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What can I do to improve my 2nd system?

My 2nd stereo system is in my 14 ft x 18 ft bed room. The system is placed on the short side as shown. The sound path is laptop/CD/SACD player -> DAC -> power amp -> speakers/subwoofer.  All the details including the placements and cabling are shown in the picture.  The subwoofer is connected from DAC to sub. line-in and line out to power amp thru a build-in HPF fixed at 80Hz 12dB/Octave, which I found the best way for integration bet. the main and sub. The bookshelfs are slightly toed in.  After adding the sub., I like the almost full-range sound out of this system but wonder what else I could do to further improve it.  Any advise is appreciated.   

lanx0003
riley804
1,224 posts
 

start with :

getting better stands for your equipment and speakers

second subwoofer

room treatments

 

from there you can tweak things

lanx0003 OP
856 posts
 

For the speakers, power amp and CD/SACD player, I have attached semisphere rubber isolators (made by 3M) underneath. Would that suffice? But the audio graded stand is definitely good idea.

I had a old sub by Audio Research (AR SW30) and I hooked both of them in stereo mode using the RCA splitter out of DAC. To integrate them together, I experimented several location and found placing both of them inside the L/R speakers is the best location. And I also need to set the phase on the 2nd sub. to "90 degree" to get them better paired together. However, for some reason, the AR sub seems to have hard time to keep up with SVS pacewise. I may need to purchase the same sub. if going for dual.

Here is my curiosity. I understand the 2nd sub is mainly used to mitigate the hump/null and obtain more even low end frequency distribution in the room. Also, having two subs helps headroom for each of them to play more effortlessly. If my seating position is always at the same spot and I was alone listener 99% of time, given the size of my room do I really need a 2nd sub? I was told by SVS tech a single sub. is sufficient given the size of my room. What are "other" advantages having the 2nd sub?

For room treatment, I was thinking placing the bass traps on L/R corners and the sound absorption panels on the 1st reflection points left and right. On the front wall (behind the main speakers), I have difficult time to do sound diffusion because of the windows but, question, may the blinds work as the diffusers (sort of) to my favor? If not, how about thick lining curtain?  What are the right way to treat that?  

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,519 posts
 

It doesn't look too bad. I'd move the loudspeakers to the very front edge of the stands, move the speakers about a foot more away from the side wall, and hang heavy but open drapes. 

lanx0003 OP
856 posts
 

@russ69 That was a very good idea. I was thinking about the heavy/thick drapes behind the speakers but what is "open" drapes?  And what is the purpose of the openess?  Let the sound wave pass through the drapes and be traped between the drapes and window?

erik_squires
16,123 posts
 

The minimum, in order:

  1. Thick curtains on the windows. Double layer if you can.
  2. GIK Acoustics corner traps with scatter plates in the corners from floor to ceiling.
  3. DSP EQ on the sub.

Try crossing the speakers in front of you, that will minimize early side reflections. 

When you realize the advice above works absolutely stunningly consider GIK combination bass trap/diffusors for the side walls as well.

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