Do what you can to tame the bass. There are limits and room modes are "almost" impossible to overcome (wrt flattening the response curve). Take a look at my TN 2023 system page for before and after bass traps response curves. I have it slightly "flatter" today but it requires as much bass trapping as I can fit. And I have a very well-proportioned room (23.3x16.5x10).
Room Treatments - ATS Corner Bass Trap
I have posted often my system’s week link is my listening room, a shared listening/living room. The configuration, a 20’ x 12’ room, with a 11’ x 14’ dining room in an L- configuration on the left and a hall on the right, is for the most part an open configuration. Therefore, there is adequate venting to prevent wave reinforcement and cancellation, or at least I thought. The room was untreated until now due to esthetic considerations and the WAF. I finally purchased and installed an ATS Corner Bass Trap today and there was an immediate improvement in the following SQ attributes:
- Bass detail is much improved, especially the secondary harmonics and the ability to discern the strings from the body of instruments.
- Dynamics have greater impact.
- Detail in general across the frequency range is improved.
- Staging is deeper and wider with improved density and dimensionality of images.
- Timbre, most important to me, is improved.
So for years, I have underestimated the reinforcement and cancellation effects occurring in my room masking detail and I underestimated the positive effects that relatively inexpensive room treatments can bring. I still will long for a treated, dedicated listening room, but for now am very happy with the improvements realized today. Thanks to all that posted on the benefits of room treatments.
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- 12 posts total
- 12 posts total