The floor's the flaw!

[Floyddroid]

Since I moved into my present gaff I have never been fully satisfied sound-wise with my system and tried all manner of things from different speakers to room diffuser's and a myriad of cable types. Nothing I seem to have done thus far has been to my satisfaction.My house has a rather large entrance hall so I decided to set my system up out there to eliminate anomalies and weaknesses in the system.
BINGO!!!!!

The major differences were A. A lack of a chimney breast and B. different floor covering. Yes indeediy doodly folks the floor is indeed the flaw. My main listening room does have a really thick fitted carpet and thick underlay which seem to be sulking the life out of my system. Anyone out there got similar problems? It doesn't matter how much of a killer system you may have if ti doesn't work in the room you have set it up in or so it seems.

[Ali Tait]

Is it a suspended floor Steve?

[Floyddroid]

It is indeed Ali. It's a git of a room to to lay out Ali. Either side of the chimney breast seems the best place for speaker positioning firing across the room. However, the door is directly behind the sofa in that position. A re-think is in order. I would much rather have the system in a much smaller room and it sounding great than it be in a cavern sounding compromised.

[Jimbo]

A suspended wooden floor can certainly work against your system but not sure if messing with floor coverings will make much difference.

As you have found they can suck the life out of your system with little life to cymbals and no detail, muddy and diffused bass with the floor acting as a subwoofer.

Altering the position of your equipment and listening position may bring better benefits Steve. Are you using floor standers, swapping to stand mount speakers may be better. Try concrete blocks under speakers and don't use spikes.

Just a few suggestions Steve.:)

[Spectral Morn]

Strategically placed under floor supports to reduce the flex of the floor can help.

There is less flex in the joists in and around the fireplace area, if its been done right, hence why that is the best spot for the speakers in your room. It is true that floor coverings can make or break the sound too. Frankly I am not a fan of hard wood, or tile surfaces. Carpet in my experience has always worked best.

[Ali Tait]

Was going to suggest the same. Decide where the speakers sound best, and fit supports under the joists where they sit. See if that helps. Did for me in a previous house.

[danilo]

IMO .. Subtle floor 'flex', albeit an annoyance, will ..do little.. to affect Music reproduction, Meaningfully. Unless your speakers and/or your TT visibly Bounce :-)
If so.. stuff pillows under them as a quick test.
Carpets on the other hand, will have immediate and noticeable effect.
Try some, as a first step

[Flanders]

I know the feeling Steve. When you don't have the luxury of a dedicated listening room, there's always compromises.
But my partner & I do a lot of casual listening while doing other stuff, so having the system in the living room is the only way to go, and our speakers seem to suit this scenario with their wider throw.
I don't know if bracing the floor will do anything for the mushy carpet/underlay. Concrete blocks might be the better solution to both problems - timber floor and thick carpet/underlay. And better still, you could try your speakers on roller bearings as well. Works for me (though my partner hasn't noticed!) and also does wonders for the turntable on a bouncy timber floor/timber stumps. It won't change the sound of the room of course.

[Pete The Cat]

IMHO two of the most influential components in a system - the room acoustics and your head (tired ? EN&T snuffly ? mood ?).

I prefer a warm sound so in the man cave it's trad carpet on the suspended floor, with the speakers on granite. Plus curtains, busily stocked shelves and pictures breaking up the walls and a bit of acoustic foam treatment. Slightly Aladdin's cave but I like the room to feel "dead" and the sound to be only what comes from the speakers.

In the lounge we've a standard concrete floor so the 752Fs sit on spikes but I still like the carpet. Laminate floor may be easier to clean after spilling milkshake or Chianti but warm sound and comfy on your 3rse wins out for me.

Pete