Need help with room


I currently obtained a SPL meter and Rives test CD to try and diagnose why my system is fatiguing in the highs and lacks in the mid bass. When I performed the frequency analysis I noticed that I have a rather steep decline in decibels below 400 hz bottoming out at 125 hz and then rising a little to 100 hz then back down. On the other end I have a sharp decline above 6300 hz. The total swing in db from top to bottom is as much as 30 db btw. 50hz and 16k hz. I would like to smooth out the frequency response and have tried moving the speakers, but it mainly just moved the lowest point a few hz without really affecting the response more than a few db and I need a lot more. I also tried different interconnects with minimal success. I tried removing my home made acoustic panels that did change things, but not to the effect needed and panels will not compensate for my base suck out if that is what I have. I am curious about my source because it does seem to lack in the lower end when compared to other sources, but I would be supposed if they could be that different. If anyone has any ideas I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks, David

Room is 10' x 11' with 8' ceilings. Speakers are set out on golden ratio from front and sidewalls. One large window with metal blinds and thin curtain on front wall.
Parasound A23/P3
Denon 3800 (source)
Audioquest cheetah and jaguar interconnects
Alpha core Python MI2 speaker cables
dhel

Showing 1 response by montytx

With such a small space, it is very easy to overload the room at too high SPLs. I would consider setting your meter at 0 at 80db and 1Khz. Also, the distance from your driver to the surrounding boundaries will have the most significant sonic effects. For example, if your drivers are 30" from the floor, placing them 30" from the front and side walls will reenforce the upper bass...the listening position being near the rear wall will only add to the upper bass as well.

If you are able to place your speakers along the wide wall, about 6 ft. apart and 2 feet from the front wall to the front of the speaker, you should help your upper bass response become more flat.

The upper frequencies will be very difficult to tame in such a near-field listening situation. I would attempt to fire my drivers as near straight ahead as possible without losing the center image.

When dealing with small listening rooms and near-field conditions, the first reflections are much less of an issue as the time delay in reaching your ears is insignificant. The brain simply can't process reflections that are so close to the arrival time of the original sound. However, high spls will really muddy up the sound as the room quickly becomes a standing wave nightmare.