theater damping and problem solving
I build ,design and setup theaters as well as whole house systems.There is a very reasonable product out there called donna conda (not sure of the spelling).It is sold in 4x8 sheets ,i have used this as a base and covered it with foam and a heavy material.The speakers were inset into the material as well.Create a box behind the speakers with ranger board(all these products are reasonable)as well as some extra wood backing at the speaker site.I should have stated "in-wall" speakers were used.Half and half works well too(top 4' dry walled and bottom 4' the material etc.This can look great as well utilizing colors and stained wood set between the two.In the latter fabric prints streched and framed to look as a picture act great ad an acoustic dampening tool.Should you find however,with anything you use ,you have an echo......most of the 7.1 receiver/amplifiers have a compensator you will find in the "on screen menu"which allows you to adjust the sound thru a time correlation system(basically changes the speed of sound delivery to the side and rear speakers) allowing you to correct the echo effect.If you can rent a spectrum analizer,will allow you to be completely accurate....but the ear works as well for most !If you can find some good deals on silk plants strategically placed in the rear corners,will remove a lot of the "standing waves" and change the acoustics of the room dramatically.With not a whole lot of dollars but some good ideas and hard work.....you can make your theater shame most public theaters...i love mine for both movies as well as an audio "sound room"....it is the best "stress reliever" out there...!