ASC Cinema/Tri-Panels
 

I just completed installing the Tri-Panels on my ceiling. They are each 1'x4'x2" and weigh about 2lbs. each. I decided to use magnets with recessed holes for a #6 screw and then liquid nail 2 x 2" round washers on the back of the panels. The magnets easily found the ceiling joists and the only challenge was measuring which, if done correctly, makes the final installation a piece of cake. One of the pics is the beginning of laying out the magnets and one of them is looking from the speaker to the listening position.
Do they work? ABSOLUTELY!!!! Many of us may never think that what is reaching our ears is contaminated with reflected sounds from the ceiling. The difference in what I am hearing has made me a true believer. Between the recent addition of the Tube Traps (which you can see in the pic) and the Cinema panels, my system has moved up a few levels. The soundstage, specific locations of instruments and smooth purity of vocals is more than I could have hoped for. ASC, Mike and Chris, are terrific and a wealth of information.

Very interesting! How did you choose the mounting locations?

The layout was based on "personal logic" which could be dangerous. It was very rewarding and comforting to turn on the music, after the job was completed, and hear a very obvious improvement. I think "Luck" had a little to do with it as well.

It's a beautiful room and the ceiling treatments do not detract from it at all. Congrats!

Very nice Howard, you already know I'm a huge ASC fan. Great color choice, and installation.

I'll be using the same color panels for my ceiling in the Cape game room.

Nicely done, Howard. Was the magnet/washer fastening system your idea, or is that a recommended procedure?

Howard,

What is the exact name of these? I have been on the ASC site and cannot seem to find anything that looks like yours.

I have to take full credit or blame for the idea. KJ Magnets has the best selection anywhere and you can get all kinds of ideas looking at their offerings. A whole variety of wall hangings could be done this way with minimal damage(#6 screw) to the sheetrock.

Randy, these are their Cinema Panels.

Howard.......Excellent job. Adds to the beauty and character of your room, which by the way is lovely. It looks like a perfect, and most comfortable listening environment. Little by little, I think you may have exceeded your dreams with this magnificient sound system.

Thanks, Ivan. I made a bad assumption that the ASC site "Products" tab would be an aggregate listing. Turns out the tab is specific to the type of room use.

They are called both Cinema Panels and Tri-Panels. They have 5 basic color fabrics and a large selection of special order fabrics. The Cinema Panels are on the general ASC website.

I use the Cinema Panels in most of my rooms. The construction and appearance is only exceeded by their acoustic performance.

Thanks Dan. I just received the Nikon D3100 two days ago and, without reading the manual, took these pictures. This has definitely exceeded the dreams of 2 high school teachers. I am looking forward to spending the entire day tomorrow just listening to music.:thumbsup:

Howard....what Dan said, plus one. Really beautiful. These are also the first really good, full size photos of your room I've seen, and there is one additional photo there that helps put your room in perspective to the rest of the home. It is spectacular indeed.

These traps are very nice. I've always considered my room to not be a good candidate for ceiling traps, mainly due to the the popcorn finish on the ceiling, and the fact that there are quite a few eyeball lights in my ceiling that accent the system and some of the artwork in the room. Although I have quite a bit of acoustic treatment on the walls behind and around the system, I can't help but figure I'd benefit from some sort of ceoiling traps. Maybe I need to re-think my conclusions about not being able to do this, somehow. :scratch2:

Your room and system is to die for, Howard! :drool:

Pete

Thanks Pete and Dan and everyone. I am contacting Ivan to order more of them tomorrow because I am so pleased with the results. Buddy (Audio 1) was here last night and quite impressed with the improvements resulting from the Bass Traps and the Cinema Panels.
Howard

I'll split a case of them with you Howard, I need some for my Cape Game Room. :thumbsup:

I have to give kudos to Howard for his attachment method. When he first told me about it, it sounded simple and effective. Now that he has run the experiment all the way through, it truly is an elegant way to attach panels.

Our product names can sometimes seem confusing. Those are called "CinemaPanels", but when we package them for sale through our dealers we package them in quantities of 8, and include some extra mounting hardware - voila, they become "TriPanels". Same great flavor, different name.

Thanks to Ivan's generosity and friendship, I was able to acquire 4 more Cinema Panels and installed them today. Thanks again to Mike and Chris at ASC for always being there when I needed them. The 2nd photo is an angle of the room that I have never taken before.

Your room really looks outstanding Howard....I bet it sounds spectacular!

Pete

Pete: You have an open invitation and are more than welcome to bring a friend or two. Val cooks some serious food and there is alway a little wine in the rack. Bring some CD's that you would like to hear as well.:thumbsup:
Howard

Howard,

With the addition of the ceiling panels - was is mostly the bass that improved? One thing I have noticed from our lovely XRT1K's is that the mids/highs are very height-controlled (due to the array). Or did the mids/highs have more of an impact? I'd be very curious to know, as planning panels and traps as my next step had me wracking my brain as to whether or not I would want ceiling tiles at first or at all since the height-directionality of these speakers is so exact.

I would love to do that Howard, and I'll be keeping it in mind. I'm sure it would be most enjoyable. Right now would not be the best time but hopefully that will change in the near future. That's a serious room and system!


Pete

The Tube Traps behind the speaker dramatically affected the bass detail and the soundstage size and isolation of instruments is clearly evident. The ceiling panels, in my particular setup, soften the entire room and seem to sweeten the highs and midrange. My logic (not an advanced tech guy) is that reflected sound piggybacks on the music directed at your ears and makes some frequencies sound louder but less detailed and distinct. Simply, my entire room sounds perfect.
Side note: When I was on the ladder with my head close to the ceiling, I was amazed at how much was going on up there. Now, with the panels in place, the softening effect is quite noticable.
I have also decided that a ladder is not the best sweet spot for listening. :D

Greaaaaaaaaaaaattttt...... thanks for raining on my parade of trying to go the thrifty way. lol!

Another magnetic installation
 

Howard, I thought you'd like to know that when I needed something like this for my listening room, ASC were the ones who suggested magnetic attachment. I have already thanked them, and it seems I owe you gratitude as well. The idea worked very well and is far less damaging to the ceiling than the methods suggested by other acoustics manufacturers.

Of course, the panels did the job acoustically as well. I treated the rear first, because my electrostatic speakers in theory don't interact much with the ceiling in front of the listening position. The results seem to support that.

Mike

Here is the installation, FYI: http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7tvi2aum.jpg

Mike... very nicely done! :yes:

Thanks, Ivan. I think I've done about as much as one could do with the 7-foot ceiling that is available.

Oh, and Ivan . . . I should say that I appreciate the positive attitudes of everyone here on AA. I am sure you deserve a lot of credit for promoting that.

:thankyouspin: