This article explains how to build audio diffusers for your room acoustics, based on Dr. Floyd Toole's book, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms. Diffusers reflect sound in many different directions within a room to give the sound from your home audio system a greater sense of spaciousness.
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The image below shows a simplified room layout using Dr. Toole's principles. The blue areas represent diffusers. The red areas represent foam absorbers. The diffusers and absorbers are all mounted to the wall approximately 18 inches from the floor and 4 feet high. These measurements are examples only and are not critical measurements for making diffusers.
The diffusers are made of concrete tubing, cardboard tubes with walls that are typically about 3/8 inch thick. Home Depot sells them in sizes up to 14 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length. Hardware stores sell them in sizes up to 2 or 3 feet in diameter, in lengths up to about 20 feet, but they will happily cut them to your desired length.
To make the diffusers, you will need to cut the tubes in half and then attach supports to secure the diffusers to the wall.
