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Room Acoustics Problem????

I'm hoping someone can provide some input to resolve what I "think" is a room acoustics problem. I have a HT setup in a rectangular shaped room approximately 20' (L) by 12' (W). My television and front speakers are located on the length of the room. Although I have 5 speakers in the room for surround HT sound, I listen a great deal to 2 channel as well. What I'm noticing is that the left speaker always appears to be louder than the right speaker, throwing the sound off-balance. After reading a few articles on room acoustics, I'm attributing the louder sound to the bay windows which are located next to the left speaker. I'm assuming the bay windows add increased reflections in the sound. The right speaker is located next to an open space so there is no added reflections from that speaker.

Is there an easy way of fixing this problem other than using the balance control to change the output? Would adding absorption materials near the bay windows (maybe curtains?) solve the problem? I'm hoping that I could come up with a simple solution without spending too much money. Any advice would be appreciated!

Tony
calgarian5355
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
I had the same exact problem and I am lucky to have adjustments on dpeaker to compensate for the room, when I first moved into new house, I got a more powerful amp and thought it might be the amp, but it was the room and the adjustment worked great.

P.S. toe-in and one speaker a few extra inches out works great too
warnerwh
539 posts
 
Someone who is very knowledgeable is Ethan Winer of Realtraps. Give him a call. Pics would probably help too. He's very helpful with people that aren't even interested in buying anything. His prices though are the best for what you get from what I've seen. Windows are bad and thick heavy curtains would definitely help. If you have a balance control don't be afraid to use it, although I understand your thoughts there. Heavy drapes should be your next step if possible. DSP like a Tact will also work but is obviously more expensive. When room acoustics get better so does the sound quality.
markvetnz
20 posts
 
One of the biggest mistakes people make is to assume that speakers have to be set up symmetrically! This is not true. I have a similar sort of room to yours and the sound always seemed to be more prominent on the right. By working tirelessly on the speaker placement I got it sorted beautifully by moving the right speaker back in 1/2' increments. The speakers now image perfectly at all frequencies. In my opinion you should try all different permutations of speaker positions possible. Get a test CD to sort the imaging out.
robm321
932 posts
 
If you are up to it get a copy of CARA - I bought it and as markvetnz put it - CARA usually recommends a set up that is not Symmetrical.

It takes a lot of measuring and input, but it picks placements that I would have never figured out using just my ears. I don't have the best ears or patience, but itÂ’s a suggestion anyway.

Rob
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