Accessories Reviews, Tuning / Tweaks Reviews

R.T.F.S. Ceiling Vane and Carreau

Christiaan Punter 15 March 2021 No Comments

Third Application

While they are intended to be used on the ceiling, I found that the Ceiling Vanes are also highly effective on sidewalls, and I think the panel looks great there, too!

Since the sidewalls have a flat finish (no Spack layer as on the ceiling), I have no problems drilling holes just for trying locations since it is easy to fix the wall invisibly using plaster and some paint.

Five of these tiny buttons keep the panel securely in place whilst allowing easy alignment.

With two panels on the ceiling, the addition of a third panel on the sidewall (right before the opposite wall ends) addressed the last remaining bit of hollowness in this area. Additionally, it removed the last remaining smidgeon of left-hand area reverberance when listening to music in the main room, making for an even more even-handed and balanced soundstage. To be fair, while the effect on the sound in the kitchen area was very large, the effect of this on the sound in the listening room was relatively small. But in the context of all the treatments that were already done, this cherry on the pie was certainly worthwhile.

Attaching the panel to the ceiling next to the other two is another option but one that I have not yet pursued. As a rule of thumb and in case of an otherwise untreated area of this size, I would advise treating at least one wall with one or two panels, and depending on the room shape, that could be the ceiling or a sidewall.

Carreau

Regular readers will have noticed the Carreau experiment that I slipped in the first part of the SiRRAH review that was done at audio buddy Jeroen’s place where I substituted a SiRRAH for a Carreau and noticed obvious differences. While the Carreau was not the ideal panel to use in that position it did a fine job of highlighting the SiRRAH’s additional value.

A couple of days ago, I finally got around to using the Carreau in the very position that it is designed for: on the sidewall, to absorb first reflections.

Carreau is available in a range of colors and motifs, even with calligraphy and white gold or 24-carat gold application.

With no designated use for the Carreau in my main listening area, we’re changing location to the secondary system. Here, the system is located rather asymmetrically with the right speaker standing freely and the left speaker near a wall. There is a room mode in the left front- and rear corners but, for a change, this mode is actually beneficial. Instead of creating an annoying hump, it extends the Xavian Perla Esclusiva speakers’ limited bass range without any noticeable bumps. To be fair, when using larger speakers that extend deeper, the room mode does change from beneficial to overwhelming and if I would ever change speakers then some Big Blocks might be in order.

Keep in mind that a mirror flat on the wall will have an offset reflection. I found it easiest to simply position the mirror in front of the panel to counteract this.

To find the ideal positioning spot, simply use a mirror and move it backward and forward until you see the speaker baffle reflected in the middle of it. Then move sideways on the listening seat to make sure that the outer extreme positions are also covered. Thanks to the magnetic fixation, leveling the panel is super-easy and this can always be re-adjusted later.

The Carreau is fixed to the wall precisely as the SiRRAHs are, using self-adhesive metal-impregnated foil. As I learned from experimenting with the SiRRAHs, the temporary affixation of the foils using paint masking tape actually holds very strongly while retaining the self-adhesive layer for use once the final position has been found. About half a year later, the tape still holds and seems strong enough to keep holding indefinitely. So, as long as you’re not sure of the ideal or final position, just leave the paint masking tape in place safe in the knowledge that the panels will stay put.

Listening

The audible result of the single Carreau on the wall is unmistakable and entirely beneficial. I think it looks nice, too, but that’s only a bonus. What the panel does for the sound is to render the wall onto which it is placed audibly invisible. It does this by absorbing most of the direct reflections whilst leaving no sonic impact otherwise. An added bonus is that the panel not only works as a midrange/high-frequency absorber while allowing a moderate amount of controlled high-frequency reflection, it also works as a bass trap and in that last capacity, but it is also way more effective than one might assume.

With the focus having become clearer, the stability of the soundstage improved, and the bass having become more even-handed, this has to be one of the simplest yet most effective upgrades that one can do for a given system.

Conclusion

Room Acoustics are not an easy subject and there is no “one size fits all” solution. It takes knowledge and even then it remains a balancing act. But if there’s one thing that has become clear during my time with various R.T.F.S. products, it’s that they have proven to be extremely effective. More effective than other foam or wool solutions that I have tried. Additionally, R.T.F.S. products are smartly designed and precision-made, and, contrary to many competitors’ products, they are aesthetically pleasing. Lastly and importantly, key R.T.F.S. products such as SiRRAH, Carreau, and Ceiling Vanes use coatings that are specially formulated to allow diffusion and absorption without overly dulling the ambiance.