Absorption, Diffusion or a combination of it all?

@drbond - Have you tried diffusion behind your electrostatics? I started out with GIK Alpha Absorber/Diffusors behind my dipole speakers and was not happy with the soundstage and liveliness of the music. I switched to ATS Quadratic Residue Diffusors and really like the change (as did my audiophile friends). 

Of course, every room is different, and not everyone has the same preferences in sound presentation. But I've generally found manufacturers of dipole and open baffle speakers to recommend diffusion behind the speakers. I had thought that the GIK panels would have worked ok but they were sucking too much of the life out of the music.

Perhaps I'm a purist. I want to hear the recording the way it was produced and intended to be heard.

So for clarity, I prefer my sound to be direct. I group diffusion with diffraction and reflection as unwanted complexities that were never intended.

It's a bit like the harmonic distortion added by tubes. Some love it and some hate it.

pedroeb

... So for clarity, I prefer my sound to be direct. I group diffusion with diffraction and reflection as unwanted complexities that were never intended ...

Reflections, diffusion and diffraction are all part of sound in the natural world. Music isn’t designed to be played or heard in an anechoic chamber.

I recommend every audiophile spend a few minutes in an anechoic chamber, if given the chance. It is a very eerie experience. Most unpleasant.

If you want to hear a recording in the most ideal conditions

go outside when it is quiet-for some impossible- and set up

your speakers and required gear. 

Your eyes will pop out !!!

You may move to a warmer climate too!!

@redlenses03 I spent quiet a bit of time dialing in speaker placement. I’m sure I can squeeze some more out of it when the room acoustics are dealt with. 
Need to look into REW. Haven’t had the time yet.