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Sound quality vs. volume

Looking for a bit of expertise here:

I recently made a few changes to my setup and while overall pleased with the results, I’m on the quest for better.  I’m hoping you all can help me diagnose an issue I’m hearing.

When listening to music at lower volume levels - say less than 1/2 total volume, the clarity, imaging and dynamics come across far more coherent and “in focus”.  To use an often over-coined phrase “It’s like I’m there in the room”.  As I start to push the volume up a bit, closer to live-performance levels, the sound becomes increasingly “mushy”.  I know, a highly technical term, but the best way to describe what I am hearing.  The bottom-end loosens up - getting a bit boomy, the crispness of the mid-range and highs fade and the imaging falls out of focus.  These are all incremental with volume until I get to the point where it’s just unbearable.   

I’m no expert by any means but feel it might be room acoustics.  I already know I have a less than ideal setup with a nearly square room (21x20ft) with 60% of the surface covered with clear birch wood paneling. Some things we can’t change (easily).  I do not have any acoustic treatment, just lots of soft furniture.  What I find interesting is that my old setup (Magnepan 1.6) didn’t suffer to such a degree.  Maybe with the new setup there is more to loose?  A mystery.  

For a bit more context:  
Speakers:  Dynaudio Contour 60
Streamer: SoTM sms-200 Ultra
Amplifier: Peachtree Nova500

Within the 20x21ft. room, my speakers are 4ft. from the wall, I am seated 13ft. from the front wall (a bit back from room center). Speakers are 9ft. apart.

Any thoughts?  


wanderingmoo
nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 
@wanderingmoo as I read your second paragraph room reflections was what first came to my mind. You could try something simple to begin with: use some pillows or cushions around your head to create a sort of narrow listening cone towards your speakers. If that seems to reduce the problem (at least in the midrange and treble) then it sounds like you're on the right track.

Your Magnepan 1.6 speakers would have produced much more directional sound, being a vertical panel and a dipole.
dorkwad
548 posts
 
One thing you could try, WMoo, is to place your speakers so that they aim diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.  Put them out from the wall until the bass is too light compared to the mids/highs.  Your equipment can be on one of the walls if you have long ICs or SCs.  If not, put the equipment in that corner.  Place your listening chair or couch somewhere on the line of those 2 corners facing the speakers.  Experiment with the closeness of the speakers to the chair.  It would be best logistically to have the speakers and stuff where there is no door to get in the way of entering or leaving the room.  

In near square rooms, this often gives the best shot of achieving the best sound you can expect with the dimensions given.  It's free and MAY give you a good boost in SQ.  Nothing to lose trying but a little moving of stuff.  I'd do this and get you sound to the best you can and THEN start messing with room treatments as needed.

Bob

newtoncr
151 posts
 
I agree with gillatgh. I was using kef blades 2 running through parasound jc-1 and jc-2 setup . When I raised the volume the sound stage used to get collapsed and mushy. I changes to ayre mx-r twenty and kx-r twenty . The sound stage stays open and not mushy even at loud volumes / loudest volumes . Same speakers same asc room treatment. Electronics does play a major role for clarity at higher volumes .

mrdecibel
3,150 posts
 
Less than 1/2 volume, and everything sounds good. Is this based on the volume control setting on the Peachtree, or, with an spl meter ? Closer to live volume levels ? Could be terrible room reflections, and improper bass loading because of the high pressurization taking place ( my 1st guess ). It could be dynamic compression of the speakers ( I use horns, and I hear this compression a lot from other speakers, especially at louder levels ). It could be your hearing, as many people cannot listen loud. It could be the system is highly accurate, and at louder volumes, you are hearing production problems in the recordings. The system components might be mismatched. I am also a believer of everything geoffkait addressed ( he is a brilliant man ). I would try the near field listening test suggested by Eric. Cables can be " wrong " as well, since systems need to work together. Enjoy ! MrD.
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