Orientation... Gable roof.... best set up for acoustics on long or short wall?


I would appreciate your thoughts... we are building a house with a large gabled room above the garage to be our music room. The total dimension is 39' long 24' wide and 15' high at the ridge line of the gable. The slopes of the gable end at a 3' knee wall on the long sides with two 10' dormers opposite each other on the long walls. Picture a tent with two dormers on the sides. One end of the gable wall will have a window and the other end will have the stairs leading up from the garage and will have a bathroom and bar area at that end as well. 

This will leave a listening/music room area of 29'x24'. The ridge line is running down the center of the long dimension.

The listening area choices are:

1. setting up church style with the 24' width being constant and the seating from the end gable wall where the speakers are located would be roughly 20' (with flexibility to move forward or back for best sound). The two 10' gables would then open up on the left and right long walls as you face the speakers roughly at the listening area.

2. setting up the other direction facing a dormer in the front and one behind. On either side of the dormer the roof line would rise from the 3' nee wall to the center ridge line to 15' at the apex, then slope back down the other side. In this orientation the width would be 29' and the listening area would be around 16' from the front wall, again with some flexibility to move forward or backward. 

So really it is a choice of having the slanted walls on the side in the first case and  front and behind in the second scenario. Which way do you think would sound the best? 

I tried to attach a picture (rendering) but could not figure out how to make it happen. 

Much appreciated.

montbren

The ridge run will be 39' with 10' of that run taken up with a bathroom and bar/cabana area below. So leaving roughly 29' long x 24' wide room for listening. I appreciate your perception given your long experience in building. I hope I have described things correctly. Best wishes.

I think your 18'x29' estimate, with the 10x24 blow outs for the dormers on each side makes sense given the considerations that you mentioned. Thanks again.

Nice place. I would start with listening direction on axis with the crest of the roof. I would not think having the reflections on the ceiling behind you a good thing acoustically. Hopefully it also allows you to pull the speakers out further from the wall as well. 

 

So what is your equipment. Big horns, full sized standing speakers, stand mount? Electronics?

Currently my system consists of the Prima Luna HP Integrated, Border Patrol DAC and Viking Berlin horn speakers, which are incredible. I am contemplating, due to the room size, selling the Berlin's and considering Pure Audio Project Classic or Quintet 15. My other thoughts are the Gershman Grande Avante Guard speakers and if I win the lottery, maybe the Volti Vittora's. I am exploring the Lyngdorf line of  amps as well, as I hear so many good things about their room correction feature. However, I do love the tube sound of the Prima Luna with the option to switch from Ultra Linear to Triode with the press of the remote. I have both the standard EL 34's and the KT150's. Fun hobby.... costs about the same as a pool... but it can travel with ya when you move. Cheers