New Paint designed to absorb sound.

[Groundbeef]

Let's get down to the real deal here Jaybo. You gettin' yelled at again by the neighbor-units for playing that Crunk-Alot!! disc you got at the truckstop?

Seeing as this thread was started in 2005, and only revived today for god-knows what reason, I would assume its already been resolved.

[bobsticks]

Seeing as this thread was started in 2005, and only revived today for god-knows what reason, I would assume its already been resolved.

Wow, hadn't even noticed that. I thought it was just another one of Jay's desperate pleas for attention.

[Groundbeef]

Wow, hadn't even noticed that. I thought it was just another one of Jay's desperate pleas for attention.

I just gave you a greenie for being such a helper. Keep it up. Maybe you can pass GM again.

[bobsticks]

I just gave you a greenie for being such a helper. Keep it up. Maybe you can pass GM again.

NNNOOOOO!!!

can't take the pressure...

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

This thread is off the curb.....and into traffic. First sound waves do not see paint, they see hard services. The sheen of the paint is not going to make a bit of difference at low frequencies, and there is no acoustical evidence it would effect the highs either. There is tones of acoustical research out there attributed to the effect of the shape of a space, the give of the walls, curves and reflective shapes, types of acoustical materials and their effectiveness at different frequencies, but I see zero on the effects of paint.

[jrhymeammo]

I'm still not rich......

Should I sell cans of Audiophile Grade Sherwin Williams on Audiogon? If so how much?

[RoyY51]

This thread is off the curb.....and into traffic. First sound waves do not see paint, they see hard services. The sheen of the paint is not going to make a bit of difference at low frequencies, and there is no acoustical evidence it would effect the highs either. There is tones of acoustical research out there attributed to the effect of the shape of a space, the give of the walls, curves and reflective shapes, types of acoustical materials and their effectiveness at different frequencies, but I see zero on the effects of paint.

It IS amazing that this thread was resurrected after all this time.

Sir Terrence; you're almost there. You're undoubtedly correct when you say that "sound waves do not see paint, they see hard surfaces". The next step is to realize that as a paint gets shinier, it gets harder. Let me say this again; the shinier the paint, the harder the surface. This is why paints with higher sheens are used in kitchens and bathrooms, and on doors and woodwork. The harder surface that a glossy paint provides enables you to clean the surface more easily. A hard, shiny surface releases dirt much easier than a soft, porous one. It also reflects more sound. Stand in the middle of two empty rooms, one painted with semi-gloss, the other with flat. Clap your hands. The difference will immediately be apparent. Not a huge difference, mind you, but a difference nonetheless.

I'm sorry that you haven't been able to confirm this on the internet.I guess that there's just not enough of us painters/audio enthusiasts/forum dwellers around to make an impact on this narrow slice of arcane knowledge.

[Groundbeef]

Stand in the middle of two empty rooms, one painted with semi-gloss, the other with flat. Clap your hands. The difference will immediately be apparent. Not a huge difference, mind you, but a difference nonetheless.

I'm sorry that you haven't been able to confirm this on the internet.I guess that there's just not enough of us painters/audio enthusiasts/forum dwellers around to make an impact on this narrow slice of arcane knowledge.

Perhaps. But both rooms need to be of identical size and shape for the test to make any sort of difference.

For example, tear out the carpet, and replace with hardwood. Hi-Gloss paint, or Flat paint, it's going to be a moot point. Carpet makes more of a difference.

Or, in your example, take a High-Gloss room, and put in some drapes, or other wall baffles. Then take another room, same dimensions, and painted in High-Gloss. Now simply paint it Flat.

The room with the baffles, or drapes will have less echo, than the flat paint room without treatments.

Paint is paint. It's not a sound treatment. Whatever minor, marginal difference between Flat/High-Gloss can be easily lost with other simple changes (adding furniture, window treatments, carpet, etc).

Another way would be to examine 2 cars. Does a car painted in high-gloss auto paint drive any faster than that of the same car painted in primer? Doubtful. And yet the High-gloss paint is "less" wind resistant because its a glossy finish.

There are many variables that can affect sound. Your chosen paint finish is somewhere near the bottom.

[RoyY51]

Perhaps. But both rooms need to be of identical size and shape for the test to make any sort of difference.

For example, tear out the carpet, and replace with hardwood. Hi-Gloss paint, or Flat paint, it's going to be a moot point. Carpet makes more of a difference.

Or, in your example, take a High-Gloss room, and put in some drapes, or other wall baffles. Then take another room, same dimensions, and painted in High-Gloss. Now simply paint it Flat.

The room with the baffles, or drapes will have less echo, than the flat paint room without treatments.

Paint is paint. It's not a sound treatment. Whatever minor, marginal difference between Flat/High-Gloss can be easily lost with other simple changes (adding furniture, window treatments, carpet, etc).

Another way would be to examine 2 cars. Does a car painted in high-gloss auto paint drive any faster than that of the same car painted in primer? Doubtful. And yet the High-gloss paint is "less" wind resistant because its a glossy finish.

There are many variables that can affect sound. Your chosen paint finish is somewhere near the bottom.

I totally agree with Groundbeef's points. In the original post, it was never my contention that the type of paint used in your listening space would provided anything but minor differences. My main objective was to rebut Sir T's misinformation regarding coatings having to be a minimum thickness (3-4" thick) to affect sound quality. This would be true if we were talking about sound absorption, but sound reflection is another matter entirely. Carpet, drapes, furniture, etc...will all have a much greater effect on sound quality than paint.