Can a nearfield listening position ever be too realistic?

[Macca]

I'm, sitting here nodding with agreement I can downgrade the components of my system and listen for hours, but I have worked hard for decades to get to this point and its a bit disheartening.

I sort of feel the same way. I always wanted to replicate that 'rawness' you get in the studio where it feels like there is nothing between you and the music and I got that, but in truth I mostly don't listen so seriously most of the time, and if I just want to relax and have music on whilst I read then it's just too much. Unless I'm playing something fairly mellow like an old jazz album.

Distance doesn't really make a difference, my 'serious' listening spot is 18 feet back from the speakers...

I console myself that I chased it, I got it, now I can move on

[Pharos]

What about the ratio of direct to reflected sound? Really Macca 18ft?

[Macca]

What about the ratio of direct to reflected sound? Really Macca 18ft?

yes really, although a lot of the time -like right now - I sit off to the side about 8 foot away.

More room treatment might help in my case (I do have some already) but I think Chris has gone to town on that already (unless I'm mixing him up with someone else).

[Lawrence001]

What about the ratio of direct to reflected sound? Really Macca 18ft?

If you sit 18 feet from a jazz group in a small bar, what is the ratio like then? Many will want to hear their music like that so it should be fine.

[Macca]

unamplified instruments in a small venue is very full-on but we don't complain about that, but then you don't go out to a venue to hear a band in order to relax (or at least not relax in the same way).

When I get in from work (when I had a job that is) I like a couple of hours of the music just washing over me, a very explicit monitor set-up isn't great for that. Conversely on the weekends when I'm already chilled, that's when I want to be amazed by the transparency.

[bumpy]

If you sit 18 feet from a jazz group in a small bar, what is the ratio like then? Many will want to hear their music like that so it should be fine.

All those other people in the audience will mellow most frequencies. The ultimate room treatment.

I don't think I would enjoy listening a few ft from Sarah Brightman giving it some welly for an hour. and so it is with my Hi Fi.

[Macca]

I don't know if she was wearing that starship trooper uniform and was still 19 or whatever I think I'd cope.

[Jimbo]

Thanks James. I watched that right through and he agreed that when listening to big panels or dipoles you can get too close. The big downside to moving the listening chair further away, which he ignored, is that you approach close to the wall behind your head with all its own reflections. But I plan to give this a go and perhaps to drape the rear wall with acoustic treatment. (tapestry or rug).

Yes the rear wall could be an issue if too close but to be honest with open baffle speakers I would have thought first reflection points would be an issue. I would maybe treat rear wall with some dispersion treatment if it is a problem.

Interestingly I have just been over to a mates new listening room which has been acoustically engineered to the extreme and has very few room nodes. It is a very large room indeed and with superb room acoustic treatment it has meant the listening experience actually does not change dramatically as you move back and forwards or even to the side in the room. But this is a very sorted listening room. Just proves if you put effort into room acoustics you end up listening much more to the system and not the room.

[Puffin]

Thanks Rob. its just a question of what??

Sometimes when you concentrate on the big picture its easy to miss the obvious.

Incidentally here is a picture of my set up. You can see its all a bit 'in your face'

Attachment 30419

Well I did have speakers about the size of yours in an even smaller room than I have now They were full range driver 10stone monster back loaded horns and they were fine to me. This is what I have at the mo, some OB's and 96dB sensitive.





The pics make it look a little closer to my head than it is.

[Pharos]

If you sit 18 feet from a jazz group in a small bar, what is the ratio like then? Many will want to hear their music like that so it should be fine.

This raises the question of how much reverb is already on the recording, and how much we add with our room, it being more in the far field.