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Can room acoustics amplify the sound of speakers?

In attempting to solve some room acoustics problems, I have encountered a dilemma: Can room acoustics actually amplify the sound from speakers?? This is my scenario, I play music fairly loud, but am no headbanger (for example Yes' version of "America" or "Going for the One", Allman Brothers "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed") I understand what it means to pressurize a listening room and how recording venues have different degrees of loudness which should be adjusted or matched by the volume control. The source of this question originates when I play music loud, the dynamic passages become less clear and more congested or noisy, but a transition to a softer passage, the clarity and harmonics of the music improves. Am I hearing more total harmonic distortion at loud volume levels, and less so on the softer passages??, OR, is my amp clipping, or is the music's demands beyond the capabilities of my integrated amp. The amp is a Creek SE5350 Classic (80RMS) driving Acoustic Zen Adagios. The room is only 12X14. Will appreciate any advice or explanation. Jim
sunnyjim
6550c
393 posts
 
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.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
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.
davehrab's avatar
davehrab
380 posts
 
Stan .. appreciate you coming back and offering support to my theory on sunnyjim's problem

Initially I know s/j was a bit reluctant to accept what I put forward vs the Industry but ... with your post and support I'm sure he feels much better now about accepting what the problem is and now just has to resolve it

Also appreciate you removing all self interest when giving subjective opinion on this one .... has to be tough to get caught between consumer and industry ... but today I think s/j came out the real winner the way it's supposed to happen in this forum
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