Realtraps experience ?
- Thread starter sonnyv727
- Start date
Yes. I bought a complete room full with corner bass traps, hanging dispersers and floor mounted traps. I still can't figure out the names of each. I didn't care for the quality of construction. I wish I had bought another set of Tube Traps products. I found the performance of Tube Trap products superior. I have a storage room full of Real Traps products. I don't use them.
Cincy
Cincy
I have a lot of Tube Traps, no RealTraps products. Two things to consider: RealTraps are a "budget" product, and construction quality will not be a priority; Art Noxon (of ASC) is well-educated, has done and published a lot of research, and for many years was the only game in town for bass traps and acoustic room treatments. Ethan Winer (RealTraps) is self-taught and has no true research credits AFAIK.
mep
Active member
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- 4,977
Ethan has been called out by JA from SP more than a few times and once was for his lack of engineering studies. The thing that surprises me is that people give him a soapbox to preach his disdain for the high end.
tboooe
New member
I have Mondo traps and think they are fine. Ethan may be self taught but there is no denying the absorption data. ASC is pretty pricey for sure and I am not sure they are any better.
Cincy2, let me know if you are interested in selling those RealTraps collecting dust in storage!
Cincy2, let me know if you are interested in selling those RealTraps collecting dust in storage!
Definitely will sell them at a bargain price. Packing and shipping them will be complex and probably costly as I did not save boxes as I do with all my stereo gear. I'll do an inventory and PM you with the list and price.
Cincy
rockitman
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I have Mondo's on the front wall corners and 3 full range mondo's behind the listening chair. The key is not to use too many. They will kill the sound/room ambience, if you listen to Ethan's experts who want to sell as many traps as possible, like putting up clouds when your ceiling is only 7.5' tall and traps along the ceiling/wall boundaries. I think they are a well made product, just use them judiciously. I use RPG Skyline diffusors on the center front wall and use an Ultra trap fro first reflection point on the sides.
tboooe
New member
Rockitman's advice is definitely right on. Definitely dont over do it with room treatments. I only treat the room corners and first reflection points. I am experimenting to see if diffusion or absorption works best on the front wall between the speakers. I think conventional wisdom is that if your room is small diffusion may not work effectively. Rockitman, what is your experience? I only have a 3ft wall behind the listening position above which the space opens up to my family room and kitchen so I dont need anything on the back wall.
Attached is pic of my MondoTrap that I covered in some acoustic fabric. I think it looks a lot better.
Attached is pic of my MondoTrap that I covered in some acoustic fabric. I think it looks a lot better.
soundqcar
Member
I use RealTrap MondoTraps in the corners, their RFZ panels at the first reflection points, Skyine diffusion on the front wall, ASC panels on the rear wall. I much prefer a front wall live end/rear wall dead end setup, at least in this listening room (21' x 15' x 9') The RealTrap products have worked well for me. I had their QRD diffuser for a time, but ultimately preferred the Skyline product to it.
Unless you cover them with your own material like tboooe, you need to be ok with beige or black...because that's all the color options you have.
I have never owned a GIK product, but a friend of mine does. He's happy with them, and they are less expensive, but the overall quality is definitely a step or two behind the RealTraps.
My $.02
Unless you cover them with your own material like tboooe, you need to be ok with beige or black...because that's all the color options you have.
I have never owned a GIK product, but a friend of mine does. He's happy with them, and they are less expensive, but the overall quality is definitely a step or two behind the RealTraps.
My $.02
rockitman
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I'm set up on the long wall. My front wall is almost like a bay window with angled sides out from the middle. The rear of the speakers are only 28" or so from the wall. I have found the RPG Skylines to add considerable depth to the sound stage illusion. It was definitely worthwhile in my room. Ears are about 10' from the speakers with about 40" to the rear wall traps. I have diffusers affixed to the front of the middle mondo trap behind my head. It is a trial and error process somewhat. Measurement software does help. Unless you are building a room from scratch, you are stuck with what you have.
still-one
Active member
I use a pair of the RFZ traps on my ceiling. They definitely seemed to help balance out the height differences across my ceiling.
For my walls I preferred the GIK Artpanel option with all those choices.
For my walls I preferred the GIK Artpanel option with all those choices.
rockitman
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Start with the corner traps and listen for a bit to see what you hear now vs. before. Slowly build up rather than put them all in at once, which is human nature. It was for me the first time around. I ended up subtracting a lot of absorption. Of course this is all room dependent.
They both have their place, as Christian says it all starts with the room and what else is in it; wall construction, floor construction, windows, furnishings, etc. Many inherently bright rooms benefit from a lot of add-on absorption. Others may start out as dead as you'd ever need or want.
RealTraps to go
tboooe - I have 10 RealTraps (2 Micro, 6 Mini, 2 Corner Mondo) and 3 stands. All but 1 Trap has original boxes. These sit in storage because they do not fit in my new room, so will part w/ them at low price. As a lurker I don't have enuf post to send you a PM. If you are interested, PM me and we can go from there. Midwest location. Rgds, tima
tboooe - I have 10 RealTraps (2 Micro, 6 Mini, 2 Corner Mondo) and 3 stands. All but 1 Trap has original boxes. These sit in storage because they do not fit in my new room, so will part w/ them at low price. As a lurker I don't have enuf post to send you a PM. If you are interested, PM me and we can go from there. Midwest location. Rgds, tima
tboooe
New member
Re: RealTraps to go
Hi tboooe - thanks - it looks like the forum software won't let me reply to a PM until reaching a post quota, which I'm not at. If you could send me a PM with a contact e-mail we could take it there. btw, all my RTs are 2x4 size. thanks. tima
Hi tboooe - thanks - it looks like the forum software won't let me reply to a PM until reaching a post quota, which I'm not at. If you could send me a PM with a contact e-mail we could take it there. btw, all my RTs are 2x4 size. thanks. tima