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Thoughts on Speakers for a Small Audio/Video Room

Hoping to get some thoughts from the group here. 

I recently moved into a dedicated TV/audio room, but the room size is on the small side: 15.5ft x 11.5ft.  As pics will show, there's quite a bit in there, so empty volume is decreased further due to that.

I've been using Aerial Acoustics Model 7B speakers, which I've been very happy with in larger spaces, but they seem to be overwhelming the room and I'm getting fairly overwhelming bass. Vocals have sort of a chestiness/congested nature to them, and there are bass undertones to most songs.  If I play records loud, I need to activate my rumble filter, which I never used to have to do.  As a sidetone, I also have Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20's in my collection.

Preamp is a recapped Mcintosh C35 and amp is a recapped MC2255.  Phono pre is a VTL TP 2.5 II, TT is a Marantz TT-15S1 running a SAE1000LT MM cart.

I borrowed a friend's Sonus Faber Electa Amator II's and they sounded very good in my room - sweeter, more natural, no congestion, though I did give up bass slam/impact, which I kind of missed.

Here are pictures of the room:

Front:

Back:

I'm playing around now with plugging the rear ports of the Aerial, as well as putting some acoustic panels in the back corners of the room.  Both of those seem to have helped quite a bit.

As far as measurements, those Aerials are currently about 80" apart, 16" from speaker back to front of cabinet, 96" from each speaker to the listening position.

What's your opinion: With some room treatments/plugged ports, can the Aerials work well in a room of this size, or do I need to move toward smaller speakers?

If I go smaller, any thoughts on something like the Sonus Faber Concerto Domus (there's a pair local to me) or Sonetto III?  Those seem to be more modestly sized, don't go as low.  Would those be at least a lateral to the AA Model 7B's, or a step down in terms of overall speaker quality?  I only mention Sonus Faber models as I was impressed with my friend's speakers and generally do enjoy the smoother, more musical speakers and will give up some detail/pinpoint accuracy if needed to avoid brightness/listening fatigue.

Thanks all. . .

 

captouch
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,827 posts
 

we have an incredible pair of compact loudspeakers for you

 

https://www.stereotimes.com/post/jern-14eh-loudspeaker-and-mj-acoustics-ref-i-mk4-subwoofer-by-greg-voth-2/

"The 14EH produces uncanny three-dimensional imaging that noticeably expands the soundstage. With a frequency range of 90-25,000 Hz, the JERN®14EH combined with a single subwoofer or dual subwoofers creates an unforgettable listening experience of great depth and detail."

the Jerns are a unique compact loudspeakers with one of the most inert cabinets on the planet: cast iron and graphite.

the cabinet houses either a Scanspeak or the rarer gold domed, hand made Hiquphon twweter: https://www.hiquphon.dk/pdf_files/OW3-prospect.pdf tweeter

the midrange Bass driver is a composite driver from Wavecor. 

the crossover is a minimalist design: using Mundorf capacitors and high quality bespoke wiring and wool stuffing to complete the package the result is a totally resonance free, fast and articulate monitor, that completely disappears, and sounds like an electrostatic loudspeaker.

As the loudspeaker has limited bass we match them up with an Mj acoustics pro 80 subwoofer 1800 for a very room friendly full range sat/sub package, that can work in any small room in any location in that room.

 

Dave and Troy

audio intellect NJ

Jern and MJ Importers.

 

gkelly's avatar
gkelly
202 posts
 

Nice record collection, now if there is a way to store them in another room. in such a small room is eating up a lot of the air. 
A REL acoustic subs are designed to be able to hook up to a system that doesn’t have a sub out on it. 
I would also put some panels on the ceiling, just curious what are the round Grey disc?
 

jastralfu's avatar
jastralfu
441 posts
 

@erik_squires The Fritz Rev 7 SE has a split paper woofer and the ring radiator tweeter.  I have a pair in a small space and they are so good.

tubeguy80
97 posts
 

Interesting little room you have there. Maybe challenging but a fun project trying to optimize everything. As people have already said, you can keep tweaking speaker placement with your existing gear. But in the end probably would be best to go with a really nice set of mini monitors, then later add a sub if you want. That way you can fit the sub where it sounds best, and also independently adjust the volume so it doesn't overwhelm the room.

captouch OP
25 posts
 

@erik_squires Fritz definitely looks interesting.  I like the idea of supporting an independent speaker maker who uses high quality components.  Will keep a look out.

@nonoise I did try plugging the Aerial ports, as well as moving them further into the room, and it’s still too much.  I think they’re just too much speaker for the small volume in the room here.

@gkelly I really can’t store the records elsewhere as my deal with my wife is if I got my own music room or “mini man-cave”, I’d store all my gear and media here in the room.  So the only way they leave the room is if I downsize and get rid of them altogether.  The round grey discs are in-ceiling/in-wall speakers for my Atmos setup.  I really am trying to do a lot with the room, so there’s a 65” TV up front, but I painted the wall black to make it less obvious.  For the Atmos speakers, they had to be in-wall/in-ceilling for space reasons, but it actually sounds pretty good for what it is.  I don’t object to placing acoustic panels on the ceiling - it’s just harder to place them temporarily in spaces to hear the effect with gravity and all.  And I’m constrained a bit by the 4 Atmos speakers in the ceiling.
 

@tubeguy80 Yes, it’s been a fun project.  I’ve kind of given up on the Aerials as if moving them around, plugging the ports, and treating the corners isn’t enough, it’s probably just too big a speaker for the space.  
 

I just put in the Monitor Audio Gold Reference 20’s and I’m able to get away with just the back corner treatments and haven’t had to plug the rear ports on them yet.  They’re placed near the top of the speaker- 35” off the ground vs the much lower port on the Aerials (12” off the ground).  Maybe this is providing some breathing room, plus it’s just a smaller speaker to begin with.

I think I’m going to play with placement of the Monitor Golds for now and once I optimize, see what I think I’m lacking sonically.  In parallel, keep my eyes open for some opportunistic buying opportunities on standmount monitors, which size wise just seem to be intuitively a better fit for this smaller room.

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