Problem of adequate reproduction of sound recordings exists since birth of record industry. There are a lot of very high quality play back equipment available on the modern market and often these systems are overpriced. Nevertheless, the problem of precise sound pattern recreation in which highly professional artists invested a lot of work in the nowadays cinema and music, still is not solved globally. Many of the expensive Hi-Fi and Hi-End system owners do not hear the sound that was intended by creators of these systems. One and only one reason for that is they do not consider that the sound image in our minds is formed not only via direct sound emitted by the speaker, but also by sound reflected from all the surrounding surfaces of the room. Majority of popular modern construction materials are unable to provide proper balance of silenced and reflected sound.
Attention Acoustics!
Acoustic Design Studio
By the authors, in particular George Lucas and other famous people, it was decided to organize a THX certification company that establishes and controls parameter requirements for cinemas. According to THX standard sound should disappear after its abrupt shut off within 0.2 -0.4 sec, this parameter is called "Reverberation Time"For example, acoustically untreated room size of 20 sq. m. with drywall even with a stucco layer on top will give reverberation time of 1-4 sec. Besides it will be a sound highly uneven in frequency range. Carpet thrown on the floor and soft sofa in the middle absorb some of the energy, but it is not significant and does not even bring you close to the reference of parameters, with which your Hi-Fi system is made. By the way equipment parameters that you see in system manuals and because of which "arms race" is on par are obtained in audio measuring chamber without any reflections. I dare to say that you are cheating yourself if you buying very expansive amplifier and speakers while getting rugged and uneven sound in uncalculated and acoustically amorphous room.