I live in a large cement room...


Hi. I would be grateful for anyone out there with acoustical knowledge to offer ideas. Here's my system, room, and issues to address;
#1. OK, THE SYSTEM: Cary CD303, Cary sli80 (with a buffet of NOS tubes, so sexy they're almost pornographic), Meadowlark Hot Rod Shearwaters, 2 Coincident power cords, Harmonic Tech Pro silwayII interconnects, a Chang Lightspeed on the way, and biwired DH Labs T-14 (soon to be replaced with either Harm Tech Pro9 bi's or the Coincident wire). That will be all the upgrades for quite a while, I took some big steps this past year to put together a good system for what I listen to, which is primarily small ensemble acoustic instruments- jazz & classical.
#2. THE ROOM: length 24' width 17' height 8'. Hard tile floor, cement walls, and cement ceilings sprayed with stucco textured with kitty litter, wasn't my idea but it's a nice effect.
Currently I have my speakers 8' out from the short wall ( I live alone :-), and 4' out from one of the long side walls, and 7' from the other side wall, (it has to be this way due to foot traffic considerations), the speakers are about 7' apart from center of drivers.
ROOM TREATMENTS I'VE DONE ALREADY: the whole back wall is covered in two king size egg crate bed pads, then covered by two king size Martha Stewart (taupe colored) cotton blankets, a nice looking wall if I do say so with lots of double stick carpet tape underneath and duct tape on the perimeters. On the floor I've put two throw rugs- Kmart designer rugs, (~4'x7') from the exclusive Tangiers collection, which I throw out and replace whenever the dogs vomit on them. So there is a thin layer of carpet all around me between the speakers and my listening position. On the long wall to my right of the listening position (with the speaker 4' from the side wall) are two large sliding glass doors with panoramic views of the Caribbean, ( I'm in St Thomas, which is why the house is all poured cement). There is a sheet thin drape over the windows. Behind the speakers along the back wall are lots of cardboard boxes from all my equipmemt, and CD racks etc.
ISSUES TO ADDRESS: How can I improve my soundstage/imaging? Speakers are slightly toed in. I don't seem to be able to attatch anything to the ceiling due to the kitty litter, it just wont stick. I think better speaker cables will help. Frequency response seems nice, but I'd love to hear even better imaging. Sorry to be so long winded but I just finished a nice bottle of wine. Jay
jay_carlson
Leave the rugs. Take the rest of that crap out of the room and replace it with a set of Argent Room Lenses. They work. I bought a set (of 3) here on AudiogoN for $850, and it was like I had spent the money upgrading a major component.
Kublakhan,

LOL! No problem in that dept. I have the opposite problem really. I've got to be careful, and strong. Jay carlson is a man of steel. There are a few very nice women on island who want me right now, but I'm trying to be good while my girlfreind is in the states for a couple weeks. How could I stray when she's bringing me back some of my favorite beer? (Geary's Pale Ale from Portland Maine).
Actually, I've found there is a little known and lesser discussed INVERSE W.A.F. in effect when you live alone. It's true. All those placement/room treatment issues you married guys get harped & bickered at about by your wifes are the same things that "visiting women" find so intrigueing. It's kind of like the "wedding ring = babe magnet" theory if you're familiar with that one.
Yes, the women that pass through my jungle love nest think it's pretty damn cool the way the living room is set up. And they can't wait to sit in "THE CHAIR" ;-) J
My dad lives in a small cement room. The feds provide it
free of charge. I dont think he's too worried about imaging though.
Lee
I wanna die and be re-incarnated Jay. Betcha the bastard hit it rich on the dot-com run up and bailed before NASDAQ fell apart. I'm sure he has every vinyl release know to man too. Following that thought a little further, the SOB is probably well endowed and can drink anyone under the table!
The biggest image I am receiving here is the one where I wish for a pair of wading boots.