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rooms and sound levels

Any of you folks know whether a room has a specific sound level that, if gone over will cause a decrease in the clarity of sound? I find that my system seems to blare over a specified level depending on the cd played. Anyone write an article about this subject? I'm building bass traps at the moment, but the blare seems to be noticable in the mid and trebble, which is why I pose the question. It sounds clear below a certain level with no hint of distortion. Would a diffuser be of value? Has anyone had experience/benefit from the monster surge protector/ conditioner, which retails at about $300. The small 8 or 10 plug wonders?
arp
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ncarv
983 posts
 
This is the perpetual problem with CD's. It can improve with better players, transports or DAC's, but, IMHO, never be conquered completely.
acoustat6
357 posts
 
Hello, Yes, you can overdrive a room. If at any point things are rattling or walls are shaking you are overdriving the room. Its a distortion afterall, don't we have enough distortions without adding more? From, not treatment the room (woouw-wuoow, boom-boom) and adding insult to injury of overdriving the room these are things we can and should control.

Preemptive damage control... yes, I still have things that rattle in my room! Though the walls don't shake.
Bob
sol322
426 posts
 
Arp:

More info is needed. Does this happens at the same SPL?

A system component listing can provide a better base to comment on.

Does it happen when there is also bass present in the music played?

Your phrase "It sounds clear below a certain level with no hint of distortion" makes me think it is not inherent to the CD source.

Does the same happens while playing other sources like radio from your tuner (if any)?

What is the volume setting in your preamp when this happens?
aball
2,016 posts
 
You need bass traps in the corners. I have some homemade ones using Corning 703, 4" thick, 18" wide and they remove exactly what you speak of. They actually impact the mids and highs much more noiticibly than the lows. Sometimes I remove them because I like the added airiness but I definitely can't turn the stereo up as much as I can with the traps.

I used to have the same problem with my TT so it is the room, not your CDs.

Arthur
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