This existing client moved house and contacted us to discuss how best to improve the audio performance of his systems and help with persistent acoustic issues in his two entertainment spaces: a dedicated two-channel listening room and a private cinema. Both rooms exhibited highly reflective characteristics — caused primarily by tiled floors, double-height ceilings and minimal furnishings.

The result was very reverberant rooms, poor stereo imaging, and uncontrolled low-frequency behaviour, particularly problematic given the calibre of the audio systems in use.

We began with a detailed acoustic measurement using REW (Room EQ Wizard), focusing on RT60 decay times, frequency response, and waterfall plots. Initial RT60 measurements showed reverberation times well above acceptable thresholds for both critical listening and cinema applications — with decay times extending well beyond what is ideal

The time-domain response revealed excessive modal ringing, particularly between 40Hz and 120Hz, confirming the client’s subjective impression of “boomy” bass and smeared transients. Imaging and stereo focus were compromised by a combination of early reflections and flutter echo, especially noticeable in the Hi-Fi Room.

We partnered with Artnovion project department to design a calibrated treatment strategy tailored to each room’s acoustic profile and usage. Artnovion provided 3D mockups of the rooms to allow the client to visualise the full installation beforehand.

The Hi-Fi Room was the more challenging of the two spaces due to its more reflective surfaces, exposed ceiling structure, and the client’s demand for an ultra-accurate, revealing environment. The room also backed up onto two other open-plan rooms with lack of doors allowing sound to escape into other rooms.

Treatments Implemented:

• Ceiling Absorption: We installed high-performance broadband ceiling panels (Artnovion – Helen & Lagos Panels) positioned to intercept first reflection points, reducing early reflection energy and improving stereo imaging.
• Absorption Behind Speakers; Artnovion Andrea
• Rear Diffusion: A series of Artnovion Alps diffuser panels were installed across the rear wall where possible
• Bass Control: Multi-layered bass traps were strategically placed in front wall right hand corner. The left hand corner was occluded by a fitted bookcase and couldn’t be used. These helped address room modes by absorbing energy in sub-100Hz ranges, reducing decay times and improving low-frequency linearity. (Artnovion Siena BT Corner)

The cinema room was treated to preserve the immersive character of surround playback while addressing problematic reflections and bass buildup. The RT60 measurements were not quite as poor as the hi-fi room but still required to be reduced.

Treatments Implemented:

• Andrea Absorbers (Side Walls): High-efficiency broadband absorbers were installed along the lateral walls at first reflection points. These were selected for their Class A absorption rating and ability to manage reflections across a wide frequency range without overly deadening the room.
• Avalon Flow Diffusion (Rear Wall): To prevent slap-back echo and maintain rear-stage clarity, we used Avalon Flow panels arranged in two modular diffusive arrays — a 3×3 and a 4×3 grid — tuned to diffuse upper-mid and high frequencies. These hybrid panels also provide partial absorption in their perforated design, offering a controlled decay profile at the rear of the room.
• Bass Traps – Artnovion Helen Bass Traps x 8 were installed in the front corners of the rooms to tame the bass and maintain low end clarity

To match the high-end interiors, all panels in both rooms were framed in custom-built ash veneer surrounds, fabricated by our in-house joiner. These enclosures were not only aesthetically pleasing  — blending seamlessly with the client’s interior design — but functional, allowing for precise panel spacing off the wall where required for optimal acoustic efficiency.

Results and Outcome

Post-installation measurements confirmed significant improvements across all acoustic metrics:

• RT60 times reduced to <0.4s in the midrange and <0.6s in the low end
• Elimination of flutter echo and modal ringing
• Dramatic improvements in stereo imaging, transient clarity, and low-frequency control

Subjectively, the client described the transformation as “night and day”. The Hi-Fi Room now reveals detail and texture that was previously masked, and the cinema delivers powerful, immersive sound without the harshness and fatigue caused by excess reverberation.

The client and his family noted that the rooms are no longer just functional — they are comfortable to inhabit, even in silence, thanks to the balanced acoustic response. The aesthetic integration of the treatments means they are perceived as part of the architectural design rather than an add-on.