2. speakers
  3. 1220993821

Vandersteens and room acoustics

I own a pair of Vandersteen 2Ce sigs with an Anthem power amp and Rogue preamp, and VPI Scout.
The Vandys sound really good but from past auditioning sessions, I believe they can sound better. I'm not sure how I would accomplish that (outside of new equipment) and I'm wondering if there are room treatments that would help in this room.
My listening room is 8W X 13L X 7H, obviously a less than ideal setup. The Vandys and component rack are on one short wall with the centers of the speakers about 5 feet apart.
The backs of the speakers are a little over a foot out from the front wall.
The "out" sides of the speakers are about a foot from the side walls. The best listening position I've found is about 6 feet away. The floor is reasonably thick carpet over cement slab with padding, obviously. The walls are bare.
Are there treatments that you would recommend? I have seen some sorts of traps behind Vandys and other speakers in system pics here, and elsewhere. What change would that give me? What about acoustic (whatever) on the side walls? Thanks in advance for any help.
Ag insider logo xs@2xkmulkey

Showing 2 responses by newbee

newbee
4,751 posts
 
You have a major issue with a room that size. It is tough to do anything excet listen in the nearfield, which it soulds like you are already doing. Can you get your speakers out a bit more from the back wall and move your listening chair back, maintaining the triangle ratios?

Bare walls is a major problem as well. Time to get up some diffusive and or absorbent materiels, especially on the side walls.

Lastly, try toeing in your speakers until the axis cross in front of your listening position. This will take of some of the 1st reflection problems from the side walls.

BTW, I wouldn't worry so much about the wall behind your speakers - that is a relatively minor problem compared to the others.

And, needless to say (but I will anyway) you will overdrive this room a very moderate volumes so don't expect to ever listen to loud music and enjoy it.

Hope that helps a bit.
newbee
4,751 posts
 
I would try putting the speakers with their backs to the solid long wall firing towards the balcony railing. I would place them about 4ft out into the room, 9ft apart, and put the listening chair just in front of the rail. That might just work!

A room doesn't have to be sealed to work well, don't worry so much about the openings except they do affect bass response and can cause an 'imaging' imbalance if you set up speakers so one speaker is adjacent to a wall and the other is adjacent to an 'open space' (there is another thread up right now on that issue.

FWIW I personally prefer the sound of speakers located on a short wall when ever possible. The sound seems more resonant/warm/natural, and on a long wall it has sounded cleaner/cooler/more clinical. But it might not be so in you home so give each wall (or open space).
More to discover