I'm sorry but painting the wall behind the speakers will I'm the sound. I don't see it...I feel listening to music in a movie theater or a music hall which are dark sounds good.So does that mean hearing music at a concert sounds better at night than during the day when the sun is out ,sounds better,hmmmm.i rather go to a concert at night than during the day because of the heat. BUT when it gets cooler at nite you better bring a sweater especially at Jones Beach by the ocean it gets cooler at nite...I have a system up in my loft space, I have a town house with cathedral ceilings and when I'm sitting down stairs the music fills the room .I like it .,When I was teenager my room was painted dark blue my mother wouldn't let me have a black bedroom....lol.My Uncles living room was painted black with strobe lights ...day glow posters with a black like over them and when you put on Led Zeppelin first two albums the sound was insane...but I was 18 then.
Make speakers disappear. Simple, cheap
My pet peave...
This simple visual trick is without question the biggest improvement in creating the illusion of stereo image that I've ever done. The illusion created is amazing and the improvement is HUGE. However I rarely see it used in two channel systems. I don't see any You tube reviewers using this illusion. When I go to audio shows it amazes me how MOST of the displays overlook this simple trick. (there are a small handfull of high end displays that get it)
I also have difficulty getting anyone to try this effect. It's too much of a commitment? WAF factor maybe?? They spend 10's of thousands on equiptment then miss the target on the biggest improvement of all!!
I'm flabbergasted when I see PS Audio new listening rooms that completely miss the mark on this illusion. Their rooms are bright as day and there is ZERO abience created. I think Pauls wife decorated the rooms and unfortunatley knows nothing about lighting.
You need to create the 'canvas' for the image to appear.The back wall behind the speakers should be flat black and as dark as possible. NO lights on the center back wall. My favorite is a matte dark black fabric that also aids in reducing reflections off the sheetrock.
You want to create the illusion that there is NO back wall. Just a deep, dark abyss from which the instruments will magically appear. This can be further enhanced by dimming the lights elsewhere in the room. Much like a movie theater. Ever notice a broadway play or a Las Vegas magic show is all about controlled lighting?
It's also a great effect to hi-light the speakers face with very low level up light. (Cheap at Ikea) or even a candle will do. Gentle lighting in front of the speakers or a down spot light in the middle of the room can even make the back wall darker.
Black paint will also work but I prefer a dark velour fabric.
The effect is dramatic and absolutely worth the little cost and effort yet no one does it.
- ...
- 75 posts total
Dear @treitz3 : " " When a system performs so superbly, even if your eyes are open and you have visual cues and a true 3-D experience? When a system makes you want to close your eyes to experience even more? That’s when you know you are listening to a stellar system. "
The @gdaddy1 is not my room/system main priority as it’s not too soundstage.
As many of you I attend often to music hall to listen live MUSIC. I always seat at near field as I can and normally the orchestra stage is highly iluminated and during the play of the score ovserve that no one close their eyes but the other way around: way open. Yes in a live MUSIC session I like to listen MUSIC not my " imagination " ( in the instant that you close your eyes you can imagine everything you want everything that your brain builds and in the way you like it. ). In the recording proccess the microphones are " seated " at near field position to pick up the developed sound not exactly the sound stage. Characteristics of MUSIC is for me the critical subject: timbre, rhytm, natural brigthness, dynamic power, natural tone balance and the like and these and other main characteristics is what I want to appreciate in my room/system listen sessions. I like to listen full range room/system ( with out good bass management MUSIC just can't exist. ) Every room/system develops its own " soundstage " that we can change it according what we prefer about and that " soundstage " it’s not wha comes from the recording microphones. Each one of us have our MUSIC listen home ystem priorities where in my case soundstage is " important " but almost at the end of my MUSIC charcateristics list. A question for you: if we are seated at nearfield positon listening at live SPL to a trio of piano, trumpet/horn and battery: can you have a precise and well defined soundstage? and do you think that can listen to that live horn seated at near field for say: half an hour? A experiences like that are as a learning sessions. Like I say that’s me and that’s why I " disagree " with some of you. Maybe I’m wrong but it’s what it’s. I like to listen my system and that my system can put me nearer to the recording.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
Dear @treitz3 :
" When a system makes you want to close your eyes to experience even more? That’s when you know you are listening to a stellar system "
First than all I know for sure that I'm ignorant of many/several home audio subjects due to the complex audio world.
Now, in my over 40 years in audio this is the first time that I read a precise " conclusion " like yours and I wonder all what I'm missing , I mean the very good reasons you have and know to arrived to that " conclusion " . that according your sentences I'm far away of a " stellar " kind of room system. I really apreciated and maybe other gentlemans too that you can share your way of thinking in that important quality subject in a home system. Thank you in advance.
R. |
A book could literally be written about some of the questions presented in the last two posts. Near field is something that I have done before, but isn’t my typical listening style. It can sound fantastic, and has, especially when there are no side walls and there is a valley behind you. You do speak truth, in that the microphones do not capture things the way our ears do. That said, the recording and mastering engineers have ways to manipulate the sound, that "recreates" the event, according to how they want it to sound. The best we can ever hope for is the best "approximation" of the original event. Even with the best gear, microphone placement, mastering and recording techniques. Even when utilizing one’s favorite playback format. At the end of the day, it's still just an approximation. Tom |
Stereo itself creates an audible illusion. I can hear the sax on the left side, bass player on the right and the singer is clear in the middle. Not perfect but pretty darn good when set up correctly. I like it alot! @treitz3 the set up on porch is very interesting. You created a blank space with no visual distractions between the speakers that would enhance depth of field. Did you ever listen to it on a dark night? Looking into the dark abyss? With eyes wide open you can 'see' the musicians. Instead of staring at a wall. Since I don't have a mountain drop off I'm using dark faric to create a similar type of effect that works either near field or equalateral.
|
- 75 posts total