Basement 2ch Progression - just dedicated space

[locoliberty]

Figured i might start a thread to post my random thoughts and system progression. I could post years of systems, but this will just be the new house and basement.

Finished off a large room in the basement, still not a perfect hifi room, but sacrifices always need to be made, room is 23'*13.83'*8.2'

The best part is the cutout in the wall for a equipment rack, putting all the gear in the mechanical room.

There is also a cable track hidden in the wall trim

OSB subfloor platform at the front to give speaker spikes something to grab, then no carpet padding to make it not as obvious.

Initial setup(last year): we moved into the house with a set of KEF LS60s, which we no match for the upstairs, so immediately upgraded to 590s. Also with finishing the basement, we certainly needed a bigger TV.... right?

Initial equipment: Nvidia shield for all things > Topping D70 > Emotiva XSP-1 > Parasound A21 > JBL 590s / JL E112

 

[locoliberty]

Since the above all happened/finished april-june 2025, this is more like a after a year upgrades(took me long enough?)

Spent the weekend driving 4hrs to Chicago for a deal on some near flawless(pull out a magnifying glass to find the spots) set of MOFI Sourcepoint 888s in walnut.

Spent most of sunday finally installing heavy "theater" curtains, supposedly 880gpm, and full blackout.

Then got around to an inital setup on the MOFI's. the previous owner threw out everything he didnt need. So im missing carpet spikes, port plugs, and the original terminal jumpers. using some best buy speaker wire right now "good enough" and did an initial placement. 2' off the side, and about 2' off the back

I always knew the 590s were "good for the price", but still really liked them. these 888s are something else entirely. relatedly small compared to 590s, but near 30# heavier and a cabinet that sounds solid instead of hollow.

Initial impressions for a night of listening is much better transients and details, tighter bass, and far less fatiguing. Also the level of detail is something new, new sounds and details id never noticed before. A surprising reaction from my wife is that she can handle louder with these without it being painful or upsetting.

 

[locoliberty]

We needed up moving to a F113V2, with a second on the way

 

[kemmler3D]

Cool stuff, definitely the dream to have a dedicated stereo / HT room. And I see you are a man of taste and refinement (Bell's + Ghost in the Shell).

Would love to see measurements along the way / when you're done. Are you planning on treating the ceiling in any particular way? I've seen people stuff it with rockwool and leave it open, etc.

 

[locoliberty]

Cool stuff, definitely the dream to have a dedicated stereo / HT room. And I see you are a man of taste and refinement (Bell's + Ghost in the Shell).

Would love to see measurements along the way / when you're done. Are you planning on treating the ceiling in any particular way? I've seen people stuff it with rockwool and leave it open, etc.

Thanks!

The most recent measurements on the single F113 is here. Plenty of issues. but it certainly digs lower and rings out some lower nodes in my space than the E112.

The E112 with the JBLs:

Working on treatment now. Planning to do the ceiling with panels. I think 8 total right now for the ceiling. 4 at the first reflection, then 2 other sets.

 

[kemmler3D]

Thanks!

The most recent measurements on the single F113 is here. Plenty of issues. but it certainly digs lower and rings out some lower nodes in my space than the E112.
View attachment 555880
The E112 with the JBLs:
View attachment 555881



Working on treatment now. Planning to do the ceiling with panels. I think 8 total right now for the ceiling. 4 at the first reflection, then 2 other sets.

Looks decent for a start, a couple peaks to deal with but nothing unusual.

I would be careful with panels as your 1Khz+ looks good already, and absorptive panels will tend to pull the most energy out of that range. If you have the budget I would go for membrane traps first and absorptive panels sparingly.

 

[locoliberty]

Looks decent for a start, a couple peaks to deal with but nothing unusual.

I would be careful with panels as your 1Khz+ looks good already, and absorptive panels will tend to pull the most energy out of that range. If you have the budget I would go for membrane traps first and absorptive panels sparingly.

Interesting, I dont actually know a lot about doing panels. Ive been talking to someone at GIK for about a week now tweaking a setup, and im about here. I also fired off an email to music city acoustics.

Anyways, this is the current proposal(tho I dont know how much of the back wall will actually get done due to budget). In this everything is a basstrap panel, except the ceiling. the front wall is the 9" thick basstrap panel, then a tricorner above it, due to the plumbing I need to hide and get around. Also considering a curtain for the stairs, but thats tough with the wiring and just general lack of mounting points around that doorway.

 

[tmtomh]

I really like the hidden cable track in the baseboard molding!

 

[kemmler3D]

Got it, This probably makes sense. Not all panels are created equal. If GIK has specified them for bass they will probably not impact the treble in an unwanted way. Acoustic treatments are kind of complicated and not that intuitive, but it boils down to the fact that none of them absorb all frequencies equally, so when you do room treatments you're basically putting spatially-dependent EQ out into the room, so the frequency range of the treatments needs to match problem areas of your measurements.

 

[tmtomh]

Got it, This probably makes sense. Not all panels are created equal. If GIK has specified them for bass they will probably not impact the treble in an unwanted way. Acoustic treatments are kind of complicated and not that intuitive, but it boils down to the fact that none of them absorb all frequencies equally, so when you do room treatments you're basically putting spatially-dependent EQ out into the room, so the frequency range of the treatments needs to match problem areas of your measurements.

GIK sells broadband and bass-specific absorbers. I can't vouch for whether or not the bass-specific absorbers really do leave the higher frequencies alone, but if memory serves the main addition they have compared to the broadband ones is what appear to be thin, hard-surface diffusors applied to the front of the absorber. I've always assumed that those diffusors act as a kind of low-pass filter, with bass frequencies passing right through them into the absorber, and mids and highs being reflected/diffused by them.

 

[locoliberty]

Got it, This probably makes sense. Not all panels are created equal. If GIK has specified them for bass they will probably not impact the treble in an unwanted way. Acoustic treatments are kind of complicated and not that intuitive, but it boils down to the fact that none of them absorb all frequencies equally, so when you do room treatments you're basically putting spatially-dependent EQ out into the room, so the frequency range of the treatments needs to match problem areas of your measurements.

Music city acoustic asked for my rew file, and GIK did have an odd ceiling setup until I adjusted it... but GIK is also super well known. Soooo juat a complicated thing and it's not like I have a pro studio budget to do it. So trade offs...

 

[locoliberty]

Got it, This probably makes sense. Not all panels are created equal. If GIK has specified them for bass they will probably not impact the treble in an unwanted way. Acoustic treatments are kind of complicated and not that intuitive, but it boils down to the fact that none of them absorb all frequencies equally, so when you do room treatments you're basically putting spatially-dependent EQ out into the room, so the frequency range of the treatments needs to match problem areas of your measurements.

Thanks! Benefit of a new construction space, it was easy and cheap. I got the idea from a local audio shop.

 

[kemmler3D]

I've always assumed that those diffusors act as a kind of low-pass filter, with bass frequencies passing right through them into the absorber, and mids and highs being reflected/diffused by them.

I think that's part of it, but depending on how they're built, they might also be acting as a membrane / pressure type absorber. As I understand it, porous absorbers attenuate sound by adding friction to the air particles when it moves in/out of the absorber. This works fine when the particles have a high velocity, hence "velocity absorber".

The problem is, particle velocity is zero or almost zero near walls. Low frequencies also have long wavelengths so thin panels don't touch much of the wave either way. So most 2" or even 4" absorbers don't do much below 100hz. The higher in frequency you go, the more particle velocity you have near the wall, since the wavelengths are short. I think 1/4 wavelength gets you maximum velocity, so at 1Khz that's 3".

However, where velocity is low, pressure is high. So if you have something that resists being pushed on, takes in some of that energy, and dissipates it, you can treat low frequencies. This is where you get membranes, solid fronts, and so on attached to soft backing. The solid plate on the front starts vibrating from the pressure, and the backing it's attached to damps the vibrations and turns it into heat.

I think the "low pass" and straight absorptive interpretation might also be somewhat right, but I am now officially out of my depth.

 

[locoliberty]

I'm also open to other panel makers fwiw

 

[locoliberty]

Really liking this music city acoustic proposal. Needs some tweaks, but this is likely the choice

 

[Cote Dazur]

Really liking this music city acoustic proposal

Interesting project, thank you for sharing. That is the kind of room I would love to seat in and have a good listen.

 

[locoliberty]

Interesting project, thank you for sharing. That is the kind of room I would love to seat in and have a good listen.

idk how hifi I am using a nvidia shield as my network streamer haha! but thanks!

but possibly open to meeting new people if theyre local

 

[Ruediger]

I don't think everyone needs a 2nd or more subwoofers. But I think this room should have two by the floorstanders.

 

[locoliberty]

I don't think everyone needs a 2nd or more subwoofers. But I think this room should have two by the floorstanders.

Why does my room need 2?

 

[Cote Dazur]

idk how hifi I am using a nvidia shield as my network streamer haha! but thanks!

but possibly open to meeting new people if theyre local

Your streamer is just fine, the attention to placement and how the the room reacts is what matters.
Sure wish I was local.
Was listening to this

this morning, I bet it will sound lovely on your set up.