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Sound traps/acoustic panels to improve the sound

I need advice:

I have open-baffle Concentus Lyra speakers manufactured by Nightingale (Italy). They had marvelous sound, especially with jazz, but when I moved to a new flat, I was aware that they lack HF extension as if covered with a blanket. The amp is Cary SLI-80 (the other amp is the older SLI-50). They are positioned against the short wall opposite the balcony and placed nearly in the middle of the room.
The manufacturer had told me before that these speakers do not require any specific placement or room treatment.
My question is: should I look for any sound traps/acoustic panels or other room tweaks to improve the sound? I have other speakers on loan now (the cheapest Montana DPS speakers) and they sound very balanced, though do not reproduce jazz music as well as the former speakers. With the former speakers, I was surprised to hear the cymbals when I moved close to them (to high frequency drivers), while I don't hear them from my listening spot (which is not the case with Montana - I can hear everything from my listening spot).
I will appreciate all thoughts and recommendations.
transl
kw6
692 posts
 
I tend to agree with the above that's why ASC tube traps are so good. They have a broad band absorption coefficient and you can tune for diffusion or absorption depending on how you position the tube trap in the room. RPG products are good too. Can be expensive but worth the effort.

Good Luck!*>)
ait
480 posts
 
If you did want to look into bass absorption, take a look at the StandTraps or SoffittTraps by Real Traps (www.realtraps.com).
According to their tech data, these are traps that actually do absorb low bass notes and leave the mids and highs pretty much alone. They are also reasonably priced.
transl OP
156 posts
 
Thanks to all for great comments!

The room is small, 18 sq.m (6 x 3m), the ceiling is approx. 2.7 m high. The speakers are placed approx. 2.5 meters from the short wall against the draped window. They have a radiating back panel, but the back grille is not removed. You may see their pic at www.nightingale.it. To check the HF driver is a good idea, for which purpose I have to unscrew the driver. Duke's and Herman's recommendations to deal with disperson instead of absoption make me feel that these speakers were better suited for my old apartment (which was brighter and less absorptive than the present one). I will explore this further. Anyway, I am waiting for new speakers to arrive.
bulldogger
274 posts
 
RPG Skyline really helped my speakers sound more extended in the highs. I swear by them. Absorption can be tricky and have the undisired effect of sucking all of the highs out. Only complaint with Skylines is that too many can make the speaker sound bright.
transl OP
156 posts
 
I recently received Silverline Sonata-III speakers and the aforementioned unplesant effect disappeared, though I admit that the room may be overabsorbed. Even with Sonatas, the highs are not as prominent as could be expected from these speakers. In any case, they smoked the former speakers hands down.
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