Improving acoustics in a room

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Humberto

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I have a digital piano in a small study (around 3m x 4m) with tiled floors.

The acoustics is awful.

How can I improve the acoustics of this room?
 
I placed a thick rug under the piano. I could be mistaken but it seems as though the sound is now worse.

To improve acoustics, one is supposed to use a combination of absorbers, to absorb sound, and diffusers, to scatter sound.
 
Humberto said:
I placed a thick rug under the piano. I could be mistaken but it seems as though the sound is now worse.

To improve acoustics, one is supposed to use a combination of absorbers, to absorb sound, and diffusers, to scatter sound.
Click to expand...

Google "reverberation".

Basically it revolves around the echo effect of different surfaces and how to amplify or dampen certain frequencies.

You want certain surfaces to carry the sound, but not so much that it'll cause the sound wave to bounce back & resonate or have a too long reverberation time.

In essence, carpets & curtains = non reflective surfaces which act as sound absorbers.

http://www.linkwitzlab.com/rooms.htm

http://www.beethovenpianos.com/tuning4.php

Although it's not practical, of course, for a homeowner to measure reverberation time, it is possible, when designing a small room, to adjust it to some extent to one's taste an to balance the treble and bass. The key is in the balance between absorbent and reflective surfaces, and in the diffusion or "scattering" of sound so it is evenly dispersed.

Each kind of building and decorating material absorbs sound differently, and the ability to absorb sound varies with the frequency, too. A smooth concrete floor, for example, is an excellent reflector of sound of all frequencies—too good, in fact. A think carpet on concrete will continue to reflect low frequencies, but will absorb most sounds of high frequency. Putting a pad under the carpet will significantly increase its ability to absorb sound at all frequencies.

A wooden floor is also a good reflector, though a little less so at low frequencies. A carpet on the floor, especially right under the piano, may help to create a better balance if the treble is too brilliant. Because the piano case also vibrates—particularly a grand piano case—it makes sense to put the rug under the legs of the piano, too, or to replace metal casters with rubber-wheeled ones so that the wooden floor doesn't become another soundboard.
Click to expand...

It seems you're familiar with scattering and diffusion, but based on the carpet dampening high frequencies, you might find that you have too much bass that overshadows the treble / high frequency notes due to not enough of the right reflection.
 
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Humberto said:
I placed a thick rug under the piano. I could be mistaken but it seems as though the sound is now worse.
Click to expand...

You don't place speakers flat on a carpet either, sounds kuk. They come with spikes for a reason.
 
I see no reason why not ...

For me personally it's in the lounge, so pictures that double as absorbers are the best in my case
 
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