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Small Room Question

Hi,
I need some help from some of the more experienced folk out there. I am currently driving B&W Nautilus 805s with a SF Power 2 (or occasionally a McCormack .5 Rev A) in a small room (12x14x8). In general I like the sound and don't necessarily need/want deep deep bass (<35 or so), although a little more than the 805s 45hz would be helpful.

My problem is that my headphones sound way better than my speakers with regard to openness, seamless integration of frequencies, lack of boxy sounds, feeling of envelopment.

I want to seriously upgrade my speakers and would like to hear the experiences of anyone who has is similarly restricted/challenged (?) with regard to available listening space. I can place speakers about 3ft from rear wall (covered with heavy curtains). Would floorstanders/electrostatics go berserk in a room this small?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Haven't decided on price yet but would like the speakers to match the quality of my anciliary equipment so $4 to $6k, maybe cheaper if used.

Thanks
Audioq
audioq
rbstehno
1,412 posts
 
i have a similiar size room (13x13x9) and went from floorstanders to monitors/sub. the monitors are almost 3 ft from the rear wall. the monitors simply disappear. the rel sub was fairly easy to match up with the monitors and the room. I also added 4 asc tube traps in the corners, 2 14"x4' in the front and 2 10"x6ft in the rear.
mfkeleher
146 posts
 
Those speakers should be sufficient to deliver the sound you seek. Did they sound better in a previous room? What are you using for a speaker stand? What do you have between them? Do you also have a thick absorbing carpet and soft cushy furniture? Are opposing walls hard and bare?

You are eventually going to have to experiement with some setup issues to get the sound you want anyway, you might as well spend time first with these. It will inform your shopping, and you might be surprised to find all you want is a sub.

There's no reason you shouldn't be able to get at least damn fine sound out of a pair of 805's. And if you are not, you wont be getting your money's worth out of the next pair either.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
ramond
63 posts
 
I too had the same problem.
Floor standers were way to big in my 11" X 13" room.
Went to a pair of monitors with stands.
Less bass was the trade off,no more standing bass waves.
I have tube traps and acoustic panels that i'm also using to dial in the room.
Small rooms are not the best but can be made to sound good with a little time and patience.
In your price range the selection is huge.
Try to audition the speakers in you're room with you're equipment and with you're choice of music.
Just my $.02 Rick.

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