Can room acoustics amplify the sound of speakers?


In attempting to solve some room acoustics problems, I have encountered a dilemma: Can room acoustics actually amplify the sound from speakers?? This is my scenario, I play music fairly loud, but am no headbanger (for example Yes' version of "America" or "Going for the One", Allman Brothers "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed") I understand what it means to pressurize a listening room and how recording venues have different degrees of loudness which should be adjusted or matched by the volume control. The source of this question originates when I play music loud, the dynamic passages become less clear and more congested or noisy, but a transition to a softer passage, the clarity and harmonics of the music improves. Am I hearing more total harmonic distortion at loud volume levels, and less so on the softer passages??, OR, is my amp clipping, or is the music's demands beyond the capabilities of my integrated amp. The amp is a Creek SE5350 Classic (80RMS) driving Acoustic Zen Adagios. The room is only 12X14. Will appreciate any advice or explanation. Jim
sunnyjim

Showing 4 responses by zmanastronomy

I agree with Stanwal.
If your room isn't accoustically treated at the first reflections, and preferably the second also, the nodes can make havok of the imaging and it will fall apart at high SP's.
If you don't have enough headroom in your amp this can also cause the image to fall apart at loud SP's.
And, if your speaker isn't capable of filling the room with said SP's, it will break apart.
And a combination of all the abouve will be evident
Stand in your room and clap your hands. If it echoes, then the same thing is going on on every note that comes out of the speakers.
Keep it simple at first and progress by process of elimination.
Stanwal.
Which DAC was the better? I'm thinking the $9000 tube dac, but in this game you never know.