Mika K's system

[synsei]

Those ceiling panels would look particularly groovy with some subtle, pastel shaded mood lighting behind them Mika

[Mika K]

I knew that someone is going to point that out..

[Mika K]

Yesterday put the three panels to the main wall behind the system and now the room feels a bit too damped one, so the music and the presentation does not open up anymore. Bit too clinical for my liking have to say.

I guess the original plans to use some diffusive elements at the main wall were more than correct ones. Luckily I have already plans to add some hard surfaced diffusive panels on top of the current ones as that should give the room more natural environment to present the music in effortless way.Also noticed now when listening music with little louder levels that the bass department of the Onken cabs have some small timing issues and boom. I guess after finishing the room treatment will have to continue to planning the internal support matrix inside the cabs as well as the back support to the bass driver..



Well, now back to the Paul Gonsalvez jazz album from 1st pressing and my glass of hot whiskey to cure the minor flue. Here is the recipe http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink323.html. Didn't have any Irish whiskey so had to use some Islay malt instead. Wondering is this enough to sen to the hot and nasty place after my short and miserable life..

[Mika K]

Room treatment - stage two

Today have stayed at home and not commuted to the office. Some call it sick leave as have a good old flue but have still done some work related tasks remotely. Stupid me

Luckily this gave me a change to continue the room treatment project as yesterday received a small parcel from Thomann containing some 25mm Auralex DST-R diffuser panels (36 pieces to be more exact) plus some adhesive compound. So during the afternoon finalized the three Ecophon Master SQ panels in size 120 x 60 x 4 cm already hanging at the main wall with these. I had planned to paint these Auralex panels and also add wooden frame to these three main panels but they do look surprisingly good without any additional work. As Mrs agrees decided to leave it like this at least for a while.



Before with the two plain panels at the roof and the three plain panels at the main wall felt that had too much absorptive material and the sound became bit too "lean" with decrease in spacial information and airiness with damped mids and highs. Now when the three plain panels at the main wall are covered with reflective diffuser panels everything seems to be in order. Got back the missing spacial information and airiness with the mids and higs without any negatives and at the same time the pros from absorption panels still remain to lower frequencies.

Overall I'm really pleased to the room and system performance at the moment. The balance is very close to what I expected and even when listening music with louder levels the room does not interact that much and the reflections from the main room boundaries seem to be nicely in control. Perhaps will still do some minor work with the leftovers but most likely for a living room this starts to be wrapped up

[tannoyman]

Hi Mika

Your system looks absolutely superb. Congratulations.

David

[tannoyman]

[QUOTE=Mika K;374022]Yesterday put the three panels to the main wall behind the system and now the room feels a bit too damped one, so the music and the presentation does not open up anymore. Bit too clinical for my liking have to say.

Room treatments in my experience tend to be blunt instruments. You don't only lose the bits you want to lose but others that you wished to keep. Better underdamped than overdamped in my opinion

Kind regards

David

[Mika K]

Thanks!

Wise words. During the years I have noticed the same with several bigger treatments at the palces where visited. Many prefer pretty damp room acoustics but usually that takes the life out from the music. So better to be careful..

[MartinT]

Room treatments in my experience tend to be blunt instruments. You don't only lose the bits you want to lose but others that you wished to keep. Better underdamped than overdamped in my opinion

You're probably right, but it helps to be able to easily change it. My TubeTraps adjust by rotating them (one side is deflection, the other absorption). The flutter echo in my empty room was pretty horrible and I've ended up with maximal damping. I like it that way.

[Ammonite Audio]

Room treatment - stage two

Today have stayed at home and not commuted to the office. Some call it sick leave as have a good old flue but have still done some work related tasks remotely. Stupid me

Luckily this gave me a change to continue the room treatment project as yesterday received a small parcel from Thomann containing some 25mm Auralex DST-R diffuser panels (36 pieces to be more exact) plus some adhesive compound. So during the afternoon finalized the three Ecophon Master SQ panels in size 120 x 60 x 4 cm already hanging at the main wall with these. I had planned to paint these Auralex panels and also add wooden frame to these three main panels but they do look surprisingly good without any additional work. As Mrs agrees decided to leave it like this at least for a while.



Before with the two plain panels at the roof and the three plain panels at the main wall felt that had too much absorptive material and the sound became bit too "lean" with decrease in spacial information and airiness with damped mids and highs. Now when the three plain panels at the main wall are covered with reflective diffuser panels everything seems to be in order. Got back the missing spacial information and airiness with the mids and higs without any negatives and at the same time the pros from absorption panels still remain to lower frequencies.

Overall I'm really pleased to the room and system performance at the moment. The balance is very close to what I expected and even when listening music with louder levels the room does not interact that much and the reflections from the main room boundaries seem to be nicely in control. Perhaps will still do some minor work with the leftovers but most likely for a living room this starts to be wrapped up

It's accepted wisdom to place absorption behind the system, at first reflection points and behind the listening position; however it's not always the best thing to do, as you have found out. I favour using diffusion behind the system and at the first reflection points, with careful use of absorption behind the listening position. In most listening rooms (except those that are very large), there is a limit to the amount of total absorption that the room will tolerate (before it becomes pretty much anechoic) and domestic furnishings go most of the way towards controlling reverberation anyway. Bass is always a more difficult thing to control, so this is where Martin's bass traps come in, but most of us do not have listening rooms large enough to accommodate the sheer bulk of an effective bass trap.

Your Auralex diffusive panels do look rather good!

[Mika K]

Techie again

Few days ago received this Techie SL-120mkII with some extras (Rega and SME arm boards, upgraded feet, clamp etc) bought from AoS and it's looking rather nice (please note the nice Islay supports for the deck )



The YLE Broadcast deck I have it's just so big that it needs to go as do not really have place for it. It's a shame but on the other this was good decision as do not have the heart to modify that historical piece. This Techie is somewhat of replacement for that as living with only one deck seems too hard thing to do. Also now do not need to change my signature so that's added bonus

Have planned to do some minor mods to Techie like adding the Oyaide platter mat and then get a tonearm that is suitable for Denon DL-103 and its heavier variants. Perhaps could also try what my SME V and T'fig cart says about this deck compared to my heavy Garrard. Not planning to do any PSU upgrades at this point but perhaps bearing will have to be changed. We'll see what will happen..