How It Works

TubeTraps, the original, archetypal bass trap, dating back to 1984, are set up in the corners of the room where they act like sonic shock absorbers. TubeTraps eliminate excessive build-up of bass energy in the room while their built-in diffusers minimize flutter echo by horizontally scattering mid-high frequency sounds to provide fine grained lateral ambience.

The TubeTrap was developed using acoustical engineering principles and voiced by the consensus of "golden ear" audiophiles and engineers.  It was the first full bandwidth sound absorber/diffuser (abfuser) and has become synonymous with quality listening and performing spaces.  TubeTraps quickly became the worldwide defining icon of high performance audio room acoustics, and remain so to this day.

TubeTraps are used to make music from the beginning to the end of the audio chain.  In the recording studio, TubeTraps are used to control the acoustics that surround the talent and mic during the creation of audio tracks.  Next in the process, TubeTraps work to create crystal clear mixing environments.  After that, TubeTraps are used to create the perfectly translatable acoustic environment needed for song and album mastering.

Benefits

Sonic Benefits 

The TubeTrap is designed to absorb sound energy when in the presence of bass range sound pressure.  The higher the pressure, the more energy is absorbed. Bass pressure is 4 to 8 times stronger in the corners of the room than away from the corners.  TubeTraps are usually stacked floor-to-ceiling in columns in all four corners of the typical audio room. Each corner acts like a giant megaphone in reverse, compressing incoming sound waves into the narrow volume at the root of each corner of the room. This corner compression of bass waves creates the perfect location for a pressure zone bass trap: the TubeTrap.

Related Articles And Reviews

BassTrap Sound-Off: FuzzBalls vs TubeTraps

- By Art Noxon, September 2018
 

Room Tuning: ASC Tube Traps & the MATT Test Room Tuning

- By Brian Damkroger, 2017
 

Martin T on TubeTraps

- ASC Customer, Martin T from the UK, December 2014
 

Martin T on TubeTraps

- ASC Customer, Martin T from the UK, December 2014
 

TubeTrap Review by John Acton

- John Acton's TubeTrap Review for Positive Feedback Online, March 2007
 

California Brisson and the Soundroom of Doom

- By Wes Philips, Stereophile Magazine, May 1997 (PDF)
 

IAR: Optimizing ASC TubeTraps

- J. Peter Moncrieff, June 1989
 

Stereophile Equipment Reports - ASC TubeTraps

- J. Gordon Holt, April 1986
 

IAR: Your Room - The Final Link

- J. Peter Moncrieff, December 1985
 

TubeTraps for The Who's Quadrophenia Tour

- News - December 2012
 

ASC TubeTraps Win The Absolute Sound's Editors Choice Award... Again.

- News - February 2013
 

Michael Harting's Listening Room

ASC recently finished working with Michael Harting, helping him to build a High Performance Audio Listening Room.
 

How TubeTraps opened up a Whole New Realm of Precision in the Performance of Audio Playback Systems

Audio minded people know to place TubeTraps in the corners behind the speakers and they know what benefits are delivered. But what isn’t so easy to answer is why it works the way it does (PDF).
 

Models

ASC has been and continues to be the sole manufacturer of TubeTraps since their inception in 1984.  TubeTraps, other bass traps and a wide assortment of over 100 specialty audio acoustic products and devices can be purchased factory direct.

Every standard TubeTrap comes with a 30 day, 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you don't like it, send it back and we'll refund your money, no questions asked.

We manufacture a wide variety of TubeTraps and every one of them is hand made by hand in our own 10,000 sqft workshop in Eugene, Oregon. Each product is air tight and fiber sealed and fits an exact acoustic and physical specification.

Customization

In addition to the wide variety of standard TubeTraps available, we provide an even wider variety of modified TubeTraps. Some modifications are superficial, belonging only to the appearance of the TubeTrap. Other modifications are internal, in which case they are fit with some sort of performance enhancing feature.

It is not unusual for a room corner to be acute or obtuse. QuarterRound TubeTraps can be altered to accommodate such situations.  Fractional TubeTrap (HalfRound and QuarterRound) end caps can also be installed at various angles so the units can be butted together to follow an irregular wall shape.  TubeTrap technology can be used to create "black acoustics" of nearly any shape, to be hidden behind stretch fabric, furnishings, or any other out-of-sight location which is also a high sound pressure zone.

We often add absorption enhancing elements inside what appears to be an ordinary TubeTrap.  The most common upgrade along this line is the SuperTrap,  where the operational volume of the TubeTrap is increased by 33%. This modification extends the roll off frequency of the TubeTrap ½ octave lower, and is available in all diameter models of TubeTraps.

Related Products

Since the introduction of the TubeTrap in 1984, Acoustic Sciences has modified the basic design many times to achieve the same powerful bass trapping in a variety of applications. Here are some of the products in the TubeTrap family:

Fractional TubeTraps When space is at a premium, the Fractional TubeTrap allows the most efficient bass traps available to fit in the corner or flush against a wall.

Half Round TubeTrap The Half Round TubeTrap is a versatile evolution of the TubeTrap, allowing the same sound-busting power of the TubeTrap to be wall or ceiling mounted.

Quarter Round TubeTrap Quarter Round TubeTraps give you very high performance in a form-fitting package, custom design to fit in the corner when space is at a premium.

Related Products

Check out the other member of our bass trap family!

IsoThermal TubeTrap™ Think of it as a TubeTrap with "bass absorption boost." This is the flagship product for a major advancement in bass trap engineering that literally doubles the absorbing power below 60 Hz with improved absorption up to 300 Hz. By filling the air cavity in the bass trap with a distributed heat sync system, the thermal back pressure effect of compressed air is minimized, allowing 40% more air to flow into the trap than before.	StudioTraps Used all over the world, StudioTraps are a modified version of a TubeTrap, and are a powerful and versatile tool for the recording industry. StudioTraps are not only broadband sound absorbers, but also provide the broadest band of diffusion of any TubeTrap product. StudioTraps ship with built-in stands to adjust height as needed, and color can be chosen to match nearly any room decor..	SuperTrap Sometimes we need more absorption at a certain frequency or bandwidth than the standard TubeTrap for that same frequency range can provide. That’s when SuperTraps are called into play.
TubeTrap Base Stands The TubeTrap Octagon Stand offers a simple and unique way of helping one place a TubeTrap in a listening or recording room on a solid, sturdy base. It lets you properly position and isolate your TubeTrap for more accurate performance..

Prices