This weekend my local dealer AZ Hi Fi was kind enough to loan me an RTA machine and a Rives Parc. They didn't even sell me the speakers! Using the measurements from the Copland DRC205, I set the Parc for a 7db cut. The peak measured 11.3 db and at the -3 db mark 53hz wide so the Copland graph made it easy to set up the parc. Sonically, I prefer the Parc to the DRC205 but another box and another set of cables in the signal path is still identifiable to a slight degree. In this case, the benefit outweighs the negative aspect. Another interesting difference in sound between the DRC205 and the Parc is possibly due to the way the DRC makes its measurements. The DRC205 measures and adjusts each channel independently. The Parc also allows a user to adjust each channel independently. My dealer told me to set both channels the same. Since the 200hz bump is not exactly the same for both channels, I set the Parc up both ways and found when the channels were adjusted for their own individual response the sound more closely resembled the DRC205 which to me has a bit of an unnatural quality to it. I agree with my dealer that the Parc sounds best with both channels set the same.
I would not be able to live with the speakers 8 feet into the room. Currently they are placed 46 inches from the wall to the acoustic center, and this is as far out as I find acceptable. I'll see how I like the sound this week since I have the Parc on loan until Sat. The N802's certainly meshed with my room better than the ESP's. I may need to look for something more room friendly like a Gradient or simply go back to the B&W's, decisions, decisions.
The room is almnost square (bad) 14x14.75 ft and it definitely leaves a sonic footprint. In addition to the 200hz hump with the ESP's, both speakers have a dip in the 50-63hz range. I'm using a REL B-3 to fill in the bottom crossed over at 53hz.
Thanks Shadorne for your info and comments. My local dealer also stated that tube traps, etc. would not be sufficient to eliminate my problem.
