the best type and shape of room for audio?

[anthonyTD]

what is the best shape, and type of room for audio reproduction?
ie, long, narrow,high cielings, window, bay windows, etc.
describe your own, and what seems to work in your house.

[Colinx]

one I can have to myself, at least some of the time, I'll work with any problems it has.

[Marco]

Given recent input from certain parties, how about a padded cell?

Marco.

[jimdgoulding]

Well, you don't want to duplicate the dimensions. The length vs the width vs the height should all be different. Most people put their speakers in front of a short wall. Some people will tell you a long wall is better. Those that do must have very large rooms cause in most rooms you'd be sitting awfully close to your speakers or with little room behind them or behind you, maybe both, and that's not good. Your speakers should be out from the corners and away from the walls but not by the same distance. You should sit between them at the apex of an equilateral or equidistant triangle with the speakers toed in more or less. Toe in is subjective. But, you were asking about the room. Besides, you probably already know that stuff. I say a rectangular room is best with speakers in front of a short wall and as little bulky furnishings in your listening space as is possible. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Filterlab]

A spherical room would easily be the best, however in real life terms it's almost impossible to achieve. As Jim said, any room with unique measurements per dimension, non-parallel walls are ideal (My lounge has four non-parallel walls) and carpet rather than hard floors, several surfaces, plenty of soft furnishings and somewhere to sit.

[Mike Reed]

I'm surprised at Jim's recommendations for speaker placement. There cannot be a general rule as there are too many different types.

Back-to-the-wall Briks, SBLs & Saras

Rear ported well away from rear wall.

Front ported less fussy

Corner horns !!!!!!

Each manufacturer of each type has their own recommendation; then there's size to take into account; etcetera, ad nauseum.

I read once that the ideal listening room doesn't have any parallel sides; not something found (or even redesigned to be) in your average dwelling.
This philosophy holds water when you condider the adverse effects of standing waves.

Ceilings? My 10 foot high Victorian ones a few years ago were excellent with Briks, SBLs. Epos, Rogers and ProAc.

Anything less that your customary 8' 1'' starts to get tricky with anything but bookshelf type speakers, I feel

[jimdgoulding]

It wasn't evident that I was refering to front firing box speakers. My bad. But the rule, and it didn't originate with me, DOES generally apply other than for corner speakers and room nodes and wall and boundary reinforcement is the reason. Some older speakers are designed to be placed with their backs on the wall. I wouldn't be talking about those either.

[Rick O]

Guitar shaped tables, guitar shaped plug block... I think a guitar shaped room is the next logical creation for Music Works.

[Steve Toy]

This sounds like a room that could have been created by Anton Gaudí.

http://www.red2000.com/spain/barcelon/phgau.html

[Mike Reed]

Guitar-shaped room, eh? Saw one of these in a vile inn once (terrible place!)

Not too difficult to acquire if you pull a few strings! AND get a bridging loan!