Auralex ELiTE Custom Fabric System Reference Guide User Manual
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Auralex
®
Acoustics
800-959-3343
Fax: 317-842-2760
ACOUSTICAL GOALS
Great sound is our passion, not just an incidental (and unpredictable) byproduct of an attractive “theme” treatment system.
For your reference, we have included a very general overview of how we approach these common applications of the ELiTE-CFS.
RESIDENTIAL THEATERS/CONTROL ROOM/CRITICAL LISTENING ENVIRONMENTS
Every entertainment space is different, and every client has their own opinion as to what is the perfect sound. However,
we have established a very general set of parameters, or goals, we work toward, in the typical Residential Theater or audiophile
setting.
In most Residential Theater rooms, we strive to:
• Minimize early reflections; reflections that arrive at the main listening position within the first 50 to 80 milliseconds.
Conforming to the “Haas Criteria” is usually safe.
• Minimize late reflection anomalies such as flutter echoes. This can be accomplished with absorption and/or diffusion. Any
late reflection anomalies should be at least 15-20 dB below the direct sound in order to be unnoticeable.
• Minimize as many low frequency issues as is feasible, depending on the physical characteristics of the room, and décor
considerations. In general, ± 3 dB from 100 Hz to 300 Hz and ± 5 dB from 20Hz to 300Hz are usually be considered
reasonable goals, but will depend on size of room, sound source selection, budget, etc. – in many cases these frequency
ranges have frequency response curves much better than these figures.
• Achieve a room mode distribution that is good based on the “Bonello criteria”.
• Achieve a background noise of “NC-30” or lower. This requires addressing noise sources within the room, as well as
sound transmission class (STC) values for the walls, ceiling, and floor systems.
• Finally, a subjective evaluation of the room by experienced listeners, including the client, characterizing the room sound as
“Excellent”.
CONFERENCE/PRESENTATION ROOMS
In this type of application, the acoustical treatment is intended to provide optimal speech intelligibility. Although many of the
criteria may be similar to those listed above, a focus on absorption is typical in order to minimize reflections of all kinds.
SANCTUARIES AND OTHER LARGE SPACES
Very large rooms typically have long reverberation times (RT’s) and for some applications, this is acceptable. However,
as musical styles and sound reinforcement evolve, this excessive ambience may become problematic. We work with the dealer
and client to determine the appropriate acoustical goals, then base our treatment proposals on proven acoustical theory,
extensive computer modeling (such as Fitzroy calculations) and in some cases, onsite measurement. The end result is a room
that is perfectly tuned for its intended use. ELiTE-CFS is also an ideal solution for implementing a fabric covering over speaker
enclosures, thus minimizing their overall impact on the aesthetics of a House of Worship.