Afternoon Fun
Posted by: garyi on 24 August 2003
We have lived in our flat for nearly three years an in all that time the sitting room has remained the same.
Today I decdied to have a change round and as such my listening position is much much better.
before I was around 5 feet from the speakers, not I am around 15 feet.
This has bought around some fantastic changes, namely treble harshness is gone (no doubt because I am not sat on them) and music can be turned louder without pain.
One down side however is a bit of muddyness. This may be due to higher volumes, (10.30 on CD has been typical this afternoon)
However it could be down to the confinment of the speakers.
Any tips on reducing this effect. It kind of sounds a bit like distortion, no doubt a bit more warming up is in order but I don't think this is a long term solution.
Cheers.
Today I decdied to have a change round and as such my listening position is much much better.
before I was around 5 feet from the speakers, not I am around 15 feet.
This has bought around some fantastic changes, namely treble harshness is gone (no doubt because I am not sat on them) and music can be turned louder without pain.
One down side however is a bit of muddyness. This may be due to higher volumes, (10.30 on CD has been typical this afternoon)
However it could be down to the confinment of the speakers.
Any tips on reducing this effect. It kind of sounds a bit like distortion, no doubt a bit more warming up is in order but I don't think this is a long term solution.
Cheers.
Posted on: 24 August 2003 by Alex S.
Gary, I think the muddyness comes from your appalling choice of footware.
Alex
BTW do you know what Acoustic Arts is like?
Alex
BTW do you know what Acoustic Arts is like?
Posted on: 24 August 2003 by garyi
Alex. dem dare shoes are from tescos and cost me a massive 25 quid and are used for work and other such duties where a fine leather is not required!
Acoustic Arts, the name is ringing bells, give me a clue?
Acoustic Arts, the name is ringing bells, give me a clue?
Posted on: 24 August 2003 by Onthlam
Nice floors......
Marc
She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...
Marc
She asked for a Grand piano.
All I could give her was an upright organ...
Posted on: 24 August 2003 by Michael Dale
Gary,
I wish I was as tidy as you, your room looks great. My experience is that the further you sit from your speakers, the more you will hear what your room sounds like. My room is sparcely furnished with a maple floor and I ended up going to a lot of trouble to lessen the sonic effect of the room without spoiling the simple appearance of it. Even with that lovely rug of yours, there are still many reflective surfaces, especially that patio door!
Still, it's fun to try these things, and if you end up putting it all back, it hasn't cost you anything.
Best wishes,
Mickey.
P.S Have you checked out all that lovely original Zappa vinyl on the Zappa website? It's oh so tempting! The things they keep finding in the Zappa vault...
I wish I was as tidy as you, your room looks great. My experience is that the further you sit from your speakers, the more you will hear what your room sounds like. My room is sparcely furnished with a maple floor and I ended up going to a lot of trouble to lessen the sonic effect of the room without spoiling the simple appearance of it. Even with that lovely rug of yours, there are still many reflective surfaces, especially that patio door!
Still, it's fun to try these things, and if you end up putting it all back, it hasn't cost you anything.
Best wishes,
Mickey.
P.S Have you checked out all that lovely original Zappa vinyl on the Zappa website? It's oh so tempting! The things they keep finding in the Zappa vault...
Posted on: 24 August 2003 by garyi
Mike, I have a lot of Zappa vinyl, around 45 of them, but will give it a look, I know they released a few.
Posted on: 24 August 2003 by garyi
Um don't know mike, are thes ere-releases or stuff they found down stairs? $42 including delivery for a single album seems a bit steep to me. I got a minted copy of grand wazoo off ebay last week for 9 quid.
Posted on: 25 August 2003 by HTK
I had a couple of Persians but it didn't prove very successful. Kept moving about and messing up the balance, and cost a fortune in food and vets bills. Not recommended.
Posted on: 25 August 2003 by ChrisD
Alex S,
I bought my kit from acoustic arts and have been impressed with their service. They are extremely helpfull (ask to speak to kingsley or fraser), and were excellent when my dads roxan amp packed in. I havent had any quibbles with them so far and was happy to buy from their shop after my dads experiences with them.
Chris
PS Gary its the hi fi shop on St albans rd just up from watford junction.
I bought my kit from acoustic arts and have been impressed with their service. They are extremely helpfull (ask to speak to kingsley or fraser), and were excellent when my dads roxan amp packed in. I havent had any quibbles with them so far and was happy to buy from their shop after my dads experiences with them.
Chris
PS Gary its the hi fi shop on St albans rd just up from watford junction.
Posted on: 25 August 2003 by garyi
Shit, yea, I just twigged!
As it goes I havn't bought anything in there but have been in a la nerdy style a few times and they were very accomodating.
I like the looks of the decks they sell in there as well, are they the same as yours alex?
The place is full of speakers though, can't move for the bloddy things!
As it goes I havn't bought anything in there but have been in a la nerdy style a few times and they were very accomodating.
I like the looks of the decks they sell in there as well, are they the same as yours alex?
The place is full of speakers though, can't move for the bloddy things!
Posted on: 25 August 2003 by ChrisD
they have got some well nice decks in there, the SME (i think its SME anyway) ones look gorgeous. never heard one though.
Chris
Chris
Posted on: 25 August 2003 by Alex S.
Gary, Chris,
Just wondered, they sound nice on the phone. I was ringing around for a top secret amp I'm hunting and, cor blimey, they had one. They still haven't given me a price so I may have to venture to the Kingdom of Denmark.
Gary, if I end up going to Watford for said amp I will, uninvited, come and make a mess of your pristine room.
Alex
Just wondered, they sound nice on the phone. I was ringing around for a top secret amp I'm hunting and, cor blimey, they had one. They still haven't given me a price so I may have to venture to the Kingdom of Denmark.
Gary, if I end up going to Watford for said amp I will, uninvited, come and make a mess of your pristine room.
Alex
Posted on: 26 August 2003 by garyi
Alex you will be more than welcome, you'll have to take your shoes off though 
Posted on: 26 August 2003 by Dev B
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
Alex you will be more than welcome, you'll have to take your shoes off though
Big brother is watching you !
Posted on: 26 August 2003 by Frank Abela
Gary
I think you may have found a room mode. If so, you may lower the problem by pulling the speakers out from the wall, just by an inch or two. I know SBLs are meant to be up against the wall, but this can happen on occasion. I know someone who has his SBLs 4 inches from the wall and they sound astonishingly good.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
I think you may have found a room mode. If so, you may lower the problem by pulling the speakers out from the wall, just by an inch or two. I know SBLs are meant to be up against the wall, but this can happen on occasion. I know someone who has his SBLs 4 inches from the wall and they sound astonishingly good.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 26 August 2003 by garyi
Cheer frank.
I have also begged my better half to create some damping strips for behind the speakers. Its my intention that these will be a feature of the room, three large panels taking up the back wall, stretch material over a frame, with hanging underlay which obviously you won't see.
The layout of the room dictates that something arty needs to be down there and I rather fancy somthing in pink!
I will move the speakers forward to see what that does.
I have also begged my better half to create some damping strips for behind the speakers. Its my intention that these will be a feature of the room, three large panels taking up the back wall, stretch material over a frame, with hanging underlay which obviously you won't see.
The layout of the room dictates that something arty needs to be down there and I rather fancy somthing in pink!
I will move the speakers forward to see what that does.
Posted on: 26 August 2003 by Dev B
quote:
Originally posted by Frank Abela:
Gary
I think you may have found a room mode. If so, you may lower the problem by pulling the speakers out from the wall, just by an inch or two. I know SBLs are meant to be up against the wall, but this can happen on occasion. I know someone who has his SBLs 4 inches from the wall and they sound astonishingly good.
Regards,
Frank.
_All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly._
Frank,
How can you be sure it's a room mode? It could be anything - maybe Gary's description of muddying sounds to me like loads of top end distortion - i.e pretty much the same problelm I used to have. I am not sure pulling the SBL's will help, if anything it makes the bass less precise, although quantity seems to be diminished.
Gary if I were you, I would look at treating the side walls near the speakers, these are the points of first reflection. I found that a canvas oil painting on one adjacent wall and wallshelves fiull of books were excellent diffusers. Also your TV is not helping things, since the sharp edges causes the sound to be less precise.
Dev
Posted on: 26 August 2003 by garyi
I moved the speakers out a bit. As usual with me I didn't detect to much difference.
To be honest, the system in this configuration is sounding simply supurb, I truely understand what SBLs can do now and am very pleased.
I will continue with the sound proofing behind though, now that I am further away I am cranking that volume!
A big plus is that I am able to enjoy CD again, so thats a bonus.
To be honest, the system in this configuration is sounding simply supurb, I truely understand what SBLs can do now and am very pleased.
I will continue with the sound proofing behind though, now that I am further away I am cranking that volume!
A big plus is that I am able to enjoy CD again, so thats a bonus.
Posted on: 26 August 2003 by Chris Bell
Gary,
Chips would be a worthwhile addition to your system...they're effect is similar to a power supply upgrade and will improve all aspects of your music.
Chris Bell
Chips would be a worthwhile addition to your system...they're effect is similar to a power supply upgrade and will improve all aspects of your music.
Chris Bell
Posted on: 26 August 2003 by Geoff P
To add to this discussion about speaker positioning there is an interesting web site:
http://www.acoustica.org.uk
Amongst other things including room nodes and frequency damping they also discuss speaker positioning and offer an excel file for download (try the ZIP version) into which you enter your room dimensions. It then comes up with speaker postions. I tried it for my room and am currently using one of their calculated positions with some success for my Totem Mani 2's (free space speakers).
I notice they reckon you can use their calculations for wall positioned speakers aswell.
Incidentally they recommend firing speakers across the narrow dimension of the room as a preference though like you I am shooting down the long dimension at present.
Note that the output values for speaker positions are in mms if you do play with it.
Anyway it's one idea which may help but don't
take it too seriously.
regards
GEOFFP
http://www.acoustica.org.uk
Amongst other things including room nodes and frequency damping they also discuss speaker positioning and offer an excel file for download (try the ZIP version) into which you enter your room dimensions. It then comes up with speaker postions. I tried it for my room and am currently using one of their calculated positions with some success for my Totem Mani 2's (free space speakers).
I notice they reckon you can use their calculations for wall positioned speakers aswell.
Incidentally they recommend firing speakers across the narrow dimension of the room as a preference though like you I am shooting down the long dimension at present.
Note that the output values for speaker positions are in mms if you do play with it.
Anyway it's one idea which may help but don't
take it too seriously.
regards
GEOFFP
Posted on: 28 August 2003 by bjorne
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
A big plus is that I am able to enjoy CD again
Seems to me as if your room problem is worse than ever....
Posted on: 28 August 2003 by bjorne
quote:
Originally posted by Alex S.:
I was ringing around for a top secret amp I'm hunting and, cor blimey, they had one. They still haven't given me a price so I may have to venture to the Kingdom of Denmark.Alex
Mind telling what secret amp, Gryphon, LC Audio?
Posted on: 29 August 2003 by Alex S.
Hi Bjorne, nothing too exciting - a Densen DM10 with which to drive my AE1s.
Alex
Alex
Posted on: 29 August 2003 by Steve Crouch
I agree that Chips would improve the mudying as could Mana under the speakers. I also found a big improvement when I got rid of the telly from between the speakers.
Steve
Steve
Posted on: 29 August 2003 by Steve Crouch
Frank
Re: SBL's. When you say 4" from the back wall where do you take the measurements from, the speaker or the frame?
Cheers
Steve
Re: SBL's. When you say 4" from the back wall where do you take the measurements from, the speaker or the frame?
Cheers
Steve
Posted on: 29 August 2003 by Frank Abela
From the frame.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.