Does your Christmas Tree improve the sound of music in your room?

At first I thought this was a joke topic, but it's serious!! Hadn't actually thought about that but it's quite a good idea. Time to experiment...!!

have these little Xmas woolen Xmas friends in the music room they are in between the speakers , not sure it improves the sound but nice to look at from the sofa

We have always had many inside household plants in our home, and many of our american friends do as well.  I have found the acoustic diffusion from large plants to be a small but effective "room treatment" which has potential decorative appeal.  Oddly, there seems little interest in the matter on this forum.  Oh well.

Since many forum members may have added a sizeable fir tree to their listening room recently, I was wondering if they have noticed a difference the acoustics of their rooms, especially when playing music.

Charlie

I actually found that our orchids like classical music during the day.

So there is also an impact of music on houseplants. But I'm not sure if this applies to cut Christmas trees though...

.....I guess somebody might also sell Christmas tree roomtreatment options. But seriously. Yes objects can have a positive impact on the sound. An empty room can sound a bit harsh. Now the real question is one, two or three Christmas trees to achieve the required effect. I can't unfortunately use this trick, as I have cats...

I have found over the years that, naturally, placing a large fir tree between the two stereo speakers in my living room has a significant impact on room acoustics.  How could it not? Overall, the effect is positive--spurious reflections are damped, and the sound becomes clearer and also slightly darker.  On the other hand, when I take down the tree in January, better continuity of the soundstage returns, so that's nice also.

AHT,

Yes, too much diffusion between the speakers makes the sound field overly soft (foe lack of a better word).   That is what I am now experiencing, as our tree is unusually large this year.  Not unpleasant, but I will be happy to go back to "normal."

My wife believes the Christmas tree improves the sound of everything.  

Skip, she has a point.  In fact it may improve more than just the sound...

Our tree is to the right and forward of the right speaker. As such is seems to have significantly altered the image, I guess due to a point of first reflection changing and therefore the symmetry I had before has to some extent gone. Only seems to be relevant at some frequencies -  listened  to some Tango in the Night last weekend and some bits made we feel a bit giddy. Perhaps look for a better position or perhaps a smaller tree next year, or perhaps get another tree for the same position on the left side. Sure the latter would be the wife's preferred option!

My needle drops sound incredibly realistic.

G

The 8' Nordmann Fir in the Hallway running up to the gallery has nothing but a positive effect on the residents: the gentle pine essence wafting through the House uplifts the mood generally and as such improves the reception of all experiences, now set to an olfactory backdrop of wooded alps and ffjords, promising snow, adventure, clean crisp air and warmth. The relaxed mood thus created filters out all the harmful feelings of tension and misery that can taint the auditory experience, thus ensuring that one and all are closer to the music and the emotions the musicians intended to convey. My styla-phone now sounds like a Hradetzky organ.

A Christmas tree won't do anything to help the bass. But it might act as an hf diffuser?

jon honeyball posted:

A Christmas tree won't do anything to help the bass. But it might act as an hf diffuser?

Yes.  The diffusion breaks up what might otherwise be spectral reflections at the higher frequencies.  My experience so far is qualitative - I have made no measurements.  I suppose a tree might do a bit of absorption at bass frequencies, but if so I have not noticed this.

"Does your Christmas Tree improve the sound of music in your room?"

No but it is making my skin itch.

Nordman fir for me every time - needle size must have something to do with it

I find putting the tree in front of the TV makes The Sound of Music more bearable, but it's not worth the ear bashing I get from the wife, so I find going to the pub a better option.

The Xmas tree goes in the back room away from the main system.  But in the lounge we have lots of soft furnishings and a couple of plants.      

ChrisSU posted:

I find putting the tree in front of the TV makes The Sound of Music more bearable, but it's not worth the ear bashing I get from the wife, so I find going to the pub a better option.

A dubbed Christopher Plummer allegedly hated it referring to it as 'The Sound of Mucis'.

G

The tree absolutely improves the acoustics of our room.  The room is way too 'reflective' -- all hard floors and walls and mostly wooden furniture.  But we can't have a rug (the dog) and fabric window treatments are not of interest.  So with the tree and presents, it's actually an improvement!

Bart posted:

The tree absolutely improves the acoustics of our room.  The room is way too 'reflective' -- all hard floors and walls and mostly wooden furniture.  But we can't have a rug (the dog) and fabric window treatments are not of interest.  So with the tree and presents, it's actually an improvement!

Bart,

When the tree goes, maybe you could add some potted palms and ferns.

Flanders and Swan had it that if you 'sharpened fibre needles' it would alter the sound 'make it soft again'. With an abundance of pine on hand, cut out the sharpening tedium and simply pluck a new one whenever required. Eat your heart out Dynavector.

It does. Noticed this many years ago. Our small tree is in a corner to the right of the right speaker. This area, and the corner facing it, are usually bad for standing waves. Less so with the tree.