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 6 responses by stuartbranson

I have updated the photos! So glad I did this. The system has been so nearfield I am still getting used to the extra space.

Thanks all!
Actually if I move my head to the right there is a very discernible line across which the balance shifts quite dramatically.
WOW!! It's completely different now!! I guess the equal sidewall reflections has cleaned up the sound. Also I am able to get a bit more room around the speakers and the bass is MUCH more defined and deeper. (strange but true). I didn't think my little speakers could reach down as far as they are. Also this new arrangement has cured a midbass peak I had been experiencing. The sweet spot is still narrow but nowhere near the constraints of before.

I don't know the exact measurements but I am a couple feet further back from the speakers and it's given me a much larger soundfield. I can turn it up a bit more now and get that bigger orchestral wash without feeling like I am in the first row. Depth of soundstage has increased.

Amazing, but just goes to show how the room is the most important component of all.

Thanks again for the prodding and the encouragement to do this.
Eenteresting, eenteresting. I can imagine it now. Not sure it would pass the WAF but it's worth a try. Never thought of it. Guess that means I'd have to change the left speaker for the right so the tweeters are properly aligned.

I know what you mean about the narrow sweet spot but right now it seems ridiculously narrow. I remember some bizarre post somewher in which the author suggested a kind of head vise to maintain objectivity during a review, (or something to that effect). Methinks I gots to get me one o' dem.
Good ideas. In fact, great details. I think I will try the complete room re-arrangement and see how that goes.

At present the side wall reflection treatments aren't great, in the sense that the window on the left starts at the midpoint between the tweeter and woofer. There is a bookcase but a low one that is below the window. The right is open but I do have a large plush chair and some bookcases that correspond with the 1st reflection point. Maybe this deadening in opposition to the window's highly reflective properties is a problem. Other experiments with toe have been mixed. There is a focussing but a corresponding collapse of size and imaging. Hard to explain but the manufacturer suggests no toe-in and I have found that preferable in the long run. I guess I could put the TV on the other wall but I doubt it will reall work there. We'll see.

As far as behind my head. At present the wall is about 5", that is inches, not a typo, behind me with a large wool Iranian rug hanging the width of the couch. The speakers are about 8' away at the moment.

I'll try the re-arrangement and post again.