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Room setup Questions: Small Room with Magnepan MMG

Okay, I've finally got around to putting together a floor plan for my small listening room. Recently, there has been a small hitch in things, as I'm going to have to move in a rather large desk into this small, converted bedroom. Also, I have some people coming out next week to install two dedicated lines into this room and I'm wanting to finally start tacking some acoustical issues in this room.

Okay, so here's the floorplan (note: everything is to-scale in the diagram, even if dimensions are absent):

My floor plan

And here are a few questions:
1.) Where should I stick the desk? I'm thinking the location in the diagram is the only feasible location, but another option might be *between* the speakers?! It seems that against the back wall won't really work either. Another thing to note is that I could use the desk chair for listening as well, if that would help the space issue out.

2.) I'm thinking about leaving my rack in the center of the speakers, thus having the electrician install the two dedicated lines to the left of the window. The rack is rather tall, but I'm not sure where else I could put it. Also, if I moved the rack, I'd have to purchase new speaker cables, most likely. I know this is not ideal, but do you guys have any other recommendations?

3.) Do you think I should put the amp and cd player on one circuit and the turntable and preamp on the other circuit?

4.) The window in the center of the room is rather tall (83" high, and essentially starts at the floor) and has wooden plantation blinds installed. Is this something I should think about changing or treating?

5.) Would it be possible to even think about moving up the Magnepan line with this room configuration? I was thinking no larger than MG12's, but would these even be feasible?

6.) I was thinking about removing the plants and installing some corner bass traps. Do you think this would be wise? Or, would installing some Risch-style rigid insulation acoustic panels be better? As far as acoustics go, I do have some slap-echo in the room now due to the laminate floors and rather sparse furnishings, and I'm asumming this will still be the case after moving the desk in... I'm open to a small area rug if it would help things out. As for the bass traps, since the two doors meet in a corner, I cannot really put treatments here, and the desk will be in the other corner, so my only option for bass traps would be to remove the plants, right? The plants serve a very nice function as far as sounds dispersion with the dipole Maggies, so I'm leary about giving them up...

7.) At first glance, where do you think the acoustic panels would go on the walls? I guess I could use the mirror method, but was wondering where about they will end up going?

I think that's about it for now... Thanks for your help!

-Marc
mre2007

Showing 1 response by red2

red2
79 posts
 
Square room is major problem. It is just almost impossible to get good sound. My room with my Maggie 1.6 is 10 wide (I would love 12 feet wide minimum) but the length is 19 feet. Again, not ideal but way better than square.

Needless to say, for starters you must cover that window with polyester batts or something to eliminate some glare off the glass. Maybe even a big rug with a cool design, or thick blanket. I would throw the wood window slats away. For the dollar spent, you should at least try the down and dirty bass traps (rolls of insulation with drycleaner dress/suit plastic bag and Burpap covering. Place the rolls of insulation about a foot behind the woofer panel. With the MMG, they may slightly cover the tweeter. You may have to move them side to side a little to get best sound. Building real bass traps would be better, but with your room I am not sure you will attain any beter results than what the down and dirty will provide you. Maggies need a lively back wall for reflection. Treat all the corners heavily for reflection also and of course the first reflection points on side walls. With a square room, I think you may have to treat the back wall of the room with absorption at a minimum, diffusion at a maximum. If you can get some bass traps in the rear corners would be great also, but it looks that this may not be possible. There are some ceiling bass traps available that look like soffits.

I would keep your chair a couple feet from the back wall. You are basically going to have to listen in the Nearfield.

Good Luck!

R.
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