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Speaker/Room help needed

Hi,

I�m in need of help setting up a new dedicated listening room that has proven very difficult to setup, and I�m really starting to get frustrated by not being able to figure this room out! It is a 2nd floor, 14W x 20L x10H room with suspended hardwood floors (a first for me), speakers on the short wall; listening position has to be against the back wall. There is a fireplace directly between and behind the speakers; behind each speaker I have placed a tall bookcase full of books, CD, records and my saxophone. On the left wall are three very large, 3x7 windows covered by light drapes, the right wall has a large sliding wood doors. I have placed small cloth sofas at the first reflection points on the side walls but, with low backs, they may be too short to do real good. I tossed down a sleeping bag on the floor for kicks to absorb some reflections, but will get a proper rug shortly (any suggestions for type?). There is also a 2x4 coffee table in front of my 7ft long cloth listening couch. I prefer as wide of a soundstage as possible, and my speakers, by design, must be at very minimum 8ft apart, which doesn�t make this any easier.

My system consists of:
Full range Von Schweikert VR3�s with Vibrapods underneath (VR4SE�s or VR4JR�s to come)
PS Audio HCA-2 amp
Musical Fidelity A3cr preamp
Marantz SA-14 SACD/CD player (set to �Custom�)
DIY Silver cables and IC�s w/WBT connectors
PS Audio and Belden PCs
Marsh/Monster HTS-2500 power conditioner

I think component isolation may be playing havoc with me as well as I still need to make small amp stands for each component, as all pieces will be placed below & behind the speakers, on the floor, and would welcome suggestions here as well for materials, especially for the Marantz, which is proving stupidly sensitive to isolation. Currently all gear sits on MDF slabs resting directly on the floor.

I currently have the speakers 5ft off the back wall, 2.5ft off the side walls, angled right at my ears. As for my problems specifically: The soundstage is wide and deep with round images, but I have what I can only describe as a midrange suck-out and flattening, which makes vocals appear to be hollow, as is sang though a large tube and then through a sponge, and vocals also reside too far recessed on the soundstage. My new Beck SACD sounds like Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam stole the mic and that�s not
good! There is no fatigue or brightness to speak of; the bass is most impressive in extension and slam, while articulation of finer detail could be better from maybe 800hz down, as could the openness and air (the SACD player is slightly lacking on the last 2 counts but not to the extent I�m currently hearing). It�s a 100+yr old building but the electrical is maybe ~15yrs old (guess), and I haven�t ruled out power issues yet either but my instincts tell me the room needs help first. I will run dedicated lines shortly.

If there is anything I missed please don�t hesitate to ask. Thanks so much for any suggestions, and the simpler and cheaper the suggestions the better!

Cheers,
Michael
socrates

Showing 1 response by zargon

zargon's avatar
zargon
453 posts
 
I agree that getting your couch out some might help.

Also, some basic measurements would be very informative. If you have access to a RS sound pressure meter and a test CD, plotting the sound pressure response of the room at the listening position can tell you, for example, whether your bass is elevated or your mids suppressed. Either might contribute to what you are hearing. If so, moving the speakers or listening position can change that response dramatically.

I have also found that having some one stand at each speaker and clap sharply while you listen at the listening position can tell you a lot about the liveness of the room and whether you need some accoustic treatment. A delayed echo requires some absorption to be added, and no echo may explain some of your mid range suck out.

The depth of vocals in your sound stage may have something to do with having the speakers aimed directly at you. Have you tried less toe in? My image is most forward with almost no toe in.

Since you are used to your previous room, the differences may be exagerated in this one. Give it a little time before you do anything radical. Keep experimenting, it took me months before I hit the best speaker position and boy was it worth the effort!
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