Any time I walk into a silent room, I feel compelled to turn something on to make the silence go away....When I do this, that little bit of ambient noise makes the room much more comfortable to be in.
Sounds like an interesting case for a therapist.
Sonic correlations with art in the listening space
I’ve been doing some serious listening room optimization lately and wanted to share some findings that I think will genuinely move the needle for people.
I started with a Van Gogh Starry Night print on the front wall. The effect was immediately apparent — the soundstage became more active and forward, treble took on an aggressive, almost agitated quality, and there was a swirling, turbulent energy in the upper midrange that I can only describe as "post-impressionistic." Bass was present but restless. Not unpleasant, but fatiguing over long sessions.
I swapped in a Monet Water Lilies — same frame, same wall position, same listening chair. The transformation was remarkable. Highs rolled off beautifully, the whole presentation became more diffuse and liquid, with a kind of shimmering quality in the upper frequencies that never hardened. Soundstage depth increased noticeably. Jazz and classical particularly benefited. Vocals floated with an almost pond-like serenity.
I’m currently experimenting with a Rothko — early results suggest a warm, enveloping midrange with somewhat ill-defined edges, though the color temperature of the piece may be a confounding variable. A Mondrian is on order and I’m expecting tight, articulate bass with excellent channel separation.
Has anyone else explored this? I feel like the art/acoustics interaction is seriously underexplored in this hobby. Would love to hear other findings. Measurements welcome but I’m not sure the Klippel can capture this yet.
P.S. But seriously – I AM curious about the effect of decor on your overall listening experiences. I am making a joke above, but I do spend time tweaking my lighting and other things and seeing how impacts of visual art on mood effect listening experience.
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@bahston - why not both? Artwork can be quite a different experience with some o' that tea, just like music is! But who is Jim Ignatowski? |
To some, room treatments may be aesthetically objectionable, but I believe with proper selection and placement, they can enhance the room's visual appeal. Although I have no artwork, many of the diffusers and absorbers have a bit of design intrigue to them. The only comments I have ever received were along the lines of, "Wow, this is so cool!" I do think this is important since visual satisfaction only adds to the aural one. There should be consonance between the two. It is hard to not be distracted by ugliness. |
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