Just moved - sound destroyed


Hi guys,

Some might remember me from having complained about the sound quality i was getting with a bedroom setup i had while living with a (jerk) roommate (didn't want to leave the system in the living room for fear of what might happen to it). I used to complain about lack of clarity, bass bloat etc. , which i deemed to be a result of the room in which the system was placed.

Recently, I moved to a new condo. I thought that i would really, finally be able to enjoy my system, but I'm soooo utterly disappointed it's not even funny.

This new place is open concept (albeit quite small) and is carpeted (whereas the other room was not... although the other setup had a huge bed as the 'seating position' in the previous room, which stifled a lot of the sound).

The positioning is as follows: room is approx 10x15... system is on a nine foot wide wall, which divides the living room and bedroom. To the right are windows which are covered in vertical blinds. To the left, the room is open. Speakers are positioned so the ports are able to use the rear wall as reinforcement. I've pulled the speakers out about 20 inches or so from the wall.

here's what i get: Muddy, undefined bass or rather, bass without punch (i can still hear the differentiation of bass notes, but there's just no 'wallup' to it). Vocals are veiled in a big way...even the best recordings I have sound mediocre...The highs go from being dull to being too hard...The speakers have lost their 'boogie factor'. Further, the sound has no real depth and can be described as a 'wall of sound'... which i believe is inherent to my speakers anyway.

Further, when i plug my Blue Circle power line pillow into any of the outlets on the same line, it trips the breaker! I don't know why that is... perhaps my system is not getting the proper current required.

Any ideas from anyone? The guy who sold me the speakers is going to swing by at some point to have a look (he's particularly good w/ setup).

i'm sooooooooo disappointed. I need you all to console me.

system:

unico (stock)
neat mystiques
Rotel rcd 971 w/ link DAC III half nelson
Ecosse speaker cables
loose

Showing 1 response by loose

Thanks tons for your suggestions, guys... i'm going to print this thread out for my dealer to have a 'one-over'. Again, he will be coming over to my place at some point in the near future... he assures me it's all a setup issue. At some point, he demoed the importance of the equipment rack in the equation - and what a HUGE difference equipment racks make!!! i would NEVER have believed it...but setup and tweaking are DEFINITELY the most important factors to good sound (aside from the room).

with respect to what some of you said about rear ports - i am certainly not a fan of rear ported speakers (or ported speakers at all, for that matter), but the mystiques are made for little english dens... i don't think the room's size is the problem. It's my belief that there are many factors involved, but believe me - i'm going to try different speakers in there too!

As far as furniture arrangement goes, the layout is such that I can only put the speakers on that particular wall (yes, the living area is THAT small)

I'm going to try not to worry about it for now, but I am certainly looking forward to having the store owner come over for a look-see.

thanks tons, guys. This hobby is definitely a love-hate thing. You'd think i'd have gotten tired it after so many years... but no such luck!! hahah