How to tame a bright system?

As I went down the thread, I was going to ask why no one is bothering to mention the room, but Snarfie23 saved the day, and with empirical measurements no less.

Measuring isn’t everything, of course. But I can offer you my personal, anecdotal experience that confirms Snarfie23’s post, notwithstanding MC’s clamorous protestations to the contrary.

For 41 years, my system suffered from brightness and harshness in a 1,200 sq ft space in a 2,000 sq ft NYC loft.

Then, I moved into a townhouse that I renovated and restored. My office and (smaller, 550 sq ft) listening room is in the attic. I did not cover the 17" of rock wool insulation with sheetrock. I instead simply put fire-resistant burlap over it.

The problem went away.

As I slowly populated my bookshelves with my library, it came back, only a little.

The cliche is true: the room is 50% of your system. Maybe more.

You are welcome to try it and see if it works for you.

Full disclosure: I am neutral on cables.

@snarfie23 

I am guessing that covering the walls and ceiling - completely - with an acoustically deadening material is optimal? Yes or no?

@snarfie23 Snarfie23 :

I am analog through and through. Dunno about a DSP being of any help  

@snarfie23

Thanks for that but frankly, all a little too anal for me.

As long as it sounds great to my ears, which it nowblessedly does, with the added side benefit of watching my guest’s jaws drop and their eyes bug out when I play their favorite piece of music that they THOUGHT they knew, I’m OK. 👍🏼🤗

Snarfie23: my architect has designed recording studios.

It was his idea to save spending the many $$$$s that recording studios spend on room treatments by simply not covering the walls and ceiling with sheetrock.

@snarfie23

- the particular type of rockwool that I used has no formaldehyde.
- unlike fiberglass, which has sharp edges in its fibers, rockwool is beaded.
- it is completely covered with burlap.
- I waited for about 2 months before moving in to see if it “exhaled” dust. Finding almost none, I felt safe

- the safety record of the material is - so far (20 years) - good. No OSHA documented cases of cancer with this product