My 2019 Update Thread - My final system I think.

[Rush2112]

Some Room correction...

Fancied a change of vibe, plus having smooth stone walls, was curious about putting something behind the speakers and any potential effect on sound.
Couple of tables with big ass plants, changes the vibe of the room, I like it.




Turns out sound has changed as well.
Left / Right focus has definitely improved, soundstage a tad deeper.
Ok, Concept in my own room proven, will investigate some 'proper' stuff going forward.

Years ago tried digital room correction software and didn't get on with it.
More potted plants it is!

Mahoosive framed print on wall behind me, figure thats playing a part, though my room doesn't sound particularly echo-ey.

Piqued my curiosity this.

Great system Gary, I also tried digital room correction using Lyngdorf Room Perfect and although some albums were blow away, mainly simply mixed, jazz and vocal other albums were truly horrible !


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[Macca]

Great system Gary, I also tried digital room correction using Lyngdorf Room Perfect and although some albums were blow away, mainly simply mixed, jazz and vocal other albums were truly horrible !


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Letting it do its own calibration rarely works out well. What the mic 'hears' isn't what we hear, at least above the transition point. Like using a flamethrower to take the top off a pint of milk.

On the subject of plants I took a big one out of a corner, was surprised to discover how much damping of flutter echo it had been doing.

[Jimbo]

I heard the effect of a DSP system at a mates house and it was horrible. The loss of bass from his speakers was dramatic. I would prefer too much bass rather than too little.

I think the best room correction is application and implementation of room acoustic material rather than digital processing.

[Macca]

I heard the effect of a DSP system at a mates house and it was horrible. The loss of bass from his speakers was dramatic. I would prefer too much bass rather than too little.

I think the best room correction is application and implementation of room acoustic material rather than digital processing.

I use a combination of the two, but I only apply a very small amount of DSP over a very narrow bandwidth.

Sounds to me like your mate was not doing it properly. This business of using some crappy mic supplied with the unit, sticking it roughly in the listening position, and then letting the computer do all the calibration is unlikely to give the best results. Of course it's quick and easy and so seems like a good idea.

At best it gives a starting point but then you have to go old school and tweak by ear.

[Jimbo]

I use a combination of the two, but I only apply a very small amount of DSP over a very narrow bandwidth.

Sounds to me like your mate was not doing it properly. This business of using some crappy mic supplied with the unit, sticking it roughly in the listening position, and then letting the computer do all the calibration is unlikely to give the best results. Of course it's quick and easy and so seems like a good idea.

At best it gives a starting point but then you have to go old school and tweak by ear.

My mate had a built in system and he just let it do its thing.

[Macca]

My mate had a built in system and he just let it do its thing.

This is why DSP gets a bad rap. Used properly it can fix otherwise intractable speaker/room problems and transform the overall sound quality.

[Pigmy Pony]

Yes, I imagine the way to go would be for the DSP to give you a 'flat' response, then you adjust from there to suit your tastes. I've heard a variety of set ups employing DSP and always been impressed. I bet most people would find 'flat' deathly boring, but the means to cut this, boost that incrementally appeals to me.

I'd be using it myself, just as soon as I can

(a) buy what's needed
(b) find someone with the time, knowledge and patience to help me set it up

[Macca]

Flat response in room usually sounds way too toppy.

But if you have a room node at say 80Hz and your speakers have a port that is tuned to 80hz - boom, boom shake the room. With DSP you can cut at 80Hz and leave the rest untouched, solving the problem.

There's really no way to do that with passive treatment and analogue EQ is too crude.

[Gazjam]

DSP...

I'll go with analogue over digital and stick with the plants!
Just one more thing to faff about with and get in the way of enjoying the music.
Had similar issues to what’s been reported when I tried it in my own room, so not for me.

Luckily, no big speaker/room problems to dial out here.

[Gazjam]

Looking good Gary, just need some hanging plants from the ceiling strategically placed to do a bit of refraction/reflection, watering might be tricky.

See the Meridian 557 is still pumping.

Yup,
The big Meridian just sits there quietly, doing its thing Adrian.
Hardly even gets warm at picture rattling volumes, mega redundancy, it’s a good power amp.

I biwire with it, and a recent swap out to Duelund 10 gauge cable for the bass, from 16 gauge helped it step up a notch, impedance down I guess with beefier cable.
Sounds more “fruity” and less dry as a pal recently said.

(The Science bit plays this out)