Room Acoustics

The room is the final component in any hi-fi system — and in most cases, it is the one doing the most damage. Early reflections blur imaging. Standing waves exaggerate or hollow out bass. Room modes create peaks and nulls that no amount of equalisation can fully correct. The problem is not the equipment. The problem is the space it is playing in.

At Martins Hi-Fi, we take room acoustics seriously. Not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental part of how a system performs. A well-treated room allows your loudspeakers to do what they were designed to do — rather than fighting the boundaries and surfaces around them.

We stock Acustica Applicata and Vicoustic, two of the most capable and domestically sympathetic acoustic treatment ranges available. Both offer products that address the specific problems of reflective and resonant rooms — diffusion, absorption, and bass trapping — without the crude, frequency-indiscriminate effect of basic foam or fabric solutions. Crucially, both can be repositioned and adjusted as your system and room evolve.

Acustica Applicata's DaaD range uses Helmholtz resonator principles to target low-frequency room modes with precision. Vicoustic's diffuser and panel products address mid and high-frequency reflections without deadening the room or stripping it of life. Used together, they offer a comprehensive approach to acoustic control that is also designed to look at home in a domestic setting.

The right treatment depends entirely on your room — its dimensions, construction, and the position of your listening seat relative to the boundaries. Dave, Chris, and Tim at our Norwich showroom can discuss the options with you and, where appropriate, carry out acoustic measurements to identify where treatment will have the greatest impact.

Martins Hi-Fi has been in Norwich since 1968. Elizabeth Gould runs the business today, and we stock only brands we have heard properly and stand behind. Contact us at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.