Closing The Curtains?

[Macca]

My room is 29 feet long with a window and door at either end, the speakers are positioned about 8 feet in to the room ('firing' down the length) and I listen from about 8 feet into the room from the other direction.

I noticed some time ago that closing the curtains on the window behind me seemed to increase sound quality quite dramatically. Depth of stereo image improved, a slight shoutiness disappeared and the sound seemed to become warmer and more three dimensional. Looking back I always seem to have been happy with the sound in the winter (when it was dark out when I'd start listening) and dissatisfied in the summer months when it was light and the curtains were open.

I inherited the curtains with the house, they were custom made and they are thermally lined (as the previous owners had not fitted double-glazing) so they are quite thick.

Okay, so no surprises there, a large window is a highly reflective surface, directly opposite the speakers, and it is going to have an audible effect.

However during the bright sunny days we have had this year I have not been closing the curtain fully when listening but leaving about a six inch gap as it seemed a shame to block out the sunshine entirely as it is pretty rare even in the summer, especially in this part of the world. But I have noticed that even leaving this six inch gap still has a deleterious effect on sound quality and going from the six inch gap to closing the curtains completely still seems to give the same improvement in the sound quality as it does when going from fully open to fully closed.

I'm not sure how this can be as with the small gap only about one sixth of the window is 'visible' to the sound waves and I would not have thought this would be enough to degrade the sound. I'm considering that it could be some sort of placebo effect. Would such a reduced area of glass still have an audible effect? Anyone got any thoughts?

[Audio Al]

You reduce the reflective surface with the curtains closed = better sound

[Macca]

You reduce the reflective surface with the curtains closed = better sound

Right but what about when the reflective surface is only small, with the curtains 80% closed? I still hear that as having the same bad effect. It just seems unlikely to me.

[hifi_dave]

Well, you've just proved it can.

[Audio Al]

Open curtains when not listening , Fully closed curtains when listening = bliss

[Macca]

Well, you've just proved it can.

Well like I said I'm not convinced that it's not just all in my mind. Obviously closing them fully does make a real difference but with them 80% shut it is just a small amount of glass that is visible so I'd have thought that would be as good as having them fully closed.

But if it not all in my mind then I think I should probably start looking at some passive room treatments as having even a little reflective surface seems to make a surprising difference.

[hifi_dave]

Biggest improvement you can do with your system is room treatment. I've heard some fabulous systems sound absolute pants in an untreated room.

[Macca]

It's a complex thing though, I'd need to get a mic and software and work out what the hell is going on first.

[Pigmy Pony]

Maybe you're just unlucky that the worst of the reflected sound focuses on your seating position. Perhaps you could try moving your chair a bit. And if this doesn't work you could try experimenting with hats. Start with a pork pie and work your way up to a sombrero.

I noticed years ago that the sound changed quite a bit when I wore a cricket umpire's hat. I couldn't decide if it was better or just different, so in the end I heeded Mrs. P's worried look and gave it up

[33na3rd]

I don't think it's your imagination at all.

I have blackout shades in my listening room. I discovered pretty quickly that I can change the treble balance in my room by raising or lowering the shades by different amounts. My listening room is moderately treated, but the amount that the shades are open/closed still has a major effect on the treble response.