Can room acoustics amplify the sound of speakers?

I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this thread; I have learned a great deal about the electronics of op-amps. My walls are "not barking" at me yet as Davehrab noted about his back wall, but the shouting has not stopped. Two questions emerge from the responses to this thread. First, Why don't high-end audio stores encourage an acoustic evaluation of a buyer's room; surely, they could provide their own acoustic treatment service, or just sell the product on a DIY basis and create additional revenue, for themselves, especially in these tough economic times, Second, it would be interesting to find out how many manufacturer's rely on a "one chip" output configuration Davehrab suggested of the Rega Apollo. If that is the only cause,and not a combo of CD output design and not resolving the negatives of room acoustics. How many of us, just guess at acoustics, or assume that the overstuffed furniture in the living room will cure all the negatives. I can only remember once over 38 years of audio clearly hearing the difference created by two floor to ceiling bookcases behind both speakers that "dramatically" changed the sound.

I would like to contact Rega, and see how they respond to explaining this "problem" of an apparent uncontrolled increase in volume, resulting in a loss of clarity on dynamic passages. I am not sure I understand how Davehrab would solve the electronic problem of overloaded or overworked op-amps. How much could it possibly cost a manufacturer to eliminate this problem. I am sure buyers would pay a reasonable increase in retail to attain good sound. Jim

Sunnyjim:

Your thought of audio chains (at least upscale ones) providing room treatment advice with the purchase of equipment and not offering it is a good one. Just one look at the 'Geek Squad' for computers and HT installations merits a good look at the concept. Most stores don't have the resources of a Best Buy but they could at least aid in setting it up and advising. When I got my speakers, the guy who owned the place where they were auditioned came over to deliver them and later on suggested at least one sound panel for the side of my room that was filled with windows. And this guy operates out of his house and doesn't even make or own the speakers. He's just a great guy to do business with.

On the matter of the Rega being the source of your woes, if it is determined to be the opamp in the unit, it can be swapped out for a better made one or even a Burson discreet opamp. Burson has testimonials and tutorials over at their website. Hope this helps.

My walls are "not barking" at me yet as Davehrab noted about his back wall, but the shouting has not stopped

Consuming large amounts of Gin and Corn Chips at mid day lead to colorful metaphors ...

Shouting is the correct word and symptom ... also substitute Congests for Congeals in the first post ... they are not the same thing and congests momentarily is what it does

Why don't high-end audio stores encourage an acoustic evaluation of a buyer's room; .... and create additional revenue

For years the industry has made money in spite of itself ... it didn't have to offer anything additional to be profitable and stay in business

A up sell (Room Acoustic) purchase after the initial sale may void the whole deal because there is a chance you will balloon the customers budget and lose the entire sale

Most sales seem to be predicated on price and position in Stereophile/Absolute "Recommended Components" list ... gives you very little to sell with

Try pitching the features and the benefits and educate and informing your buyer

Note to Sellers ... sometimes "I don't No" mean "I don't Know" .. and needs some aditional educations to change the "No" to "Know"

I think there is 3 things every buyer wants and deserves ...

Price .. Service .. and Availability = Real Value

Second, it would be interesting to find out how many manufacturer's rely on a "one chip" output configuration Davehrab suggested of the Rega Apoll

If you knew you would faint ... it's the weapon of choice in over 90% of the sub $2500 and down machines

Don't task me ... just contact the mfg of your player and ask them if they use a chip or discrete op am in the analogue out section of their player

Now of course they are going to deny any such problem exits with this Chip Op Amp ... but here's where you have to trust your Ears (What you Hear) vs your Eye's (What you read)

How many of us, just guess at acoustics, or assume that the overstuffed furniture in the living room will cure all the negatives

"Knowledge without understanding is a direct path to failure"

How many do you think put the effort into the self education like Duke did ... we all started with the same amount of knowledge ... NONE

I am not sure I understand how Davehrab would solve the electronic problem of overloaded or overworked op-amps.

I can give you 4 suggestions ... Good Better and Best and Replace ... but lets see if anyone else can offer a solution before I commit

How much could it possibly cost a manufacturer to eliminate this problem. I am sure buyers would pay a reasonable increase in retail to attain good sound.

It's not as easy as just fixing ... My Ayre D1EX was $8600 ... that fixed it

I don't think it's as much a price thing with Mfgers as the universal (ality) of the chip .. multiple application on one chip for ease of implementation, and convenience for building and mfgering are probably more the reason at this price point component

I do rememeber reading how each reflective surfaces adds 3db to the bass responce. (Notice it is not a power gain, just a shift in Hz responce). So, relative to your seating posistion, 3db for floor, 3bd for backwall**, 3bd for sidewall**)

** if speaker is "too close" to back or sidewall.

It is quite true that most of the chips used in current CD players were designed for other applications and have significant shortcomings in CD use. Rega deserves credit for trying to use a chip actually designed for CD use by a small English company. I believe the company went under but not before Rega bought a good supply of the chips. Their new high end player, called the ISIS I believe, has gotten some very good reviews and their lower price ones do well in their price categories. Right now many of the top specialist manufactures depend on NOS parts; this obviously cannot last indefinitely.