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Sound quality vs. volume

Looking for a bit of expertise here:

I recently made a few changes to my setup and while overall pleased with the results, I’m on the quest for better.  I’m hoping you all can help me diagnose an issue I’m hearing.

When listening to music at lower volume levels - say less than 1/2 total volume, the clarity, imaging and dynamics come across far more coherent and “in focus”.  To use an often over-coined phrase “It’s like I’m there in the room”.  As I start to push the volume up a bit, closer to live-performance levels, the sound becomes increasingly “mushy”.  I know, a highly technical term, but the best way to describe what I am hearing.  The bottom-end loosens up - getting a bit boomy, the crispness of the mid-range and highs fade and the imaging falls out of focus.  These are all incremental with volume until I get to the point where it’s just unbearable.   

I’m no expert by any means but feel it might be room acoustics.  I already know I have a less than ideal setup with a nearly square room (21x20ft) with 60% of the surface covered with clear birch wood paneling. Some things we can’t change (easily).  I do not have any acoustic treatment, just lots of soft furniture.  What I find interesting is that my old setup (Magnepan 1.6) didn’t suffer to such a degree.  Maybe with the new setup there is more to loose?  A mystery.  

For a bit more context:  
Speakers:  Dynaudio Contour 60
Streamer: SoTM sms-200 Ultra
Amplifier: Peachtree Nova500

Within the 20x21ft. room, my speakers are 4ft. from the wall, I am seated 13ft. from the front wall (a bit back from room center). Speakers are 9ft. apart.

Any thoughts?  


wanderingmoo
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
wanderingmoo, the only thing you are going to do with blankets is block very high frequencies. There seems to be a lot of misconceptions out there. First of all the frequency sensitivity of our ears changes immensely with volume. As the volume drops our ears become much less sensitive to bass and treble. I suggest you google Fletcher-Munson curves. 
Next is that every recording has a "right" volume level. This depends on the type of music and the way the recording was mastered. As an example Rock music that was recorded to playback at higher volumes sounds dull and bass-less at lower volumes. Turn it way up and it magically turns into a great recording. 
Last is very few systems can play effortlessly above 90 db and many even less. But there are systems that can and when you hear one you will know it. Trust your ears. If things are starting to sound strained or crappy it is because they are. Trying to push a system beyond it's capability is...painful. If you want more life like listening levels you have work to do. But, there are home systems that can comfortably do 110 dB which for any reasonable person is too loud. If you can make it to 100 you are in business big time. 
genez
220 posts
 
Several possible solutions.   The speakers should have come with foam port plugs.   They are provided for a reason.  Using them might tighten up the speakers where you now hear mushy sound.   And,  do not be afraid to pull the speakers even further from the wall. And, to sit closer in a more nearfield seating.  Near field when set up properly can help eliminate room interactions to an extent. 

I recently listened to a pair of Dynaudio Emit M10's in my system which are much smaller than yours.  It appears that Dynaudio's signature sound was designed not for blasting full volume. But, to sound good at more comfortable levels as if you are sitting a bit away from the musicians.  I really loved their sound.  But I had to return them.  Because, the bass was too strong to be keeping my apartment "peace with my lease."   ;)  
wanderingmoo OP
29 posts
 
Foam plugs are in. 100%. It did improve the overall sound quality. I didn’t realize how overpowered the room was with low-frequency energy.

I pulled out the frequency analyzer and it appears I have a bump from about 125-350hz. I think I might try to build a few bass traps.

I do like the Dynaudio sound and generally like a good amount of bass but these things have crazy lower-octave powah!
lhasaguy's avatar
lhasaguy
336 posts
 
I am with the folks who believe your amp is a significant part of the issue.  If you can borrow tour friends Diablo 300, that would be an inexpensive way to make that determination.

When I went from an Adcom amp to McIntosh 501s driving 3.6 Maggies, the headroom opened up greatly and the clarity was / is terrific at high sound levels - think Allman Bros Band.

It is understood about your room, but thinking about moving from Maggies to you current speakers, the ideal position for the new box speakers will be different from the Maggies.  I believe you are pretty much locked into the current location from your posts.  It can be a trade off when integrating a 2 channel system into a Home Theater set up.

Good Luck in your journey!
wanderingmoo OP
29 posts
 
Lhansaguy: Good points.  I’m trying out the Diablo tomorrow.  I’ll let you know what comes of it.  I think I have a little bit of a lot of things going on with improvements possible on multiple fronts.  

To your point about speaker placement.  I discovered that as well.  When I first received the Contours, I placed them in the same location as the Maggies and that didn’t work at all!  Had to move them out considerably and toe them in another 10 degrees or so.  

I completely agree with the trade-offs.  

Question:  I’m thinking of putting up Rockwool panels behind my projector screen - which I believe is PVC (not acoustically transparent) in order to try and absorb some of the lower-frequency reflections.  Does anyone think this is a good idea?  (2” Roxul panels) 

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