions and weight you will find the prices offered by Awave aren't too bad if not better than what you can do for yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Triode Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Yes it is but those US prices are all well and good if you live in the States ... when you get an international freight quote using those dimensions and weight you will find the prices offered by Awave aren't too bad if not better than what you can do for yourself. A fellow SNAer got a mob in Australia that does freight for autoparts to ship two Krell Monoblocks for him. Total cost was $500. One of those amps alone would have cost $1K normally. Might try and get a quote from them for shipping stuff from Real Traps. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiomuze (R.I.P) Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Congrats on your decision to install bass traps. You'll undoubtedly experience a large improvement in your system's sound. However, to get the most out of your system installing some level of absorption at first reflection points is essential. With the bass traps in place your LF response will be a lot more articulate. Add first reflection point panels and you will find in conjhunction with the bass traps your midrange clear up considerably. Try with and without fitst relectionpanels on your side walls and you'll quickly notice the decreased clarity. If you thgenwant to take things further look at some absorption panels on the wall behind the speakers and diffusion on the wall behind listening position. Loan someone else's panels whilst experimenting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Congrats on your decision to install bass traps. You'll undoubtedly experience a large improvement in your system's sound. However, to get the most out of your system installing some level of absorption at first reflection points is essential. With the bass traps in place your LF response will be a lot more articulate. Add first reflection point panels and you will find in conjhunction with the bass traps your midrange clear up considerably. Try with and without fitst relectionpanels on your side walls and you'll quickly notice the decreased clarity. If you thgenwant to take things further look at some absorption panels on the wall behind the speakers and diffusion on the wall behind listening position. Loan someone else's panels whilst experimenting. Yes i know absorbers at 1st reflection points did use to be the norm - but if you read as much as i have read online about this topic then the "jury is out" as to whether or not it is best to use absorbers or diffusers at the 1st reflection point. Because i do like a "lively" room i am likely to go for diffusers at my first reflection point and not absorber panels. Improved clarity will have the same effect with either diffusors and absorbers but with diffusers i will keep the sound energy in the room and provide a space that sounds larger than it actually is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiomuze (R.I.P) Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 ^^^ try both and settle for what sounds best to you. My listening space is brick & plaster walls, hardwood floor and gypsum ceiling. I initially had diffusion at 1st reflection points and had it like that for a few years. I did a lot of experimenting when I renovated the room and ended up moving the diffusion panels to the wall behind listening position. Soundstage still extends beyond speaker boundaries, imaging is spot on and room still has very good HF response - definitely not dead. End of the day it's your tastes that matter, and getting good results from acoustic treatment invariably involves some experimentation to find what works best for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 ^^^ try both and settle for what sounds best to you. My listening space is brick & plaster walls, hardwood floor and gypsum ceiling. I initially had diffusion at 1st reflection points and had it like that for a few years. I did a lot of experimenting when I renovated the room and ended up moving the diffusion panels to the wall behind listening position. Soundstage still extends beyond speaker boundaries, imaging is spot on and room still has very good HF response - definitely not dead. End of the day it's your tastes that matter, and getting good results from acoustic treatment invariably involves some experimentation to find what works best for you. Yes good advice. I am more than likely to try both as you say and for the reasons you mention. But when i first started researching this topic everyone would be saying bass traps in the corners - absorbers behind your speakers and at 1st reflection points on the side walls etc. But the research was indicating otherwise. One thing that is not in dispute from any site you go to to read about this and that is bass traps for corners - then it only became a matter of which ones. In the end and again after reading externsively - i decided for Real Traps. I will try to run some room scans using that REW program so i can indicate a before and after scenario's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiomuze (R.I.P) Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 If you don't have a measurement mic, the UMIK-1 makes short work of setting things up and works with REW: http://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted May 22, 2014 Author Share Posted May 22, 2014 The Real Traps Mega Absorbers arrived today. Just running them in now. Out of the box they sound fantastic. Should sound even better after a couple of hundred hours on them. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenr Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 I'd be keen to see with/without measurements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted May 22, 2014 Author Share Posted May 22, 2014 I'd be keen to see with/without measurements. Yes good call. I have been meaning to try to master that REW programme. If i get time i will try this weekend. I can definitely hear a change - the mid range is definitely "cleaner" and more pronounced and the bass sounds very subdued. I am going to have the run the ARC system again on the JL Audio subs. But yes agree a quantitative analysis before and after would be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenr Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 (edited) REW is very complicated to set up correctly, and I've seen many measurements which were wrong due to incorrect setups. You need to do proper test measurements for the 2-channel mode with direct connection of inputs to outputs (i.e. you are measuring the impulse response of the cables). If you can't get this to work, don't start measuring with the microphone. Alternatively, try ARTA instead - that's easy to use and works. Plus, you need to do measurements anyway to get the integration of the subs right; so worth getting that measurement gear up and running. Edited May 23, 2014 by svenr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juicester Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 pics please. and a PM about costs (if you don't want to publish here) would be appreciated. C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted May 23, 2014 Author Share Posted May 23, 2014 REW is very complicated to set up correctly, and I've seen many measurements which were wrong due to incorrect setups. You need to do proper test measurements for the 2-channel mode with direct connection of inputs to outputs (i.e. you are measuring the impulse response of the cables). If you can't get this to work, don't start measuring with the microphone. Alternatively, try ARTA instead - that's easy to use and works. Plus, you need to do measurements anyway to get the integration of the subs right; so worth getting that measurement gear up and running. I will have to try this ARTA software. Although REW is free and alot of people on here talk about REW. I do have a calibrated mic. So hopefully shouldn't be an issue. I will take measurements with the Bass Traps removed and another set with them installed and you will be able to see the differences (I hope). I can certainly hear a difference - it is definitely not placebo - so i would expect this to show up in the measurements.. pics please. and a PM about costs (if you don't want to publish here) would be appreciated. C Yes i will attempt to get some pics done over the weekend. Because my media cabinet was built into the corner of the room (poor planning) before i even considered Bass Traps they now obscure part of my media cabinet. I now also need a new cabinet storage solution. I intend to use a server rack style of cabinet for all of my audio. It will be placed right behind an adjacent wall of the media room accessible by a door. Again pics will make it easier to explain. I need to update my thread in the Room Setup forum anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnA Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Bought through their aussie distibutor awave. pics please. and a PM about costs (if you don't want to publish here) would be appreciated. C http://www.awave.com.au/index.php?cPath=228 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcusHix Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Better not be a placebo effect at those prices! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JohnA Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Better not be a placebo effect at those prices! well i can safely tell you it is not. When i did my room with them, i posted all the before and after graphs and they made a huge difference. They are a great product, but yes, very expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrisles Posted May 24, 2014 Author Share Posted May 24, 2014 (edited) http://www.awave.com.au/index.php?cPath=228 Yes that is them but more specifically from that link these are the ones i actually got http://www.awave.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=228&products_id=3782&osCsid=437a859aa89cc2044fb1ecd692264bc5 Better not be a placebo effect at those prices! well i can safely tell you it is not. When i did my room with them, i posted all the before and after graphs and they made a huge difference. They are a great product, but yes, very expensive. Yes i agree with JohnA - i can definitely hear a difference. Not placebo - i think you know it is placebo when you try to convince yourself you are hearing a difference. That is not the case with these. The difference is notable. I was only saying that because my assessment was "subjective" and had not done any before or after measurements to back up my claim. You know from an expense point of view i found this blog from an audiophile (i will have to try to track it down again) when i was doing my research on bass traps and this particular audiophile did an in depth quantitative analysis from all the products he could find online - it was a most impressive read - and he concluded that dollar for dollar and from a ratio of "absorption per sq inch to cost" he concluded that the Real Traps were the most cost effective. Their actual cost in the US is about half of what is posted on awave. I even looked at getting them delivered myself using my US postal forwarding service and to be honest i was only looking at about $100.00 savings for the 4 pairs i purchased. I should note that the cost on the awave website is for a pair not for a single bass trap - the ad is a little misleading because the image shows only one bass trap but you actually get 2 for that price. I think it is true that room acoustic treatment does need to be looked at as a "component" of your whole audio chain and not in isolation or indeed as an after thought. And i also agree that it is the most common aspect of audio overlooked by alot of audiophiles. Edited May 24, 2014 by jrisles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zammo Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Better not be a placebo effect at those prices! Yes expensive, but I'm amazed at how often we discuss expensive cables, filters, etc. etc. and how little airtime room treatments get. My man cave in development is likely to be a bit of a bass nightmare (5 walls solid concrete/blockwork), and I will be ignoring room treatment at my peril considering the investment in equipment I am about to make. I wouldn't be surprised if room treatments come to 10-20% of total equipment cost. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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