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

@perazzi28 With the new Concerto Domus speakers, I did try a lot more positions to minimize the effect of room nodes.  I was able to hear that in certain forward/back spots, the bass was bloated and in other spots, it was much better controlled and tighter.  I have yet to go back and try that with the Aerials.  With the Aerials being rear ported, I’m sure the best spot will be different, but it’s worth a try.

What I am able to say is that, at least with a speaker the size of the Concerto Domus, it doesn’t overwhelm the room.  I’ll have to see how the Aerials fare.  
 

As you see in my pics, there’s not much room on the back wall for diffusers, unless I put them on the cabinet doors.  As far as near-field, I need to look more into that.  I tend to like a large soundstage, and I’ve found that toe-ing in speakers compresses the soundstage.  So my perception was that near field might compress it even more.  But I could be misunderstanding how near field affects things.

 

@deecee Yes, I think we’ve been in the same Aerial thread on AK.  I’ll take a look at those bass traps you mentioned.

 

@turkster3 For me, there’s a level of bass that’s enough.  I don’t necessarily need subterranean bass, just not to feel like there’s something meaningful there that I’m missing out on.  I think at least now, with all the room contents, additional subs would be a challenge.  But what I’m getting with these smaller speakers seems enough so far.

I’m listening to my Sonus Faber Concerto Domus as I type. Larger room and full of acoustic issues as are many. I’ve had many speakers in here over the years. Finally got it tuned in using DSP baked into Roon. I apply a room correction convolution filter created using Room EQ Wizard software plus various parametric eq tweaks to personal preference. Not easy but problem finally solved fully and cost effectively.

I find the Concerto Domus open up best at least a couple feet out from rear wall. Currently using a Cambridge Audio Evo 150 with the CDs.  Have also used  older Bel Canto C5i with the CDs.   Lots of good options there. 

@captouch  From the pic you sent above w/ the Sonus Faber's (?) it appears to me that you need to play with moving further away from side walls--just a guess--but when you do that your listening position does change-closer to speakers. 

Have you tried using a room mode calculator?  This one came to my attention a few years back on A'Gon and it's a free app from an Austrian guy, that was immensely helpful in locating the modes in my room--and keeping my speakers and turntable away from bass nodes. It's fun to play with a wealth of information on room modes: https://amcoustics.com/tools/amroc

Lastly, someone above mentioned that if you liked the Aerial Acoustic sound and wanted smaller speakers the Aerial 5T might work--they are well-reviewed and maybe you can demo them--but are standmounts.  FWIW