Thoughts on Speakers for a Small Audio/Video Room
Hoping to get some thoughts from the group here.
I recently moved into a dedicated TV/audio room, but the room size is on the small side: 15.5ft x 11.5ft. As pics will show, there's quite a bit in there, so empty volume is decreased further due to that.
I've been using Aerial Acoustics Model 7B speakers, which I've been very happy with in larger spaces, but they seem to be overwhelming the room and I'm getting fairly overwhelming bass. Vocals have sort of a chestiness/congested nature to them, and there are bass undertones to most songs. If I play records loud, I need to activate my rumble filter, which I never used to have to do. As a sidetone, I also have Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20's in my collection.
Preamp is a recapped Mcintosh C35 and amp is a recapped MC2255. Phono pre is a VTL TP 2.5 II, TT is a Marantz TT-15S1 running a SAE1000LT MM cart.
I borrowed a friend's Sonus Faber Electa Amator II's and they sounded very good in my room - sweeter, more natural, no congestion, though I did give up bass slam/impact, which I kind of missed.
Here are pictures of the room:
Front:
Back:
I'm playing around now with plugging the rear ports of the Aerial, as well as putting some acoustic panels in the back corners of the room. Both of those seem to have helped quite a bit.
As far as measurements, those Aerials are currently about 80" apart, 16" from speaker back to front of cabinet, 96" from each speaker to the listening position.
What's your opinion: With some room treatments/plugged ports, can the Aerials work well in a room of this size, or do I need to move toward smaller speakers?
If I go smaller, any thoughts on something like the Sonus Faber Concerto Domus (there's a pair local to me) or Sonetto III? Those seem to be more modestly sized, don't go as low. Would those be at least a lateral to the AA Model 7B's, or a step down in terms of overall speaker quality? I only mention Sonus Faber models as I was impressed with my friend's speakers and generally do enjoy the smoother, more musical speakers and will give up some detail/pinpoint accuracy if needed to avoid brightness/listening fatigue.
Thanks all. . .
I agree with others here that recommend Fritz for your situation. For another option I have personal experience with, please check out the Fenner & Friedl Art monitor. https://www.trenner-friedl.com/index.php?menu=product&sprache=en&second=art Big sound from a relatively small box. |
Looks like a very nice room, if only it was a few feet wider. You might have too much speaker for your space. Think high quality bookshelf speakers with a sub would fit the room perfectly. Maybe a mellow speaker with lower efficiency? There are several subs that do speaker level inputs, or have RCA in/out to use in a tape loop, or in between preamp and amp. Kind of sucks you have such nice equipment. Powered speakers would be nice, like the KEF's. |
@yoyoyaya What do you recommend for bass traps? Is it the shape or material (or both) that differentiate a higher frequency panel from a bass trap? I suppose not surprisingly, vendors advertise flat panels like the ones I have as bass traps, so would be good for me to be educated on this @erik_squires Am I treating for general reflections or bass in particular when doing ceilings? @re-lar-kvothe @mesch @scotandholly Yes, more recommendations for Fritz! I should really check him out. I did go to the site, but all the models (current and legacy) are kind of overwhelming. I’m sure he can clear things up in a conversation. I grew up in SoCal and visit there 3-4 times a year. Where in SoCal is he, and does he have a sound room where he can demo different models? Seems ideal to be able to hear different models in the same environment and then go home with the one that I think fits best and demo them at home for awhile. @mswale Yes, plenty of gear. Some low powered tube gear as well. Eico HF-85 preamp, Dynaco ST-35 and ST-70 amps, 2 x Eico HF-12 mono integrateds. So lower powered gear. I think I could be happy enough with something that went down to the high 30’s/low 40’s, which the Fritz models seem to. And their series crossover is supposed to make the speakers easier to drive, so those may be able to bring my tube gear into rotation too. The Aerials were too power hungry for them.
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@captouch I use my Frirz speakers with a PP EL34 tube amp in triode mode (<20wpc) with no problem. I have also used 2x4' wall mounted acoustic absorption panels set diagonally across corners of the front wall. The space behind the panels served as bass trapping. Now with a change to stand mount speakers not going much below 40hz) (which I was using) I am not sure how much bass trapping you will need. I do believe you may have too much reduction of upper bass and midrange absorption on your side walls, skewing frequency response increasing the impression of lower bass. Keep in mind that if you change speakers your room treatment needs will likely change. Particularly regarding bass response.
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If the speaker is too big for your room, overloading your room, etc, it means any car stereo you ever heard in life in that tiny space called a car cabin should have had overwhelming bass, chestiness, congestion, etc. But, that was not the case in the tiny space called the car, right? Get a umik, rew software and measure what's happening at your listening location. You are most probably sitting on top of some modal peaks. After that you can start moving yourself and your speakers around a bit (referred to as positional EQ). Aid it with some Schiit Loki analog eq as well and adjust to taste/make do. Since you seem to be a analog only guy, digital dsp fixes went out the window. Your room is a bit small for treatments that actually work, etc....
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