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

Until you address room acoustics, nothing you do will matter much to improve your sound quality. Given your room dimensions, the critical distance, the point at which the reverberant sound level equals the direct sound level is between 18 and 24" in front of your speakers. At a normal listening distance, about 90% of what you hear is the room. Room equalization, contrary to popular belief, can do nothing to address this, as it only affects the input INTO the room and not the reflected OUTPUT, the reverberant field, of the room.

Some recommendations have been made using rugs and furniture - they will help a little, but a small room treatment package, including 6 - 2’X4’ 2" custom covered rock wool or fiber glass panels and a couple bass traps is really the answer. Room calculation will show you the recommend minimum square footage of coverage for your room. Acoustimac https://www.acoustimac.com/room-package-deals/home-theater-packages makes a great package for about $850, covered in your choice of materials and colors that will do the job. Once hung wall panels are easy, youll need a friend and a stepladder for the ceiling), you will hear a found improvement, and can start with other tweaks like speaker placement and toe-in which will now be easily audible. And don’t believe that more expensive panels work better. Under the covers they’re almost all Fiberglass 704 or Rockwool. 

Your Focal speakers are capable of sounding great, especially for their price point.  I had some paired with a Naim Supernait 3 in a large room and they sounded great.  I agree with others that a rug and furnishings could help, but I don’t think this is your only issue, I think it’s worth trying a different amp.

Thinking about this more I still say it’s the amp (maybe damaged during the move?) or the power / electrical wiring at the new place (either before or after the breaker, or maybe both?).  Try getting an extension cord long enough to get to another circuit?  Try bringing over the smallest speakers and amp plus the CD source to a friend’s house and try it there?

@boxboy83 

Try the tried and true 1/3 1/3 1/3 room division and the equilateral triangle shape as a starting point. Measure your room into thirds using the longest length.  In theory, your speakers would be 4’ 4” from the front wall and your listening position would be 8’8” from the front wall.  Start with the front of your speakers 3’ from the the front wall. Then set them 5’ apart, tweeter to tweeter.  Then measure maybe 4.5’-5’ from the front of your speakers and make the triangle.  That’s where your ears should be.   Start with your speakers aimed at your shoulders. Right speaker aimed at your right shoulder, left at left shoulder.  Everything is variable, but these are generally good starting points.
 

My speakers have the tweeters are mounted too high and the speakers have to be angled down a bunch!  Otherwise the sound is really dull!  It’s really important that the tweeters are at the same height as your ears!

Oh and I don’t know about getting a Bear skin rug, but a carpet and pad is a great place to start with room acoustics.
 

All the best.

The q tip is one possibility as it acts like a ram rod impacting wax in the ear canal.i excavated alot of wax out of people's ear under a microscope for 40 plus years use half rubbing alcohol and half vinegar to clean you ear with a bulb syringe gentle pressure.if your old you could have a change in hearing an audiologist might help with hearing test.enjoy the music hope you find the problem