How to optimize the acoustics of your room

The quality of the audio in your living room depends not only on the speakers you use, but also on how the space around them is set up . While our active speakers don’t need external electronics to play, and can therefore be placed in any relatively small space, optimising the acoustics of your room is essential to transform acceptable sound into a fully immersive experience. Here are some key tips to help you achieve this.

Speaker placement

Speaker placement is crucial to achieving a defined sound experience. Although it will depend on the use you want to give to your speakers, we recommend following these recommendations:

• Avoid corners: Placing speakers in corners can excessively increase bass, distorting the sound.

• Height and orientation: Make sure the tweeters are at ear level when you are sitting. If you don't have enough height, you can opt to use table stands like our VULKKANO S4 or floor stands like the VULKKANO S60 .

• Distance from walls: Leave a space of at least 30 cm between the speakers and the walls to avoid unwanted reflections. This is especially important with our speakers, which have a rear bass reflex ; placing them too close to the wall could impede the passage of air and cause distortion.

Controls sound reflections

Sound bouncing off walls, ceilings, and floors can create echoes that reduce audio clarity and quality . To minimize this problem, try these practical solutions:

• Acoustic panels: Install absorbing panels on the walls closest to the speakers to reduce reflections.

• Thick curtains: These not only help minimize echoes, but also soften high-pitched sounds, improving the listening experience.

• Carpets and upholstered furniture: A bare floor tends to amplify sound reflections. A large rug or furniture with soft surfaces can make a big difference by absorbing some of those waves.

Balance between absorption and diffusion

A room that is too "dry" (with too much absorption) can sound dull, while a "live" room (without absorption) can be chaotic. Therefore, the ideal in this case is to combine elements that:

• Absorb sound: Such as foam panels, curtains or padded furniture.

• Diffuse the sound: Use bookshelves or acoustic diffusers that distribute the sound evenly.

Subwoofer yes, but with conditions

The subwoofer can enrich the audio experience by adding depth to the bass, but its placement and configuration are crucial to avoid sound problems. Our tips:

• Experiment with placement: While it's generally best to place the SUB on the same line as the TV, in a corner and away from the wall, you can try placing it in different spots around the room until you find the spot where the bass is clear and doesn't produce a booming or distorting effect.

• Adjust the crossover: Set the crossover frequency so that the subwoofer complements the main speakers without overlapping with them, achieving a perfect balance between highs, mids and lows.

Avoid external noises

Ambient noise, whether from the street or other external sources, can interfere and ruin your listening experience. To minimize it, consider these solutions:

• Seal windows and doors: Use weather stripping to block outside noise and add acoustic curtains to reinforce soundproofing.

• Control vibrations: Install anti-vibration mounts on your speakers or subwoofer. This prevents low frequencies from being transferred to furniture or the floor, which could create additional noise.

As you can see, optimising the acoustics of your room does not require a large financial outlay or complex installations. You only need to make small adjustments to the furniture, decorative objects and the installation of your speakers to ensure correct and high-quality sound propagation throughout the space.

As always, at VULKKANO, we are here to help you find the speakers that best suit your needs. Thanks for reading and don't forget to keep exploring our blog for more tips!