Wilson Audio WATCH Center Channel Series 1 - Manual (Page 21)

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Note: The following section contains general information on room acoustics
and loudspeaker/room interaction. The concepts outlined below are equally
relevant when dealing with multi-channel audio or home theater. The careful
application of these concepts, as you evaluate the acoustical characteristics of
your own room configuration, will allow you to optimize the performance of
your WATCH Center Channel.
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There are three commonly encountered room reflection problems, slap
echo, standing waves, and comb filter effects.
S l a p E c h o
Probably the most obnoxious form of reflection is called “slap echo.” In slap
echo, primarily mid-range and high frequency sounds reflect off of two parallel
hard surfaces. The sound literally bounces back and forth until it is finally dissi-
pated over time. You can test for slap echo in any room by clapping your hands
sharply in the middle of the room and listening for the characteristic sound of the
echo in the mid-range. Slap echo destroys the sound quality of a playback system
primarily in two ways:
• Adding harshness to the upper mid-range and treble through energy
time storage.
• Destroying the delicate phase relationships which help to establish
sound stage and image localization clues.
Nonparallel walls do not support slap echo, but, rather, allow the sound to
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