2 Channel system sounds weak and lackluster


Hi

For starters let me go into my system. I have a 13x11x8 dedicated room (no room treatment at the moment and vinyl floor). Speakers are Focal Aria 936 driven by an Audio Research DSi200. Vinyl is Rega P6 with Exact through Whest TWO.2 phono and CD is PSAudio Perfectwave Transport and DAC. Each component is powered by and interconnected with Audioquest cables.

 

I have moved the speakers in many different positions and found close to the wall gives them the best sound, but no matter what I do they sound lifeless and have no real impact to the sound. Cranking the volume up helps to some degree but there isn't any intensity to the sound and just leaves me frustrated and wanting more.  The speakers are positioned on the 11' wall, though I haven't moved them to the 13' to see if the different angle changes much.

I also changed out the speakers last night with my Wharfedale Denton speakers and they were even more dull and lifeless.

End game for the room is to tear it down to the studs, sound deaden the walls and put carpet in, but other projects are more pressing at the moment. For now I just want to be able to listen to and enjoy my music.

 

Thanks all

boxboy83

Showing 3 responses by oldaudiophile

If I remember correctly, the Focal Aria 936 have vented ports, one of which is located under the speaker cabinet ... correct?  I spent an afternoon auditioning those speakers several years ago in a sound room that was a little larger than yours (i.e.  basically a 17' or 18' square with 7.5' ceiling), had minimal room treatment, dropped panel non-metal (probably fiberglass) ceiling tiles and thin builder's grade wall-to-wall carpeting.  They were powered by a MAC MA5200, then a similar Luxman integrated and fed some pristine vinyl through a Rega P3 & Ortofon 2M Blue.  Listened to some of my test CDs, as well.  In that particular room, the Focal were positioned with their backs (not baffles) a good 2.5' to 3' from the wall behind them and separated from each other by around 8' or 9'.  My ears fell in love with those speakers!

How close to the wall in your room do you need to position your Focal to get the sound you prefer?  Is your room strictly rectangular?  Windows?  How many?  Where?  Any behind the listening position?  How much empty space is there behind the listening position?  What's under your vinyl flooring?  Plywood subfloor?  Concrete?  Is the ceiling drywall or something else?  Does it have beams?  Is there more than one egress or opening in the room?  Are the walls drywall?  How much and what kind of furniture do you have in the room?  Stuffed?  Minimal furnishings?  Large bookcases?

I know!  I know!  Lots of questions!  However, as some have alluded to here, all variables to consider because a sound room is as important as the components you put in it.  There is such a thing as overkill when it comes to speakers and power sources for any given sound room and too little oomph.  As for most things related to audiophile sound fidelity, matching components is important, and the sound room is all too often left out of that equation.

I am certainly no expert when it comes to sound room design.  However, from a practical point of view of having had different kinds of sound systems in many different kinds & sizes of sound rooms, per se, I would think twice about putting down wall-to-wall carpeting.  I recently got rid of my wall-to-wall carpeting and discovered there was antique type tongue & groove wide pine flooring underneath.  So, I had that refinished and listened to my system for a while with the bare wood floor.  Later, for aesthetic reasons, I put down a couple large Persian rugs and couldn't be more pleased with the improved sound fidelity over the wall-to-wall carpeting.  My sound room (i.e.  living room), however, is larger than yours and has a higher ceiling.  So, I guess I'm seconding or thirding or whatever the motion to experiment a bit, first, before going whole hog and putting down wall-to-wall carpeting.  Use some rugs or get some remnants to carpet the whole room and try that.  Then, use some area rugs in front of the speakers, etc.  I think that might give you a pretty good idea of where to go from there.  You may find you don't need any sophisticated room treatment(s) at all, and simple window curtains or drapes or a strategically placed bookcase might suffice.

Good Luck!   

@boxboy83 Almost forgot!  Did your speakers come with bungs?  If so, you might want to experiment with that, too.

@boxboy83 A few more thoughts FWIW:  I don't know what Focal recommends for positioning those speakers.  However, I think positioning them (system too? - same cable lengths?) at the long wall was definitely a good decision in a room with those dimensions.  I'm not familiar with your amp but I am familiar with your TT & cart (on my short list when I bought my new TT).  I sincerely doubt the weak link you're looking for is system or component related, especially since you thought everything sounded good at your previous abode.  Rega is a proponent of low mass design.  As such, more than most other TTs in that class/price point, they need rock solid support.  Hopefully, your rack or whatever you have your components on provides that support.  Is the fidelity shortfall across the board or just related to vinyl?  If vinyl only, then I would ask myself how much mileage does the Exact cart have on it?  Are your records clean?  Do you use stylus cleaner?  Have you checked TT calibration settings since your last move?  A well-maintained Exact cart in a well-maintained system using clean vinyl should provide at least 500 hours of solid play.

What kind of AudioQuest speaker cables and other interconnects are you using?  Any chance any of them got squashed or seriously compressed when you were moving?  If so, you might want to check continuity.  Last thought, what kind of connectors are you using with the speakers?  Banana plugs?  Spades?  Might want to check those, as well.

Good Luck!