SMT Wing Diffusors vs. QRD Diffusors? Effective?

[Calle_jr]

Anyone recommend the most desirable type of wood when looking at diffusers? Baltic birch, pine, mdf or does it really matter as long as the design is well executed? Thank you.

Available products have different properties regarding reflection, diffusion and absorption. Material absorption is one factor, but the design itself also result in more or less "geometrical" absorption, i.e. due to the shape of the diffusing elements.
If you're looking for a diffusor, I would recommend to first look at the range and efficiency of diffusion, i.e. the geometrical design. Secondly the material property which will mainly affect the degree of absorption.

 

[Marcus]

SMT Wing diffusors are made from MDF and can be painted to your desire. You can also choose from a few real wood veneers but the price goes up considerably and I doubt this option sounds any better then the standard. I suspect that real wood Wing diffusers (I don’t know if that option exists at SMT) would cost at least three times more. But FWIW, I would certainly choose maple, birch or some other real wood instead of MDF if money was not an object. And I would only wax if at all.

 

[Gene 15352]

Thank you Cal_jr and Marcus, very informative. Looking at 3D wall art for fun as well. Aesthetically pleasing but may not be up to audiophile standards. https://www.walldecor3d.com/

 

[Calle_jr]

Looking at 3D wall art for fun as well.

Not bad to combine these with e.g. wings. Not bad at all.
Random reflective surfaces also breaks up the room reverberation to even out the energy distribution.

 

[adyc]

In your experience with both products, is there any logical way to use both products at the same time, trying to realize the best of both products in the same system?

Do you happen to be familiar with the pros and cons of the RPG Diffractal product versus the RPG Modfractal product?

I really don’t see there is a need to use both products together.

If you use a long array of diffractal, the pattern of the diffractal repeats itself. The diffracted sound will exhibit lobing. Modffractual will reduce the lobing by using kind of non repeating pattern.

 

[Hamburger]

After a hiatus of more than 3 years from the last post, are SMT Wings still good? Just curious. Thank you.

 

[dcc]

Yes. My wings won’t leave the room.

 

[Hamburger]

Yes. Mine won’t leave the room.

Does one piece of S-Wing work in a room? or should they be used as a pair? I am wondering where to put the one piece...

 

[dcc]

Sorry spelling mistakes. I have 7 wings;

 

[caesar]

After a hiatus of more than 3 years from the last post, are SMT Wings still good? Just curious. Thank you.

MBL takes them to every show in the USA. And they are CONSISTENTLY one of the top rooms at EVERY show. What more can one say?

 

[caesar]

Does one piece of S-Wing work in a room? or should they be used as a pair? I am wondering where to put the one piece...

if you have only 1 ,, I’d put it behind your head , about 2 feet, to diffuse ...

ideally, you really need (several) pairs , for symmetry

 

[Hamburger]

if you have only 1 ,, I’d put it behind your head , about 2 feet, to diffuse ...

ideally, you really need (several) pairs , for symmetry

Hi caesar,
Thanks for your advice.
I was just wondering if to put it at the front wall's first reflection point or behind my sitting position.

 

[Marcus]

if you have only 1 ,, I’d put it behind your head , about 2 feet, to diffuse ...

Agree. I have tried this with two and was impressed but ultimately removed them since you simply cannot have these in the middle of the living room. It was a nice experiment though. If you need an instant proof of their efficiency, just put them behind your seat.

 

[flyer]

MBL takes them to every show in the USA. And they are CONSISTENTLY one of the top rooms at EVERY show. What more can one say?

Add Marten, Wilson, Magico to this list! In Munich at least, where they must sound at their best...
Oh, quite a few brands, including some mentioned above, don't want you to know, so they put a nice printed fabric in front.

 

[flyer]

I like love SMT panels

 

[caesar]

Hi caesar,
Thanks for your advice.
I was just wondering if to put it at the front wall's first reflection point or behind my sitting position.

Yes, as Marcus mentioned, if you can get the panel 2-3 feet behind your seat, it's the best thing to do with a single panel. My understanding is that SMT actually recommends a small "wall" of 2 or 3 panels behind the listening positioning.

While you are playing around, try placing the panel about 2 feet behind each of the speakers, and also in the first reflection points of each speaker to get a sense of what it can do. Good luck!

 

[fox520111]

Would be interested to know who you are referring to. There are only 2 dedicated rooms in Taiwan using SMT diffusers and Helmholtz resonators, including mine.
Only 3 people heard my room:
- the Magico dealer in Singapore, who based on the listening experience with the Magico Q1 decided to rebuild his full show room with SMT treatment, and to distribute SMT in Singapore
- the other owner of a SMT room in Taiwan (I doubt he wouldn't like it)
- one of his friend who wants to invest in a SMT room.

As in any room treatment, there is a big part of science, but also some art... and luck. You never know how it will sound before building it. But in a game of probability, you have much higher chances to get a poor result with a lot of other room treatment specialist (from my experience hearing tons of rooms before building mine).

Sure, you can build a Helmholtz yourself. Saving would be very limited, much less than the money you spent in a single of your cables (rather build your cables yourself, saving will be higher!). I prefer the convenience and piece of mind of getting something which has been tested and work (and the opening in the diffuser is a bit more complex than an adjustable gap...).
Good luck on building Wings diffusers yourself. Their profile is not so straightforward. Assuming you would get all dimensions right, I doubt you would save any money.
SMT wings diffusers are very unique, because they are the only one who work in the near field (unlike normal quadratic diffusers, they are not only spatial diffusers, they are also temporal diffusers). If you have a 17x 10meters, you can live with a RPG diffuser.... as they would work well if you sit more than 3-4meters from them. In a smaller room like mine, I can sit 60cm from the back wall without any problem. See the measurements of my room and a bit more explanation in the thread "new home for my magico Q1"

Hi, I’m writing you regarding your article which is about the work SMT has done in your room.
I also tried to make some adjustments in my Audio-Visual room. However, there are still some work need to be done to make it better. At the earliest time, I was really interested in MODEX of RPG, then I read the article which is written by the twin on GEARSPACE and
SMT's products interested me.
Moreover, the different explanations they gave on ETC fascinated me a lot.

And from SMT website, I learned that your Audio-Visual room is in Taiwan. When I saw this article I was really excited, and really impressed by the journey you had been through in order to achieve your goal. If I may be so bold to ask a favor,I was wondering is it possible to contact you and ask a few questions. It would be so thankful if you could give me a reply.


With gratitude appreciation

 

[spiritofmusic]

I don't think Stereo is an active member here anymore.

 

[Argonaut]

Folks, I am looking for a dealer who can supply a number of SMT transparent acrylic wing diffusers , hopefully in the UK but more likely EU and would be grateful for any links.

 

[3125simon]

Folks, I am looking for a dealer who can supply a number of SMT transparent acrylic wing diffusers , hopefully in the UK but more likely EU and would be grateful for any links.

Hi, I recently purchased two transparent wing diffusers from KJ West One in London.
they were the only place I found in the uk.