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I live in a large cement room...

Hi. I would be grateful for anyone out there with acoustical knowledge to offer ideas. Here's my system, room, and issues to address;
#1. OK, THE SYSTEM: Cary CD303, Cary sli80 (with a buffet of NOS tubes, so sexy they're almost pornographic), Meadowlark Hot Rod Shearwaters, 2 Coincident power cords, Harmonic Tech Pro silwayII interconnects, a Chang Lightspeed on the way, and biwired DH Labs T-14 (soon to be replaced with either Harm Tech Pro9 bi's or the Coincident wire). That will be all the upgrades for quite a while, I took some big steps this past year to put together a good system for what I listen to, which is primarily small ensemble acoustic instruments- jazz & classical.
#2. THE ROOM: length 24' width 17' height 8'. Hard tile floor, cement walls, and cement ceilings sprayed with stucco textured with kitty litter, wasn't my idea but it's a nice effect.
Currently I have my speakers 8' out from the short wall ( I live alone :-), and 4' out from one of the long side walls, and 7' from the other side wall, (it has to be this way due to foot traffic considerations), the speakers are about 7' apart from center of drivers.
ROOM TREATMENTS I'VE DONE ALREADY: the whole back wall is covered in two king size egg crate bed pads, then covered by two king size Martha Stewart (taupe colored) cotton blankets, a nice looking wall if I do say so with lots of double stick carpet tape underneath and duct tape on the perimeters. On the floor I've put two throw rugs- Kmart designer rugs, (~4'x7') from the exclusive Tangiers collection, which I throw out and replace whenever the dogs vomit on them. So there is a thin layer of carpet all around me between the speakers and my listening position. On the long wall to my right of the listening position (with the speaker 4' from the side wall) are two large sliding glass doors with panoramic views of the Caribbean, ( I'm in St Thomas, which is why the house is all poured cement). There is a sheet thin drape over the windows. Behind the speakers along the back wall are lots of cardboard boxes from all my equipmemt, and CD racks etc.
ISSUES TO ADDRESS: How can I improve my soundstage/imaging? Speakers are slightly toed in. I don't seem to be able to attatch anything to the ceiling due to the kitty litter, it just wont stick. I think better speaker cables will help. Frequency response seems nice, but I'd love to hear even better imaging. Sorry to be so long winded but I just finished a nice bottle of wine. Jay
jay_carlson
jay_carlson OP
78 posts
 
Landmarkbldrs,

Thanks for the offer. It sounds like you've been here before, - next time you're down look me up, maybe you can help, I'll take you out to dinner. That's a long swim, especially since the water hasn't warmed yet up from the bitter cold winter temps, (I've been here a few years). Actually yes I guess my post was part B.S., I'm on the Northside, Magen's, so technically I'm lookin at the Atlantic. Maybe you'll have some helpful advice after a good night's sleep? thanks, J
evo845
70 posts
 
Hi Jay
I have the same situation here on Guam. I,ve done some extensive work with my room. I took 2in. thick foam sheets and covered the ceiling and in the start of the second layer of 2in. sheets.This has made a great leap forward in soundstate and presentation of the musical event. My walls are similar to yours with carpet padding 2 sheets and beige carpet over that . Tile floors are covered with thick oriental carpet and the windows have been treated with 6x6 sheet of 1/4 plywood which has 1 inch thick insulation sheets and covered with dark brown cotton cloth stapled to the back side.
Back to the ceilings. I have the ceiling devided into 3 sections.The 2 inch thick foam sheets have been cut into 8 in,wide running the length of the ceiling, this canceled alot of the slap echo out, which increased soundstage.
Not to over deaden a room I put up first reflections and reflection directly behind the speakers 16in.wx10fth. the speakers dunlavys sc 4 a,s are 6ft. in to the room and 3.5 ft from side walls.The side walls have been treated like the rear wall.
My room is 13x10h x 39ftlen.Its taken over 1 year to get this far down the road the system is stating to be very very musical.
steve
kublakhan
717 posts
 
Christ jay, you describe a room like that and then write 'issues to address? how can i improve my soundstaging?'!!!!!

if i understand your room description correctly i think there's a good chance you're never going to get laid again! we've got some serious problems on our hands here and your worried about imaging??

this is going to be a tough one guys. this man needs some help.
dougholdco
34 posts
 
Leave the rugs. Take the rest of that crap out of the room and replace it with a set of Argent Room Lenses. They work. I bought a set (of 3) here on AudiogoN for $850, and it was like I had spent the money upgrading a major component.
jay_carlson OP
78 posts
 
Kublakhan,

LOL! No problem in that dept. I have the opposite problem really. I've got to be careful, and strong. Jay carlson is a man of steel. There are a few very nice women on island who want me right now, but I'm trying to be good while my girlfreind is in the states for a couple weeks. How could I stray when she's bringing me back some of my favorite beer? (Geary's Pale Ale from Portland Maine).
Actually, I've found there is a little known and lesser discussed INVERSE W.A.F. in effect when you live alone. It's true. All those placement/room treatment issues you married guys get harped & bickered at about by your wifes are the same things that "visiting women" find so intrigueing. It's kind of like the "wedding ring = babe magnet" theory if you're familiar with that one.
Yes, the women that pass through my jungle love nest think it's pretty damn cool the way the living room is set up. And they can't wait to sit in "THE CHAIR" ;-) J
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