2. misc-audio
  3. 194060-132008

Listening Room or Components or my ears?

My system is sounding a bit harsh, hard, shrill. (Cronus Magnum lll Amp, Focal Aria 948 Speakers, Denon DCD 1700NE CD Player, Shunyata Gamma Cables). It is just CD play back at 1/3 volume. It's a basement, L shaped room. Carpeted cement floors. The Speakers are 3 foot from rear wall. Left speaker 2 foot from side wall. Right speaker is 15 foot from side wall. Speakers are silghtly toed in and a 6 foot apart. Equipment rack and two subs between them. The wall behind the speakers is covered in framed posters. Is this an obvious fault? The walls themselves are wood paneling. Is there a problem with only one apeaker next to a side wall? Ant thoughts or suggestions? Thanks

bzawa
tomcarr
1,697 posts
 

Reduce all toe-in. Have speakers facing straight ahead. Worked like a charm for my B&W 803 D3s.

2psyop's avatar
2psyop
1,870 posts
 

Facing speakers almost straight ahead does turn down higher frequencies and especially if the speakers are not far apart from each other. No toe in toward the main listener position.

bzawa OP
36 posts
 

Good Day

Thanks to all for helpful comments and suggestions. Much appreciated.

You've given me lots to think about and explore.

 

 

 

audiorusty
316 posts
 

In my experience I have never been in an untreated room that did not emphasize the upper mid’s and hi’s. You also have a room gain imbalance with the right speaker being 15’ from the side wall, which will help de-emphasize the lower frequencies on that side. Also our ears are less sensitive to lower frequencies at lower volume levels. In my opinion you have three things working against you, but I think room treatments is by far the best place to start.

bzawa OP
36 posts
 

Hello All

I separated the speakers by about a foot and positioned them without the toe-in. It does sound a lot better. A lot! Music is bigger, deeper, involving. Thanks for the advice. Wish I'd done this years ago. Next step - room treatments.

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