Acoustics experts - a little help please


Hey all,

I have 9 foot ceilings and I sit in a 9 foot equilateral triangle with my speakers. Do I need to treat the ceiling? Absorption or defraction? I'm trying to get a deeper more 3D soundstage.Speakers are 46" from the front wall which is treated with absorption and defraction. 

Thanks! 

maprik

I am sure a professional would help. I am currently treating my HT/2 channel listening area. I read several forum discussions, watched several videos and consulted with ChatGPT before proceeding. I found ChatGPT to be excellent. You send the dimensions of your room, equipment, room specifics (windows, carpeting, furniture etc) and even send it pictures of your room. 
Fun, free, and provides excellent advice based upon the myriad of publications, videos & discussions. I also find it to be excellent for tweaks and system synergy recommendations. 
Give it a try. Best of all, no sniping, IMHO, the bane of Audiogon forums. 

BTW, even though ChatGPT recommended it, I chose not to treat my ceiling. Floor to ceiling Bass traps in all corners, front & side wall absorption, rear wall deflection. I did not want to overdo it & have thick wall to wall carpeting & a large overstuffed couch. Early indications are excellent. Improved clarity, no loss in dynamics. 

If it wasn’t that obvious earlier, try moving your seat forward as a test, closer to the speaker/away from the back wall....I would wager that a midfield listening distance not more than 7 ft and playing with toe-in may increase the perception of depth and layering....free of cost, to begin with...

(Before trying other speakers, tinkering with subs, etc)

Most important point, which I assume you have delt with, but just in case - Do you have a recording that has the information needed to create a holographic image? Most recordings do not actually have this information. I use an Opus 3 recording of "Depth of Image", a compilation of exceptionally recorded miscellaneous vocal, small orchestra, solo guitar, etc. The booklet or record jacket tells you what you will/should hear in a well set up system. I first heard this played over a modest, but well set up, system. A group of 4 musicians and you felt you could walk in amongst them and join in. 

That said, I have a set up similar in size (9'x10'x9'). My speakers are a bit further out into the room (6'). I located my chair with bass nodes/nulls and high frequencies in mind. I have no sonic room treatments or bass traps, etc, but I do have drapery, big Persian rug, bookcases, etc. I have box speakers and do toe them in a bit. It all works quite well. 

Your question re ceiling treatment, I don't think so unless you have an up tilted frequency response you can't deal with in other ways. I looked at your photos and I could imagine all of that equipment on the wall behind the speakers might interfere with imaging potential more than ceiling reflections. 

 

To OP

As posted above, the recording must have the sense of depth and height. IMO, if the recording has the sense and you know it but cannot hear that, then i think it must be your speakers?? 

What i have observed is that I have a set of speakers that images very well, BUT i also have a set of speakers that cannot image with depth and height. 

so do not disregard that speakers also play a role in depth/height projection