Compromising the Chase

[monya]

The fun is in the chase isn't it? You get the system just right... for a while, then jump on the merry go round again. But a point must come when the detrimental effects of the listening room outweigh the benefits of any further upgrades. Unless you are lucky enough to have a dedicated listening room this compromise must kick in sooner or later. If my lounge were bigger, in my case, I'm sure the sound would benefit, and I can't fit acoustic panels everywhere.
I think I've gone over the curve now and further changes would be a waste of money because the room is now the limiting factor. Perhaps it always was...:rolleyes:

[purite audio]

Buy another house!

[Snoopdog]

I agree with you that the room will always be the limiting factor.

The popular advice is that when you listen to music played in the home the sound you hear is 70% room influence and just 30% the sound of the hi fi system you have so lovingly put together!

As you know Robin, having assembled my system of choice, I decided to try and extract the maximum potential from it by doing all I could eslewhere.

First came the very expensive DaaD tube traps from Italian manufacturer Accustica Applicata and then a dedicated mains CU supply for the hi fi.

These certainly made an audible improvement and the DaaD's went along way in taming the room, to the extent that I can no longer listen to my system with satisfaction in an untreated room (a fact I discovered recently when I stripped everything out to re-decorate the lounge).

I was still troubled by the influence of the untreated first reflection points in my width limited room (11') so investigated and invested in an affordable solution which has definately improved the imaging amd stage width/depth of my system.

The GIK panels that I bought are made in a UK facility of the US parent company so do not incur the hefty transportation and import costs of sourcing such products from the States. The colour options blend in well domestically and the prices very reasonable and probably the cheapest in the UK.

Have a look here:- http://www.gikacoustics.co.uk/

For my room, a Room Pack 3 with three extra 242 panels transformed the listening experience.

[Snoopdog]

I agree with you that the room will always be the limiting factor.

The popular advice is that when you listen to music played in the home the sound you hear is 70% room influence and just 30% the sound of the hi fi system you have so lovingly put together!

As you know Robin, having assembled my system of choice, I decided to try and extract the maximum potential from it by doing all I could eslewhere.

First came the very expensive DaaD tube traps from Italian manufacturer Accustica Applicata and then a dedicated mains CU supply for the hi fi.

These certainly made an audible improvement and the DaaD's went along way in taming the room, to the extent that I can no longer listen to my system with satisfaction in an untreated room (a fact I discovered recently when I stripped everything out to re-decorate the lounge).

I was still troubled by the influence of the untreated first reflection points in my width limited room (11') so investigated and invested in an affordable solution which has definately improved the imaging amd stage width/depth of my system.

The GIK panels that I bought are made in a UK facility of the US parent company so do not incur the hefty transportation and import costs of sourcing such products from the States. The colour options blend in well domestically and the prices very reasonable and probably the cheapest in the UK.

Have a look here:- http://www.gikacoustics.co.uk/

For my room, a Room Pack 3 with three extra 242 panels transformed the listening experience.

[Themis]

I think I've gone over the curve now and further changes would be a waste of money because the room is now the limiting factor. Perhaps it always was...:rolleyes:
I fear the same (about my own setup). ;)
Unfortunately, you can only be sure of that after numerous try-and-fail attempts. :cool:

[monya]

Ah Steve, the benefits of a SWAMBO free environment. On the other hand she does like Dorset, so there is hope.

[Mr. C]

The biggest single issue for 85% of UK hifi owners is the room pure and simple.
Either it is too small, wrong shape, too low a ceiling, and too much 'unnecessary furniture'.
Speakers far too big for the room or a 2KW crown amp on a pair of 5 inch stand mounts, misplaced speakers or simply the owners not wishing to change the room for whatever reason and living with the issue, changing equipment every now and again and going round in circles.
We see a lot of barn door speakers in 14' by 12' rooms which shake the house (great for 80's throw backs with night club aspirations), also small stand mounts in 30' by 18' rooms placed at the far end of the long axis and being expected to fill the room to 95db LOL!
Nothing worse than seeing a lot of expensive equipment crammed into a room not suitable to sustain it, waste of money and time for the owner (frustration too)
Being realistic helps and having your room measured to help find those modes and work around them or through them.
Personally, I would try and achieve a dedicated room; an extension or garage conversion is better value than years of buying equipment that just sends you sideways (imho).
However panels will help in many cases as will correct placement of speakers and the latter costs nothing!