Go ahead, hang blankets on the side walls. You’ll be amazed.


Had Pass Labs Aleph equipment until 6 years ago when I replaced it with Devialet 400 monoblocks. Used them in a 12 x 23 x 8 shared space. Recently moved to a new house with space for a dedicated listening room and decided to return to my analog roots in an end-game way. Went preowned on the electronics and still spent a lot but the music is remarkable. A lot of credit has to go to the luxury of a dedicated room and the opportunity for abundant acoustic treatment. Did not plan it this way, but my budget turned out to be about 1/3 preamp, 1/3 amplifiers, and 1/3 room treatment. I believe the room treatment made the biggest difference. For those starting such a journey, simply taking care of the first reflections off the side walls and perhaps the floor will make an audible and likely convincing difference.

tcutter

I was happy with the speakers although I did upgrade the tonearm and the cartridge.  I spent as much on this as I did on the others so I guess I should be dividing this in quarters not thirds. 

"Did not plan it this way, but my budget turned out to be about 1/3 preamp, 1/3 amplifiers, and 1/3 room treatment."

That doesn't leave much for speakers, source and cables...

Persian rugs and Oriental rugs are not the same. There is a general difference in density and quality and theoretically will have a differing impact on your room acoustics. 🤓

The room treatments are fundamental to a good sounding room. It’s no secret, sound waves bounce off any surface, to reduce reflectivity hang something on your wall. Just about anything will be an improvement over your bare walls.

Check out GIK Acustics, you can treat the room much cheaper than some of those Persian rugs.

hahahahahaha,I've always had a limited budget for a/v systems so discovered years ago the HUGE difference heavy weight moving blankets made hung across the back wall & side walls about 1/2 way to the listening position(live end ,dead end)..

Post removed 

When i do a room that needs absorption…i first focus on a broad band panel, which is deep, otherwise a blanket or rug is pretty narrow band…bit of a tone control…but the RT60 by frequency will show you this… Deep panels covered by blankets and rugs = effective beauty….  

meanwhile…i am building out the dedicated Piccolo cappela of diffusion….

services conducted nightly

congrats to OP

Great advice.
 

I always recommend simulating treatments with pillows, cushions, and blankets. I have made some of those permanent with heavy woven wool oriental carpets. While expensive they are really beautiful and great acoustic treatments.