Does anybody pay a pro to dial their system in?
Bought a new system here and I’m shooting in the dark for what to expect. It sounds underwhelming to me and I feel I need a second pair of ears. My new system comprises of:
Benchmark AHB2
Benxhmark DAC3
Totem1 bookshelf speakers
i know the system is not the problem, it’s me. All just muddy. Small room 12x8. I’ve added carpet and thick curtains on all three walls (behind speakers and both sides. On the sides I have two sets of curtains so I can open them in the middle so I don’t deaden the room too much. All in all I’m not thrilled at all at what I hear.
Over the last year Ive been listening day and night to a great “lively and exciting” set of headphones (Fostex TH900) which I love and maybe this has set a bar on what I’m looking for in a room system. I understand that a system and phones are two different experiences but for now the system doesn’t hold a candle to what the headphones are giving me.
I’m wondering if hiring a professional to dial my system in would be a good idea as I really don’t know what to expect from the system and my small room.
I think you can get it straightened out in this forum pretty quickly. If you post pics in your virtual system it would be helpful. The first thing to dial in is your speaker positioning, ideally your speakers are at a 22 to 30 degree angle from your chair, and you can experiment moving them closer and further from the wall and toeing them in toward you:
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If I had to exist in a 12x8 room (audio wise) I’d look for ’perfection’ in a headphone system. I believe a good speaker based audio system needs ’breathing room’ that doesn’t exist in a room that small, whereas a high end phone system can create a full sound stage with great clarity. You might give up some sense of depth of image which IMHO is that DOI is one of the big benefit of normal speaker audio. I think you will enjoy your money spent (wisely!) on a good headphone system more so than trying to get great audio in a room that small. |
Agree with @kota1 . Do your homework reading everything you can on this forum and others and watching youtube vids. Some of the info will apply to your situation. It takes time. In a room that size you will definitely be doing (almost) near-field listening. The room and the setup will give you half (or more) of what you will hear. See my pics under virtual systems of my treated room and setup. Don't give up! |
Thanks Newbee and the rest of you. Newbee I’ve been loving my headphones for the last year, at home and out and about and I’m leaning to agree with you - I don’t think this system can beat what I get out of those cans with portable amp. However, all is not lost on the system as I plan to find a bigger apartment this year, one with the potential for a great listening room. |
