Early lateral reflections are attenuated by loudspeaker directivity, not harmful.

Evidence

Because acoustical absorption is needed to achieve a desirable reverberation/reflection decay time in the room, the suggested locations are those where reflections contribute least to the spatial impressions, on the front and rear walls. The front side wall treatment is shown as optional, following earlier discussions that indicate that while there might be some negative impressions from them, if the loudspeakers are well designed, having relatively uniform off-axis (early reflection) performance, these reflections are found to be desirable to many listeners. Thick (3-inch) absorbers will essentially eliminate them, thinner ones change the sound quality, engineered or curved surface diffusers will attenuate and disperse them, and a bare wall reveals them. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 845 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Early side-wall reflections range neutral to beneficial with well-designed loudspeakers — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 845; Off-axis wall reflections arrive substantially attenuated relative to the direct sound.

Broader Connections

• Early side-wall reflections range neutral to beneficial with well-designed loudspeakers #corroborates (0.92) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 845
• Off-axis wall reflections arrive substantially attenuated relative to the direct sound. #expands (0.80)