Bloody room acoustics

[walpurgis]

That could be the recording. Your system is just revealing some manipulation by the engineer. If it isn't a problem on some recordings, as you say, that pretty much rules out a room effect as the culprit.

I agree. Bass can be biased to one side on some recordings.

[farflungstar]

I agree but it's almost always on the left...

[farflungstar]

Okay so I got out some string and to the mm positioned the speakers to cross just in front of me as per Tannoys instructions - I cant believe a few CMS can make such a bloody difference - but it has - bass much more balanced - still a little off centre wth some recordings but way way better.

[Rothchild]

Having done a lot of reading on room acoustics this could be explained by reflections causing the cancellation. In theory.

Today is a rare day off so I'm going to continue experimenting

Lol, I'll guess my response got phase cancelled.

Acoustics (at least at this basic level) is not really theory, it's all pretty well worked out. Two waves coinciding 180 degrees opposite to each other will cancel (1 - 1 = 0) waves colliding 'in sync' will amplify (1 + 1 =2) Which waves cancel and which waves amplify is simply a function of the wave length (frequency) and the distance between the reflecting surfaces (room size).

But you might want to try some diifferent interconnects / speaker cables too?

[hayche]

Glass is VERY reflective so it will cause more bass nulls than normal.
You should try a different room if you can. You also need equal distances to your side walls.
Try the rule of thirds if that is possible. Have your speakers 1/3 the distance of your side walls apart. Also if you can 1/3 the distance from your front wall and sit 1/3 away from your back wall.
I take it you have sat right on the back wall to check for bass in your current set up? Bass does tend to hang around the boundaries when they are not out in the room.

[RothwellAudio]

Glass is VERY reflective so it will cause more bass nulls than normal.

Indeed, glass is very reflective and is a superb reflector at high frequencies. However, if it's single-glazed it also has some give in it and therefore is less effective as a reflector at low frequencies.

[RothwellAudio]

BTW, there's another possible explanation as to what's going on here. Instruments like double basses have very week fundamentals and the ear picks up a lot of information from the higher harmonics. That's means that an anomaly in your room higher up the frequency spectrum may appear to be a bass frequency issue.

[farflungstar]

This might explain why even when switched to mono there is some difference between channels. I really do need to move house I think.

[GrahamS]

Sounds like standing wave cancellation due to opposing wall reflection. The wall opposite the speakers needs to be softened with curtains, tapestries and furnishings. I once hung a Chinese carpet on the wall.

[anthonyTD]

I have a small carpet on the one wall of my listening room too.

Sounds like standing wave cancellation due to opposing wall reflection. The wall opposite the speakers needs to be softened with curtains, tapestries and furnishings. I once hung a Chinese carpet on the wall.