Bass response everywhere but at listening position?


This is my first thread! I just received a pair of new Klipsch Forte IIIs today. The speakers sound promising even new, I get a solid bass response from these speakers EVERYWHERE in my room...but not when I'm in front of or between the speakers, including at my listening position 8ft away. Not a spot I want bass frequency to cancel and not something I've experienced before. I posted this quandary on @jbhiller's Forte III thread earlier today but I'd appreciate more opinions.

I don't think it's a matter of break-in or my other equipment. Powering them with a Hegel H160 (purchased used on Audiogon) through 5ft Audience Ohno IIIs (brand new). Have played vinyl, CDs and streamed with no variance in the lack of bass response I'm describing. Varying placement within the below parameters or toe-ing in isn't affecting bass. All which lead me to believe it isn't the speakers but rather my room or speaker placement causing this drop-off--and I can't do much to change either.

I know our room isn't optimal for a number of reasons, but didn't imagine bass response was a major issue. It's an open and oddly shaped but mostly rectangular floor plan with a kitchen on the far end (13.6' x 26'). The speakers are on the only wall I can put them, a very short 6' wall of where the speakers can be 1.5' max from the wall and 4' apart max because there is a doorway (with a door) on one side and a glass wall at a 40 degree outward angle on the other side. My equipment is between the speakers (I know...and bare concrete floor we're not covering but that shouldn't negatively affect bass response...I'm working on some treatment but that's another post for another time...).

I'm new to calling this a "hobby", but I've listened to many enviable systems, own a few thousand CDs and records (I came up in the music industry) and have been an electric bass player most my life. I've owned large and small bass rigs, played and recorded in all sizes of rooms and have a good handle on roadblocks to getting a proper bass response. So this drop-off is really bumming me out.

As I can't do much to change placement, what else I should be trying? Is it a lost cause?

moteef

Showing 1 response by imhififan