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.


hilde45

As for having a view, Jim Smith, in Get Better Sound, suggests that looking through a window while listening tends to create a psychoacoustic effect of glare. Not sure I agree, but it's possible. In my space, there is a huge picture window with a gorgeous view of mountains and valley BEHIND me as I listen. 

I envy you! I don't think of a window as giving me something to look at in a "think about something besides the music" kind of way. Rather, it adds depth to the mental sound stage, giving my music-inspired imagination territory in which to fly as the music generates wind beneath my wings.

@hilde45 I agree with you (I think), and not with Jim Smith on this one. In fact, I've got a file of photos of "Sweet sweet spots," taken in friends' listening rooms or off the web, and many of them position the speakers on either side of a beautiful view. There's one in Zürich that's to die for: B&W 802s on either side of a wall-sized view of lake Zürich and the Alps! Yes, please.

But then again.... What has a view to do with the music? This is a little like the wine pairing experiment. Sure, I love wine, and often sip a good glass while listening. But frankly, these are two different forms of pleasure, and it's not clear to me (despite my own original claim for "synesthesia") that they really complement, rather than compete. I think that, if it were practical, I'd project a view of the concert hall where the symphony was recorded between the speakers when I was listening. But that's not quite right, either. Of course, I've watched DVDs or Youtube videos of music being performed. Does that visual enhance the properly musical pleasure? I don't think so.

Bottom line, then: be in a space one likes to be in when listening. Surround oneself not just with sound but with pleasing visual stimuli. And—what the hell!—sip a fine Cabernet or single malt at the same time!

OP

Sorry, but in my opinion, decors do not affect what I hear. nor does not send emotions. For me, what I hear is what I like. I sit down and listen, and I can hear soundstage, depth and presentation. I can hear the actual recording, as if I was there. my gear cannot present a grand scale of the venue, so i choose my music based on how it was sized OR my choice of Nostalgic recordings (Vinyl) and feel as I was in jazz clubs where Louis Armstrong or Chet Atkins, or Barbara Streisand were performing and I can listen to the space. I also love chamber music where I can feel the space. 

All this I do with my Eyes closed. I cannot feel the presentation if my eyes open as I focus on the speakers and sound source. so there, the field collapses

So that's where I am coming from, the visual display of the Acoustic treatment does not affect me as I have my eyes closed during a listening session.

@snilf 

I'm going to stick with my explanation -- of needing open space for my mind to go. The wine pairing example is one where one is taking one episode of attention (on the music), pairing it with another (on wine) and then seeking some new synthesis (a third and additional attentional outcome). That might very well yield a new form of  pleasure, but I'm thinking of decor that creates conditions for experience that allow the fullest possible expansion of just the episode of musical attention. A concert hall image might do that (and of course be misleading for other kinds of music), but I'd be fine with a view of Lake Zurich and the Alps. ;-)

@joeycastillo Thanks for your comment.

Seems you’re making a case for a picture framed TV to display art, but sonically problematic against the front wall.