What About Floors, Console and Ceiling Reflections?

In my discussion this far, I haven’t dealt with the issue of floor, ceiling and console reflections. The presence of these reflections, particularly in terms of high frequencies, seems to be less desirable than lateral or rear wall reflections, for reasons that are not fully understood.

Therefore, it is my practice to install substantial broadband absorption in the ceiling unless it is extremely high. At the same time, SAW’s Acoustic Lenses direct their output over a vertical range of approximately 30°, from 0° horizontal to +30° above horizontal. As a result, the reflective paths to floor, console and ceiling are generally devoid of energy above 400 Hz. This seems to have a strongly positive effect on the sound performance, particularly in regard to console reflections.

The Meaning of It All

It is possible to have extremely inexpensive control room topologies that will work extremely well for music playback, utilizing broadband specular early reflections from the side and back walls of the control room. It helps to have loudspeakers with at least smooth off-axis response.

If you want to go the next step, it will take speakers with Acoustic Lens Technology or similar horizontal dispersion and performance approaching Panoramic Power Response. Such speakers are already in use, on a custom basis, in numerous facilities around the world. We have designed and equipped the new world-class surround facility at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, CA called the Garden, which has been enthusiastically embraced by groups such as Primus and Metallica.

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	Graphic of Response Curves at 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° for The Garden Speakers by Sausalito Audio Works

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	The Garden

We believe the combination of this acoustical approach to loudspeaker playback and this technology is yielding a new standard, even a new paradigm for high-quality playback of music through loudspeakers.

Happy listening!

Dave Moulton is a multi-path kind of guy. You can complain to him about anything at http://www.moultonlabs.com. You can find out more about Acoustic Lens Technology at http://www.sawonline.com.