MartinLogan Dynamo 1500X, User Manual

28     Room Acoustics

r

oom

 a

CoustICs

This is an area that requires both a little background to 

understand and some time and experimentation to attain 

the best performance from your system. Your room is actu-

ally a component and an important part of your system. 

This component is a large variable and can  dramatically 

add to or subtract from a great sonic experience.

All sound is composed of waves. Each frequency has its 

own wave size, with the lower, or bass frequencies literal-

ly encompassing from 10 feet to as much as 40 feet. Your 

room participates in this wave experience like a swim-

ming pool with waves reflecting and becoming enhanced 

depending on the size and shape of the room and the 

types of surfaces in the room.

Remember that your audio system can actually generate all 

of the information required to recreate a sonic event in time, 

space, and tonal balance. Acoustically, the role of an ideal 

room would be to neither delete nor contribute to that infor-

mation. However, nearly every room does to some degree.

Terminology

Standing Waves

Sound coming from a speaker bounces around in a room 

until a pattern emerges—this is called a standing wave. 

Typically, this is only a problem with frequencies below 

100Hz. When this happens different parts of your room  

experience either an excess or a lack of bass.

Some people believe that having a room without parallel 

walls will eliminate this effect. The truth is that non-parallel 

walls only generate different standing wave patterns than 

those that occur in rectangular rooms.

Usually, you can excite most of the standing waves in 

a room by putting the subwoofer in a corner. Listening 

position determines which standing waves you will expe-

rience. For instance, if you sit in a corner you will hear 

most of the standing waves. This can be an overpowering 

experience. Sitting next to a wall can also intensify the 

levels of the standing waves that are experienced.

Resonant Surfaces and Objects

All of the surfaces and objects in your room are subject to 

the frequencies generated by your system. Much like an 

instrument, they will vibrate and "carry on" in syncopation 

with the music, and may contribute in a negative way to 

the sound. Ringing, boominess, and even brightness can 

occur simply because surfaces and objects are "singing 

along" with your speakers.

Resonant Cavities

Small alcoves or closet type areas in your room can be 

chambers that create their own "standing waves" and can 

drum their own "one note" sounds.

Solid Footing

After living and experimenting with your subwoofer, 

you may want to use ETC™ (Energy Transfer Coupler) 

Spikes (see figure 12). With the use of these spikes, 

the subwoofer will become more firmly planted on the 

floor and, consequently, bass will tighten. It is best not 

to implement the spikes, however, until you are secure in 

the positioning, as the spikes can damage the floor if the 

subwoofer is moved.

Spike Installation Instructions:

1  Carefully lay the subwoofer on its side to gain access 

to the bottom of the feet.

2  Firmly press the spikes into the feet.

Caution:

 Make sure your hands and any cabling are 

clear of the spikes. Do not slide the subwoofer as spikes 

are sharp and can damage your floor or carpet.

Your Room

Figure 12.

 To install the spikes, press them into the feet.

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