Treating an odd shaped large room?

[deadbeat son]

Good evening,

I'm considering treating my room to improve my system's performance, but I'm not sure where to start. The room is pretty odd, in that it is very large in width, but short front to back, and has valued ceilings. However, directly above my head from where I listen is the landing for the stairwell which is open to the second story. Both the landing and stairwell are carpeted.

Here's a general overview, I primarily listen from the couch and you can see my dining area to the right:


And here you can see the opening behind the couch from where I listen. Also of note is the hallway adjacent to the couch:



And for good measure, here's a view from the upstairs hall looking down:


Now for the basics, the speakers are front ported, with about 13" from the rear of the cabinets to the wall. The speakers are 7 1/2' apart, and there is 7 1/2' from the baffles to my head when seated. I added the area rug between the couch and speakers, which helped significantly. Initially, I had the couch and stereo system reversed, but prefer the current layout. The glass coffee table is usually not located where it is in the photos, but it goes here when the Christmas tree is up. Since taking the tree down, I haven't had anyone over to help me move it to its usual location, out of the field of listening on the hardwood floor near the two chairs pictured below -- the glass top is a bit heavy to move on my own:


I hope that conveys the general layout. With that established, where would I best benefit from some additional treatment? Should I install some diffusers or absorbing panels on the drywall above the couch below the railing? Would I be better off treating the walls behind the speakers? The current sound isn't bad at all. I'm generally satisfied, but if there is some low hanging fruit in the way of treatment that will be rewarding, I'd like to give it a try.

Oh, and I do plan to add a rug to the area between the couch and two lounge chairs, which would be under the glass table.

Thanks so much for your advice, I appreciate it!

 

[mkane]

Walk around the room a give it the clap test in various locations

 

[tomlinmgt]

The low hanging fruit is the wall behind the couch. When you're seated and listening, it appears that your ears are likely higher than the couch's backrest. If so, that would mean the sonic energy from the speakers is reflecting off of the wall directly behind your head and arriving at your eara mere milliseconds after the direct wave of sonic energy from the speakers reaches your ears. This results in what is called an "early reflection" and it will compromise fidelity by blurring the resolution. These early reflections can also come from side walls, ceiling and floor (or coffee table between speakers and listening spot), but in your case it looks like the side walls are far enough away from the listening spot that reflections from those surfaces will have enough time between the direct wave arrival and their arrival that they won't qualify as "early reflections". Even if they are, it looks like one of the chairs to the left is in just about the right spot to kill the reflection (thanks to the cushion and throw pillow). On the right, all those chairs clustered as they are will help break up the reflection, so I think you're good there, too. The rug is helping reduce the strength of the floor reflection, but the glass top coffee table is a issue. Until you can relocate it, I suggest you fold up a blanket and cover up the table top when you're listening to music.
If sound stage depth and image resolution is important to you, you might also consider moving the speakers a bit further out from the front wall...24" would be worth trying to see if you like the results and can live with that arrangement. The vaulted ceiling might be generating an early reflection, but that might be a bit more difficult to address. I'd start with the low hanging fruit and see what you think. If you want to go to the next level, we can revisit the situation.
When shopping for absorption panels, avoid foam and make sure the panel is at least 2" thick. Diffusion would not be a great choice on the back wall...it's too close to the listening spot and you don't want to sit too close to a diffuser or you won't hear its potential benefits.

 

[deadbeat son]

Walk around the room a give it the clap test in various locations

Thanks I'll look into the clap test.

The low hanging fruit is the wall behind the couch. When you're seated and listening, it appears that your ears are likely higher than the couch's backrest. If so, that would mean the sonic energy from the speakers is reflecting off of the wall directly behind your head and arriving at your eara mere milliseconds after the direct wave of sonic energy from the speakers reaches your ears. This results in what is called an "early reflection" and it will compromise fidelity by blurring the resolution. These early reflections can also come from side walls, ceiling and floor (or coffee table between speakers and listening spot), but in your case it looks like the side walls are far enough away from the listening spot that reflections from those surfaces will have enough time between the direct wave arrival and their arrival that they won't qualify as "early reflections". Even if they are, it looks like one of the chairs to the left is in just about the right spot to kill the reflection (thanks to the cushion and throw pillow). On the right, all those chairs clustered as they are will help break up the reflection, so I think you're good there, too. The rug is helping reduce the strength of the floor reflection, but the glass top coffee table is an issue. Until you can relocate it, I suggest you fold up a blanket and cover up the table top when you're listening to music.
If sound stage depth and image resolution is important to you, you might also consider moving the speakers a bit further out from the front wall...24" would be worth trying to see if you like the results and can live with that arrangement. The vaulted ceiling might be generating an early reflection, but that might be a bit more difficult to address. I'd start with the low hanging fruit and see what you think. If you want to go to the next level, we can revisit the situation.
When shopping for absorption panels, avoid foam and make sure the panel is at least 2" thick. Diffusion would not be a great choice on the back wall...it's too close to the listening spot and you don't want to sit too close to a diffuser or you won't hear its potential benefits.

Thank you very much for the detailed response, I appreciate your help.

You are correct that my head (and ears) are above the back of the couch and would be in front of the bare wall. I'll either purchase or build some proper absorbing panels for this wall made from OC 703 and see what that does for things.

As to the speaker locations, I measured and the left speaker is just over 9' from the left wall, while the right is just under 11' from the right wall. I'll probably be able to move the table out of the listening area this weekend and will see what I think of bringing the speakers forward. My concern with moving them further into the room is how close they would be to me at that point. Moving them from the current 12" to 24" would put them only 6 1/2' - 7' from my ears, which seems pretty close. However, maybe my concern is unfounded and I'll prefer them closer. It doesn't cost anything to try!

Once I make these changes, I'll see what I think and will follow up and we can revisit then.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Old Guy8]

You didn't ask. Could the width of your audio cabinet be restricting speaker placement options? Do you hear a whole in the middle of stereo image? If so, could it relocate from between speakers. To left or right. Or a thinner vertical cabinet.

Optimal speaker and sitting position is also low hanging fruit. Multi-use rooms require compromises. And style or pleasing a non audiophile presents its limits to perfect setups.

 

[tomlinmgt]

Thanks I'll look into the clap test.


Thank you very much for the detailed response, I appreciate your help.

You are correct that my head (and ears) are above the back of the couch and would be in front of the bare wall. I'll either purchase or build some proper absorbing panels for this wall made from OC 703 and see what that does for things.

As to the speaker locations, I measured and the left speaker is just over 9' from the left wall, while the right is just under 11' from the right wall. I'll probably be able to move the table out of the listening area this weekend and will see what I think of bringing the speakers forward. My concern with moving them further into the room is how close they would be to me at that point. Moving them from the current 12" to 24" would put them only 6 1/2' - 7' from my ears, which seems pretty close. However, maybe my concern is unfounded and I'll prefer them closer. It doesn't cost anything to try!

Once I make these changes, I'll see what I think and will follow up and we can revisit then.

Thanks again for your help!

OC703 is a great choice since 2" thick OC703 has a similar range of absorption as 3" thick rockwool. You'll get 100% absorption down to 250Hz and effective absorption a half octave beneath that with either...obviously the 2" panel would be a better choice for your location since it won't protrude from the wall as much as 3". One 2'x4' panel turned on its side and mounted so it's centered on your head (wherever it is that you prefer to sit when listening) should do the trick. If you have to buy more than one panel of OC703, you can surely put more panels to use in your room and realize additional sonic benefits.

It looks like your speakers have somewhere around 7' between them, so I suggest you keep the distance between speakers and distance from each speaker to listening spot equal or have the distance between speakers be 70-80% the distance from each speaker to listening spot. Having the distance between speakers greater than the distance between the speakers and listening spot typically results in a poorly defined or absent center image and compromised image resolution overall.

 

[deadbeat son]

You didn't ask. Could the width of your audio cabinet be restricting speaker placement options? Do you hear a whole in the middle of stereo image? If so, could it relocate from between speakers. To left or right. Or a thinner vertical cabinet.

Optimal speaker and sitting position is also low hanging fruit. Multi-use rooms require compromises. And style or pleasing a non audiophile presents its limits to perfect setups.

I could move them in 18" on either side without the cabinet getting in the way. I do no hear a hole in the image, I have a pretty good defined center image currently. There is currently in an isosceles triangle between the speakers and my head, roughly. Unfortunately I don't have a dedicated listening room, perhaps someday.

OC703 is a great choice since 2" thick OC703 has a similar range of absorption as 3" thick rockwool. You'll get 100% absorption down to 250Hz and effective absorption a half octave beneath that with either...obviously the 2" panel would be a better choice for your location since it won't protrude from the wall as much as 3". One 2'x4' panel turned on its side and mounted so it's centered on your head (wherever it is that you prefer to sit when listening) should do the trick. If you have to buy more than one panel of OC703, you can surely put more panels to use in your room and realize additional sonic benefits.

It looks like your speakers have somewhere around 7' between them, so I suggest you keep the distance between speakers and distance from each speaker to listening spot equal or have the distance between speakers be 70-80% the distance from each speaker to listening spot. Having the distance between speakers greater than the distance between the speakers and listening spot typically results in a poorly defined or absent center image and compromised image resolution overall.

Thanks for the input on the OC703, my plan was to use 4 18" square panels for aesthetic purposes, but I could likely do one 2'x4'. It will overlap the trim under the railing though, as I don't have a full 2' between the top of the couch and the top of the wall. Although I guess I could move the couch forward a couple of inches to make up for it, I hadn't thought of that as I was trying to maximize my distance from the speakers in my shallow space.

You're correct on the current speaker placement, they're now 7.5' apart with about 7.5' to my head. I'll take your suggestion to also move them closer together when I move them out another 12" to see what difference that makes. Thanks again!

 

[tomlinmgt]

Thanks for the input on the OC703, my plan was to use 4 18" square panels for aesthetic purposes, but I could likely do one 2'x4'. It will overlap the trim under the railing though, as I don't have a full 2' between the top of the couch and the top of the wall. Although I guess I could move the couch forward a couple of inches to make up for it,

Since you're making your own panels, you can always cut that 24" dimension down to fit between the top of the backrest and trim...or do the four 18" square panels. If you keep the space between them 4" or less, they'll behave like a single, larger absorber.

 

[toodletunes]

Maybe some Baskin Robbins. That is, if it's a nice room.

 

[MaxP]

Thanks I'll look into the clap test.


Thank you very much for the detailed response, I appreciate your help.

You are correct that my head (and ears) are above the back of the couch and would be in front of the bare wall. I'll either purchase or build some proper absorbing panels for this wall made from OC 703 and see what that does for things.

As to the speaker locations, I measured and the left speaker is just over 9' from the left wall, while the right is just under 11' from the right wall. I'll probably be able to move the table out of the listening area this weekend and will see what I think of bringing the speakers forward. My concern with moving them further into the room is how close they would be to me at that point. Moving them from the current 12" to 24" would put them only 6 1/2' - 7' from my ears, which seems pretty close. However, maybe my concern is unfounded and I'll prefer them closer. It doesn't cost anything to try!

Once I make these changes, I'll see what I think and will follow up and we can revisit then.

Thanks again for your help!

Take heed to what @tomlinmgt suggests. He straightened out my oddly shaped listening room and I couldn’t be happier.

 

[deadbeat son]

It looks like this is going to be a summer project for me. I have enough non-audio projects that are taking priority for my time at the moment, but I will persevere and proceed.

Since you're making your own panels, you can always cut that 24" dimension down to fit between the top of the backrest and trim...or do the four 18" square panels. If you keep the space between them 4" or less, they'll behave like a single, larger absorber.

Thanks for the additional details, little nuggets like this are gold.

Take heed to what @tomlinmgt suggests. He straightened out my oddly shaped listening room and I couldn’t be happier.

Oh I'm definitely listening to what he says. I followed along as he built out his listening space and have the utmost respect for his experience and knowledge! Good to hear he helped you as well.

 

[DeadRock]

@deadbeat son ...nice room...nice furniture...

 

[deadbeat son]

@deadbeat son ...nice room...nice furniture...

Thank you