Room Correction Required


I have to part with my Supernait 3. I have enjoyed it as much as possible in a room where I have a 7bB at 80hz hole at my listening position. It starts at about 125hz, bottoms out at 80hz, comes back up around 60hz before dropping into a black hole at 50hz. On top of that I have a serious peak (12dB) at 40-30hz. It makes for an odd musical experience. Obviously this is not the fault of the Naim. My previous unit did the same thing but I was wishing that the Naim would power through it. I also replaced my speakers in the same vain hope. Wishing vs. science..... oops. When I get out of the null zone the tonality is great but I can't be seated that far out of the space without looking really dumb or antisocial. Also the sound stage is wrecked when I get out there.

I have lived in this home for a year and a half. The issue was worse before I pivoted the room arrangement 90 degrees. My partner is an artist and designer, so I have blown all my rearranging capitol for the next 10 years (her words not mine). We looked at adding room treatments and perused the currently available options which look like church or hospital decor; SO NOT HAPPENING (her words again but I have to agree- yuck).

As a result, I need an integrated with room correction. Yes, I'm sticking with an integrated because I want a minimal gear set.

-TT via Gold Note PH-10/PSU10, outputs either balanced or single end.
-Prefer built in streaming to lose another couple boxes but it's not a deal killer. Current DAC outputs balanced or single end.
-Powering MA Silver 500 7G, not looking to change these.
-Single Revel B112v2 Subwoofer (not currently in use as the 500's are already peaking in the same range)
-TV, currently input optical to the DAC.

The top contenders are:
Anthem STR (no streaming)
NAD M33
Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 (the 3400 is not budget friendly).
Yamaha RN-2000a

So if anyone has experience with these units I'd like to hear about it. Also, I know it's going to happen and god bless you all; someone is going to tell to reposition my speakers (been done), stuff the ports (been done) get room treatments (ummmmmm nope?) and buy Luxman, Sudgen or something else because of __________ (fill in the blank). That's fine and I appreciate the advise but I don't see any of that happening in this room anytime soon under the current design driven regimen I live under.

Thank you all for taking a look!

mitchellcp

I agree with above. I need a system which will give me some good bass management as opposed to no management at all.

The Swarm sub array - or using different subs as described above - will work wonders. Everyone thinks of subs as 40hz and lower and pounding out bass like a concert but really having them cut off at 70 or 80hz and dialed in prudently will work really well. Good luck!

The STR Integrated has been in place for 24 hours now and I have some observations. First off, it’s big. It’s also black but not as black as the Supernait which may be the most absurdly black object I’ve ever seen. The STR speaker connections are on the correct sides, unlike the Naim, whose sole redeeming quality is highly engaging sound reproduction, which causes one to forget the weird  things about a Naim product.

As to the STR non-DSP/room corrected sound quality, I was prepared for a letdown. What I was not prepared for was the similarity between the STR and the Supernait 3. First is the transient attack which is excellent on both and one of the qualities I was worried about giving up. No worries on that score, the STR sounds nimble with percussion and outstanding with piano. The STR may best the Naim on sustains but since I don’t have them both here I can’t be sure, I certainly don’t feel like I lost anything in that regard. One thing the STR brings to the table is gobs of power and you can hear it.

All in all, in a non- corrected state, I can’t say I lost anything with the STR. I bought it for the room correction but even without that feature activated, for my equipment in my room, it’s a much better match. 
 

The 30-40hz peak and the 70 to 90hz null are still there so tomorrow is ARC day. I’ll update after I bumble through that.

The 30-40hz peak and the 70 to 90hz null are still there so tomorrow is ARC day. I’ll update after I bumble through that.

@mitchellcp Your choice of electronics won't change the null. The standing wave causing it has to be broken up and electronics can't do that. You could use bass traps but they would have to dynamically move about the room depending on the bass note frequency to be effective. That is why multiple subs is the only way to solve this problem.

I’m betting that since the mid bass null is not too severe, it will be bettered or cured. The null at 50hz is a solid black hole- I don’t expect any improvement there.