Anyone who uses an AV system in a home, recording studio, or entertainment venue knows how important it is to have adequate acoustics. You can have the best equipment on the market, but if you have poor acoustics, you're not setting your space up for success.
It's important to have balance within your sound space. You don't want too many reflective surfaces, such as hardwood floors, exposed windows, or flat walls. These objects create echoes that can disrupt the flow of sound and create hard, bright noises that aren't easy on the ears. On the other hand, filling your space with thick carpeting, heavy curtains, and large furniture can cause the room to absorb too much sound and lessen the quality of it. You need to find a happy medium between these two, and there are quite few easy ways to do this by using the natural acoustics within your space.
Furniture Placement
Placing your furniture in the best layout is a great way to play off the natural acoustics that the room has to offer. Dense furniture can help absorb loud noises, whereas lighter furniture can be used to direct sound in different directions. Depending on how you want sound to travel throughout your space, you can place furniture in a way that either absorbs or bounces sound to meet your needs.
Decor
If you need to absorb sound, one of the best ways to do it without creating an eyesore is with soundproofing curtains. The right kind of curtain can trap sound within the space while also deflecting any noise from outside. Thickness is key here, so seeking some guidance from your AV tech before moving forward with this project is recommended.
Gear
It's not just furniture or curtains that can help create the perfect sound level in your space. Your gear is also very important. Depending on what you use your venue or room for, it's essential to avoid installing AV equipment that can be too powerful or not powerful enough. An AV tech with the right training and experience can help you choose the best equipment options based on your needs, which will help avoid any issues down the road. One of the easiest and worst mistakes you can make when creating a sound space is installing the wrong gear to handle the amount of sound produced.
Flooring
Although they are the most overlooked part of any room, floors have one of the biggest impacts on sound. In a recording studio, you'll most likely find some sort of carpeting on the floor that absorbs sound to even out the volume and impact, but homes and other venues may not come with such a luxury. If installing carpet isn't exactly your forte, rugs with a large surface area can also do the trick while adding to the aesthetic of the space as well. Just as with furniture, rugs can be placed in a certain way to help reach whatever sound goals you've set for your space.
Creating your perfect sound space
With these ideas, you can put together the right layout. As always, it's important to reach out to an experienced AV tech for the proper guidance and to help ensure you are creating the best possible sound space for you.