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Need help with room problems

My specific issue is that my "sweet spot" is very small and quite dramatic. My "system" link will show you some visual details but here's more info.

My room is about 16'x 12'x 8'(height). System is on the long wall. Speakers about 23" from rear wall, 6'3" apart and my head about 8' from them. No toe-in as recommended by the manufacturer. Room is flanked on the left by a large window starting 3' from the floor and is centered measuring 4'h x 7'w. It is covered with curtains, though not heavy ones. The right is open to the dining area, and a half wall that leads into a hallway. Two large bookcases are at the first reflection point to try and minimize the chaos of the hallway.

If I move my head more than about 6" the placement of the instruments change quite drastically. The effect seems to be with the right speaker. Sometimes the sound is as if from the speaker and in the sweet spot, the speaker "disappears".

I looking for suggestions as to what to do to deal with these problems.

Thinking of trying the system on the short wall with the window behind it but I am concerned about the bass response due to the ports. Also wondering if the open dining area and the opening to the hallway will send the sound off into oblivion.

Thinking of diy roomlenses. It is the living room and unfortunately the only possible room. Also we rent so I can't alter anything but the furniture.

Thanks.
stuartbranson

Showing 3 responses by nighthawk

nighthawk
259 posts
 
Nice job!
nighthawk
259 posts
 
Glad to hear it worked out. If you get a chance, could you update your pictures so we could see the results?
nighthawk
259 posts
 
Your instincts are right. Try the short wall with the curtains behind your speakers. As an experiment, set it up without the TV between the speakers. Pull the speakers out from the wall about 3 feet and set them 8 feet apart on centers. Toe them in about 10 degrees. This will help to focus the soundstage and widen the sweet spot. Place your listening chair so your ears are about 10 feet away from the plane connecting the speakers. Make sure the symmetry is exact. Measure it carefully. Put the bookcases behind the listening chair. They will act as a partial room divider and also function as good diffusors. You could put some absorptive panels at the new first reflection points on the walls, but I would try it first without them.

This setup should give a large soundstage. Firing down the long dimension of the room is almost always preferable to firing down the short dimension. One advantage is it allows you to sit a little farther away from the speakers, which gives the sound from each driver time to integrate. The curtains behind the speakers are ideal for reducing reflections. This should be close to a LEDE (Live End, Dead End) approach which works very well. The open area behind the listening position will also help reduce reflections. Don't worry about losing the sound. The ideal case is for you to only hear the direct sound and the early reflections. Later reflections just serve to muddy up the sound.

If you must have the TV and equipment rack between the speakers, set them back at least 1 foot behind the front of the speakers.
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