2. misc-audio
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Sound Absorption Behind and Between the Speakers?

Recently my system moved to a new listening room and I was not enjoying the sound very much. There is a window between and behind the speakers. Last night, I put three sound absorbing panels right in front of the window and added a couple salt lamps which illuminate the panels. The sound instantly became way better! I have a soundstage now! I am not sure why though. Do the absorbing panels really have that much of an effect? Or does the fact that I added the panels with the salt lamps give my mind a surface to project the soundstage on which makes a bigger difference? Bit of both?
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Showing 2 responses by unsound

unsound
7,314 posts
 
^ For most forward facing driver speakers 3>' from the nearest wall will usually be quite helpful for most users towards ameliorating the time smear of direct vs reflected sound perception. 
unsound
7,314 posts
 
Though the drivers appear as though only front firing, the sound produced is somewhat omnidirectional, especially as frequencies decrease. Typically  speakers are placed so that the wall behind them is closest. The ear/brain mechanism can discriminate between direct and reflected sounds so long as there is about 5 ms between them. If the sound bouncing off the wall behind the speakers (typically the closest wall) is too close, then there isn’t enough time between the direct vs. reflected sound and the sound converges to smear the perceived direct sound. Hence, sound treatment behind and between the speakers.
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