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Listening out of the Sweet Spot - What Works?

What factors most contribute to a system's ability to portray a realistic impression of live music when listening from a separate room in the house. I've had some systems that were startlingly live sounding from another room, or even another floor. I've also have had systems that were hair-raising in the sweet spot, but once you were out of the room that same system sounded very hifi and not at all convincing. I wonder what system-specific factors determine how convincing a system is away from the sweet spot. Obviously the space, and inter-relations of spaces within a house or apartment will play some roll, but I have a hunch that the system-specific factors may play an even stronger roll. In general I've found the SS systems I've used to be more convincing from afar, where tube-based systems tend to fall off more sharply when out of the room. There have been exceptions in my experience, but in general this has held true. I am limiting my own observations to more simple acoustic music and not more complex layered music like a symphony performance or rock concert. In those cases I can't think of any systems I've owned that have convincingly created the illusion of a symphony orchestra from a room or two away. Obviously soundstage and scale is not a factor here. Anyone have any thoughts on the subject or experience to share? In turn, where is one's money best invested to create a system that convincingly realistic from other rooms in the house, or outside of the sweet spot?
jax2

Showing 2 responses by jax2

jax2 OP
3,031 posts
 
but nirvana comes from just digging your stuff and the way it sounds, and most of all, collecting the music that best defines who you are....

Well said. Thanks for that reminder as it is easy to loose track of when you are so focused on the empty part of the glass, or the glass itself (the vehicle for delivery).

Dpac 996 - No kitty Litter. Maybe I need to train our Bullmastiff to use a litter box. Could be a stinky proposition though. How about a litterbox full of Brilliant Pebbles!?!?! How about Cocoa Pebbles, would they work? Maybe I should just stuff the pebbles into my ear canals to maintain phase coherence?

Newbee, my friend...not at all an answer worthy of large flapping elephant ears! Angst certainly factors into the equation when you are dealing with A. Nervosa. I've always been able to work with music playing, direct or indirect, it never seems to be a distraction for me. For my wife, who was trained as a musician, it is impossible (her mind follows the music). I actually get more done with music playing, than I do in silence.

As an addendum, it seems to me that the systems I recall working to greatest effect from a distance, all had some added muscle pushing the music, while those that suffered most when out of the sweet spot have been the lower powered systems of which I am most fond. That fondness seems to end when I leave the "sweet seat", as Newbee so eloquently put it. Perhaps it's just the added energy with which the sound waves are being pushed...or am I showing my complete ignorance in physics here?

GregM -I cannot imagine how careful speaker setup would have anything at all to do with how well the music comes off upstairs (for instance). Your other suggestions are more to the point, IMO. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your version of careful speaker setup as I'd associate that with their abiltiy to image and produce a beliveable soundstage, but not to be convincing from a far. One of the systems I recall (which I still have, but in a different location), was playing solo piano downstairs one day when we had some workmen in the house. One asked if there was a piano downstairs. We have a rather open and 'live' house that is rather small as well.

I also seem to recall a discussion with my friend, Howard (Boa2) where he mentioned that in moving from SET to a rather powerful SS amp in his system that he experienced more enjoyment from the perspective of just walking around, doing work around the house while listening, as opposed to critical listening. The SET system did not engage him as much from another room, and I also have the same experience with my SET system. I'll have to point out this thread to him as I'm sure he could chime in from his own perspective, which I may not be recalling verbatim.

Thanks for the input.

Marco
jax2 OP
3,031 posts
 
whether a person mostly listens actively or passively can dramatically change which system setup, and which component options, will in fact best fit the individual's goal.

Exactly! I do wonder; out of the membership here, just how many folks spend more time in the sweet spot listening, as they do listening from various other places. Home theatre would be the exception as it really demands you sit in one spot. I'm betting out of all the time I listen, only about 30% of that time is spent sitting in 'the spot'. The rest of the time is spent in various locations doing various things or just sitting and listening from afar. I find myself listening more to my SS rig when doing other things. Per Howard's experience, outside of the sweet spot, the music my SET provides does not travel well beyond the walls of the listening room. It looses much emotion and impact. Perhaps it is some of the PRAT that is lost. "Thin"? Yes, I guess you could describe it that way. Sit in the sweet spot, and it's all back again.

Marco
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