What about the floor?

I would use wall to wall… well not shag… how old is it… 70’s? My listening area is incredible… see my user ID… asymmetrical large  room, carpeting, think wall hangings. Sound stage goes many feet into the wall and on sides if speakers.

Thin rug on concrete. Too much damping kills the sound.

This depends on the size of your room as well as your ceiling. A small room with an undamped ceiling will require maximum shaginess, whereas a larger room (>300sqft) with a somewhat damped ceiling will require only wall to wall thin carpeting. Naked concrete is not advisable)

Don’t laugh, but I have hard wood floors and never wanted them covered.

Some time back I got into golf and bought a 5’x15’ indoor putting green to be able to practice. The only place it could go was right in front of the speakers in my living room. It made the sound better. I recommend taking up golf for better sound .

My dealer told me  when we were replacing some old carpet, to ONLY use natural material like wool or berber. Never synthetic. He said synthetic causes highs to be harsh. And once installed I could hear the room sounded much smoother and top end was more open. 

@emailists,

I guess you can listen to the grass growing, then?

@rs507,

softly does it, then?

Take up golf for better sound.... hmmmm. What a great idea!

Yes, it affects your sound, but aesthetics and room balance matter.  What I mean is, shag rugs are nasty, so I totally understand getting rid of them, overall balance of the room can be affected by adding treatment elsewhere.  For instance, would you add ceiling panels between you and your speakers?  Do you need bass traps?  Do you have enough diffusion?

Assuming the floor exchange was bad for the room, you can make up for it.

I have a wood floor in my listening room. I got a 4 X 6 oriental carpet and put a non-slip pad underneath. It is a lot easier to change your mind when you have a bare floor to start with. 

I also have wood floor with a large antique Oriental carpet on it. A smidge of damping but not too much.

Suggest that you set up the room with no covering, nd then see if you have significant slap echo (clapping hands in an empty room usually produces quite a bit). Then lay a carpet down and try again. It should prevent or reduce the echo without too much damping.

Don't forget the ceiling.