Room Too Dead

If the sound of the original venue is on the recording, then that is part of the performance. But distortion, reflections and/or noise from the listening room should NOT be part of the playback. That’s NOT on the recording.

@bpoletti Well, I listened to some of my reference recordings in an acoustically dead room on a very good system with Rockport speakers and they sounded lifeless and awful and couldn’t wait to get outta there. Plus, when speaker manufacturers design speakers they don’t do it in acoustically dead rooms (or at least none that I know of do) so they’re not voiced at all for that environment. There are obviously important uses for both absorption and diffusion depending on the room, system, and personal taste, but I doubt there are many here who prefer an acoustically dead room. So I have a different take on this from you, and that’s ok and I respect your reasoning and position — different strokes. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is that we enjoy the sound we get from our systems no matter how we get there.  Peace.

@soix 

It's OK for you to be wrong.  We're used to it.  If you like that kind of distortion, so be it.  

There have been plenty of other "tests" that contradict your comment.  In one case, playback of a recording in Powell Hall of a SLSO recording was "wrong" because it excited the hall's acoustics.  Played back in a dead room fixed the problem.  I know first-hand of the results because I was there.  

It’s OK for you to be wrong. We’re used to it. If you like that kind of distortion, so be it.

@bpoletti So much for “peace.” Well, the vast, vast majority of people here with dedicated listening rooms use some absorption, some diffusion, or some mix thereof to suit their tastes, and of all the threads I’ve read here on treating rooms over many years I don’t remember one person who created or recommended a completely dampened room even though they could — not one. Hmmmm. Suffice it to say you’re in the very extreme minority, so if I’m “wrong” then so are most of the people here, but u do u. Frankly, I don’t think there is a “wrong” here and ultimately, and as usual in audio, it comes down to personal tastes and preferences whatever they be and choosing room treatment is no different. 

Got rid of all mine and got used to not stuffing the room.More open and livelier.

I have a room like that downstairs.  Acoustically it’s a nightmare.  In cases  like that smaller is often better.  Also you need a lot flexibility in how things get setup.  So smaller speakers and separate sub or subs as needed is probably the way to go.  Big expensive bulky gear might work but just make life more difficult.  Who needs that?  Acoustically I would focus on primary reflection points on all surfaces as needed but don’t over do it.