Maybe being discerning isn't that good for us?

@mapman , I'll back you up on your comments overall, But therein lies the rub....sometimes the wrong way....*G*

As the Walsh nut case I am....yes, they do present a fantastic level of imaging in an effortless fashion....sometimes to the determent of the recordings.  Some have the mark of an engineer that knew what to do and how.....the lead There, the drum kit over to the right and back, the vocalist just left of center.....
Then there's the recordings that are as flat as a pancake; everything in the middle, with only minor attempts at 'spread'.  True, typical for older stuff, but even on remasters there's only so much digital magic can render....
As for phase, the way in which I've constructed my 'mutants' (or, as one person noted, my 'steampunk speakers')....(a comment that I actually like, btw...), physical acoustic phase is a piece of cake.
The 'driving' phase, positive vs. negative and the reverse of same can extract or diminish 'details' that I've noted between the mid-woofer and the tweeter,  I can only relate this to the physical difference in their size at this time...
And the subwoofer which deals with the lower frequencies can reverse it's phase with the flip of a switch, so it adds to the fun....*L*

When I'm in a situation where I can get set up in a more 'normal' space I hope to quantify what I can only notice at  this point....
Future fun.....part of the delights of this pursuit...*G*

I come from a 'relatively normal' family, where I felt secure and loved.  Not that I didn't induce stress due to my own attitudes and idiocy, but we all grow up in varied ways....;)

Room treatment?  DAC will have to do for now....

One could say I'm going through a phase....*L*

Enjoy yours,
J

Re 'women's hearing sensitivities' and an 'in house' note...

Spouse enjoys loud music, but could only enjoy it for a limited time...

"Too shrill, it's fine for awhile but annoying after awhile...." in a time of cones 'n domes in our audio diet.   When I first owned AMT drivers, her listening levels and 'length of'  improved. *G*

Since we've both grown older, her HF 'apprehension' has deteriorated as true for most of us.  Levels?  Still likes to crank the knob UP....*L* ;)

Her 'fave' of late is the SMGa Maggies' that are now part of the herd here.
She enjoys their 'detail'. which reminds her of the AMTs'....

Me?  I'm just happy she likes some of the 'toys'....it's not required that she has the same tastes as me. *G*  We all have our preferences...;)

As for 'phase'. she notices it....

"Why does the stereo sound like sh*t?"  ( I'm doing some re-wiring to check into a detail.....) 

" Well, put back whatever you did....it didn't improve what it sounded like before.  It was better the way it was..."

*G*  I'll keep her.  She's been around my gear for 40+ years now.

She may not be able to describe Exactly and 'properly' What she's noticing, but is a good 'canary in our coal mine'....;)

@cd318....*L*  I'll tell her about your compliment.  Whether or not she'd comply with your request.....*shrug*G*  Don't hold your breath....;)

If she's of a mind to do so....Don't ask her to sing.....('slide guitar style vocals, with a tendency to 'flat'....).....

*S*  My dear spouse has lived with various 'n sundry systems over our years.  A few have been regarded as the 'third member' of our homes with regards to their....'presence'. ;)   She's always enjoyed what 'they' could 'do' with the music we've enjoyed together or individually.

Her biggest request is to have a 'default function' in any and all.
A means of 'lighting IT up' and being able to listen to whatever she'd like to hear at the time.  The current 'main system' is complex, geared towards my 'odd Walsh endeavor'.  The others are her 'puter in her office, streaming Spotify or streamcasters.  The 'home system' at this point is broadcast (mostly NPR) FM, and the SatTV or CD/DVD.  No tapes or LPs' however....

This will change in the near future, with a new home. :))  We're both looking forward to it.
The living area will have the Maggies' she likes and an improved version of my 'mutants'....and be able to play tape and LP easily.
Most of my 'toys' will be relegated to a separate room, which I ought to be able to condition and entertain my interests....*G*

Of course, there'll be a link betwixt the two....and both with the 'enhancements' we've both learned to appreciate and enjoy.*S*

Active EQ, subs, 'versatility'...

."....that audio stuff.  If it sounds good, and I can enjoy it without having an instruction manual to Turn It On, I'm good with it!"  (direct quote, BTW...).  My Evelyn, 'closet audiophile'....*LOL*  She'll either like it, or think you've listening to things too loudly... ;)

Regards,
J

@cd318...*S* Well put....Life, and the pursuits within and without, tend to align ones’ priorities.....and music can still or engage ones’ emotions about it all....

We, as a couple, don’t always enjoy the same music....which is Fine. *S*
She knows, however, what ’good reproduction’ of it IS. Her 1st husband of a very long time ago was a late-night engineer of a NYC jazz radio station. She came into my life with LPs’ and cassettes...;)

’ Hypercausis’ isn’t remotely an issue; she Knows what she likes, and how she prefers it to sound. Fortunately, there’s a lot of common ground in that we share.....*S*

I prefer a somewhat ’brighter’ HF, but given my age and the environments I’ve been exposed to in life....that’s not a big surprise...

I knew a woman whose ears were so sensitive that creasing a fresh piece of ordinary paper (such as used in your ’puter printer) with thumb and forefinger evoked a response similar to nails on a chalkboard.

Something I couldn’t hear some 40 years ago gave her the ’chills’ and an immediate "STOP THAT!"

Thus, I became quite aware that women can be very sensitive to HF sound....;) And despite that we were lifelong friends....*S* And one to my spouse as well....

So....given the above...’parameters’....I will find a means of making us both happy.

Because we both love it....and deserve it.

Y’all do the same. ;)

Back to U,
J

In the above vein....

Has anyone seen or known of 'free-standing' panels?  Ones that could be analogous to a 'room divider'?

Height/width as desired; fixed or mobile?

The latter could have appeal for the larger space...out of the way for daily life, but easy to move into place for the 'Serious Listening Hour' (...or 2, 3, 4....etc.)....

Just thinking outside the box.....*S*

Backing up to the discussion of room acoustics, and the control of....

One does have the option of custom DTG on fabric faced panels. *S*
DTG (Direct print To Garments) is a spin-off from the graphics trade which I was involved with previously. Initially, ’dye-sub’ shirts were the first items that were marketed. Since. it’s exploded into ’T-shirts on demand’, large-scale textiles, and nearly everything in between.

For an example:
- You can purchase ’blank’ acoustic foam panels; sized as desired.
- Have a suitable fabric printed with whatever suits ones’ taste; images, colors, patterns.... If it can be imaged digitally, it’s generally ’printable’.
- Apply foam to a substrate; plywood is typical, but the panel should be able to resist ’curling’ due to the ’shrink/swell’ tendencies of materials (What goes down ’flat’ @ 65 F. may ’curl’ @ 75 F.; sunlight through a window can ruin ones’ day...).
- Apply fabric to the ’face’; use of the correct adhesives to do so isn’t ’rocket science’, but does need to be paid attention to....
- Hang it all....*G*

One could make those corner bass traps ’blend’ into the corners, printed to match the wall paint....or not...

The wall panels could be a landscape....or a print of the dog, (grand)kids, cars, your home planet, a babys’ arm holding an apple....Whatever....

If I opt for ’acoustic conditioning’, the above is where I’m going. The general appearance of panel treatments in a ’common space’ (a living room, den, or ’what-have-you’) tends to have a limited appeal in the SAF category....

...even with mine, who has an appreciation of the "..why one would have the living room appear to be a recording studio?!"

It clashes with the drapes, sofa, the painting we paid X$ for, my eyes, Your eyes, the floor....

You Know the drill....;)

There’s Interior Design....and Inferior Desecration.

(Lava lamps are a subject of discussion...but I’ll back away from that...)

Back to topic. *S*

(Hi, Eric! ;)....)

Ah...*S*  Thank you both for that.   I'd been the GIKA site, but didn't notice the 'art' details....My Bad on that overlook....;)

I've known from 'my previous life/employment' that if it's 300 dpi minimum and in .eps format it can be printed.  The printers' run algorithms that 'fill in the blanks' on enlargements, but obviously the higher the dpi the sharper the final image will be.  That, and a better file format....

Their 'stock shots' are usually pro hi-rez stuff but tend to be as generic as a Hallmark card.  I've some imagery I've wanted to print large-scale that would 'personalize' the panel prints.*S*
Still might be a tough sale to the spouse, but having 'our' art vs. 'theirs' might make the sale a little easier.... ;)

Thanks again for filling in my blanks...
J