Room Too Dead

Yeah, those drapes are over-dampening your room.  I was in an over-damped room at a dealer once and it was not an enjoyable listen so I know exactly what you’re talking about.  I’d try replacing the drapes with thin sheets if they’re much thicker than sheets, or maybe you could take some of the drapes down behind the system and along the sides at first reflection points just for listening.  If you’re planning on putting up walls in the future I’d highly recommend reading this by Earl Geddes on how to build a great-sounding room.  It’s very approachable and I learned a ton about room acoustics and building materials/techniques — very interesting stuff.  Anyway, here’s the link…

http://www.gedlee.com/downloads/HT/Home_theater.pdf

Hope this helps, and best of luck breathing life back into your room. 

Thank you for the info.  I will do some experimenting

You can create a virtual system under your ID. It is easy to post photos and I’d equipment. That is really helpful for us to understand. Click down the little triangle next to discussion forum.

As an experiment try covering sections of the drapes with plastic sheeting or poly tarps.

You could even try paper/Xmas wrap (anything that won't absorb much).

https://www.tarpsplus.com/products/white-poly-tarps?variant=39757140197538

DeKay

@dekay

+1

Thin plastic can reflect highs while still letting bass go through and get absorbed by underlying layers. You’ll need to get it distributed on opposite walls so the sound can bounce around again. By selectively livening up parts of the room you may be able to achieve a desirable effect where immediate early reflections are absorbed but later reflections can stay alive for a while and reach your ears to create some spacious ambience. If you can prevent early reflections from reaching your ears for the first 10 to 15 milliseconds and then have some ambience sustain after that in the room, that should sound really good. That corresponds to a path length of about 14 to 20 feet, so the sound from the first reflection should travel an additional 14 feet to your ear after the direct sound from the speaker arrives. Delayed reflections that cross your head at angles of 60 degrees or more are desirable to create maximum inter-aural difference. Reflections from straight ahead and behind  are less useful and should be deflected to the sides of the room.