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Room treatment...what is the goal?

Is the goal to get rid of all echo in the room, or do you actually want to have some room echo. Are you aiming for a flat response? What if your speakers aren't perfectly flat, and have sloped up highs? (which I believe is the case with my B&W 805S speakers) Are you trying to match the anechoic response or at least be somewhat close to it? Also does anyone have the response measurements for the 805S? I can't seem to find them anywhere.

I just treated my room with the help of an acoustical engineer, and while everything sounds great, the highs almost seem too dull now on my 805S. They used to be too bright before treatment, but now they seem like they have lost a little of their sparkle and presence. Everything else sounds 10x better though
nemesis1218
mechans
3,048 posts
 
The objective is to eliminate echos, reverberations, vibrations, resonances. I think most agree, those phenomena, will interfere with enjoying your music. However the goal must be to achieve the sound you like that you prefer only. If it sounds dead to you I accept that it sounds dead. If you want more sparkle then ask your acoustical designer to advise you about removing some part of the sound dampening, but proceed slowly or you might rebound to the upper end tilt you didn't like in the first place. If your designer is arrogant and tells you to like it because he or she knows what is correct, then ask another expert, or experiment on your own.In any event don't suffer because of another persons taste or measurments.
tpreaves's avatar
tpreaves
2,686 posts
 
If your designer is arrogant and tells you to like it because he or she knows what is correct, then ask another expert, or experiment on your own.In any event don't suffer because of another persons taste or measurments.
Great advice,especially the last sentence.
samhar
1,048 posts
 
My experience has been similar to Dougmc's,I can now listen at 85db comfortably and the dynamic are much better. I also agree with Ncarv and Stanwal"s advice which is what I did and after staying with the changed sound I started to appreciate the more balanced fuller bodied presentation.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
It has been my experience acoustical engineers always over treat rooms and this is the reason your system is lifeless. When it comes to room treatment, less is more. Furniture, window treatment and carpet all react with the room and can be used as room treatment. Your acoustical engineer should have taken this into consideration. They do like to sell product though.

A perfectly flat speaker can sound bright or tilted up. Getting a system to sound right is a delicate balance of frequencies and it takes less than you would think to throw the sound off.
acoustat6
357 posts
 
Hi Nemesis, Great questions. You are onto something! Is there a goal? Yes, in audio it is to spend money!

Is the goal for room treatment to have an anechoic space? No, you do want some reverb. But it must be even throughout the freq range.

Are you aiming for a flat response? Yes and no, Ideally you want + or - 3db or better with a tilted up bass response below 100hz.

I dont have the anechoic freq response of you speakers. But who cares? It is what you speakers are doing in your room.

If your speakers seem too dull after treatment turn up the treble where it is missing.

The only way to know any of this is with measurements. Go to the Home Theater Shack and down load the FREE program Room EQ Wizard and post the results here.
Bob
PHP143
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