Hardwood floors vs Carpet

The best listening rooms have a "live" sound characteristic. It will require added work, but it's no big deal to achieve excellent sound in a hardwood floor room. Just as important as its acoustic properties, hardwood floors transmit vibration differently. A floating wood floor is an excellent technique to minimize external vibes from entering your system.

One last point that shouldn't be overlooked. A wood floor with fine quality rug looks good. I firmly believe that the visual feedback of a nicely appointed room positively effects sound performance.

Thanks folks,

for a moment I was thinking of pulling out the receipt to make a return and keep the rugs.

I had my entire room's ceiling sprayed 1" thick with bleached-white cellulose insulation fiber. This is the same gray stuff found on warehouse ceilings, etc. It improved the echos & reflections considerably & was not very expensive, although it was quite a messy install. The cellulose worked well enough that I didn't have to completely hide the beautiful hardwood floor under full carpeting; a large wool deco. rug centered in the room does nicely. Also hung some artwork and various hook rugs on the walls all around, plus the curtains & stuffed furniture all adds up to some pretty decent room treatment and looks quite natural compared to the various treatment contraptions

guys. guys! listen to yourselves...

uncarpeted wood floors sound very bright and alive but ultimately fatiguing to me. oriental carpets are an integral part of my system. but be careful; enjoying fine carpets is a hobby unto itself. and get good carpet pads, i prefer the fibrous horsehair over rubber.