[Loft/Living Space/Listening Room] Where to place panels/traps.

[localhost127]

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[PaulP]

I love your space localhost127. Those columns are great and the place is big.
You should be able to get a huge sound in there.

If I had your place I'd re-arrange everything so I could position my two
stereo speakers on stands (I'm not familiar with yours nor know how they
are meant to be placed) across the back wall with the window. Way off
the wall, maybe four to six feet, and well away from the side walls.

I'd then put the couch in the middle of the room facing them (so the couch
would end up level with the desk or maybe slighty more towards the kitchen).
The couch would end up also facing the window for the view. I guess the tv
would end up between the speakers which would be great for movies.

The sound you'd get would be infinitely more spacious that with the speakers
up against the wall as you have them now. The sound would be better in
the kitchen and up in the loft. The speakers would be firing down the length
of place which is better than across it like you have them now. You might not
need much treatment, perhaps just to get conversations comfortable as you
mention, but reflections can be beneficial to music.

You don't say if you do any mixing, which would argue in favour of your desk,
but if you're just listening to music it would be better the way I describe even
if you're sitting at your desk.

Paul P

[localhost127]

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[PaulP]

Originally Posted by localhost127

im confused, where are you saying i should place my desk?

The desk could stay where it is, but if you're always sitting at your desk
then forget my previous post. Music would fill the space better with the
speakers at the end but it would be all wrong for games and video sitting
at your desk.

Paul P

[localhost127]

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[Glenn Kuras]

I would not build the wall out. What you plan on doing at the start will work, but if you want he "BEST" solution then moving the desk facing the windows would be ideal. That would give you better summitry and help with length problem you have now.

[sfoote]

The best advice I read was on the GIK website. Have a friend walk around the room with a mirror while you're sitting in your listening position(s). Anywhere you see a speaker in the mirror is where you need some sound dampening. That covers the first reflection points.

Doing it now in my room. But already things sound better. It's an even better find, and almost as cheap, as my new belief in star grounding. But that's another thread.

[localhost127]

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[localhost127]

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[Glenn Kuras]

You only need front panels if you are having a problem with SBIR. Read the following which should help you determine if it is needed.
Learn what is SBIR (Speaker Boundary Interface Response).

[localhost127]

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[Glenn Kuras]

It is going to sound different. The benefit will be that you won't have the closeness of the walls which is causing unwonted comb filtering. You can still put the panels close like that which will take a lot of the room sound out of listening spot.

[localhost127]

^^^

[localhost127]

^^^

[Glenn Kuras]

I think you need to move to the left and maybe away from the wall a bit. The sub should not be in he corner as it will excite the low end which will give you the muddy sound.
Really if you want to find the ideal spot for sitting and the sub you may want to download this program. It will let you test the room and move the sub and sitting spot until you find the most even spot.
Room EQ Wizard Home Page

[PaulP]

An interesting trick that I've read about to position the sub, which I haven't
personally tried, is to stick the sub at your listening position and then move
around the room until you find a spot that sounds good. Then put the sub
there. I have no idea why this should work but it may be worth a try.

I'd try to move your speakers up so the tweeters are level with your ears.
And you don't want a strong reflection off your desk.

For sound in the room, as opposed to you sitting real close to them, the
speakers would probably sound better if they were more in the center of
the room and further off the rear wall. And on stands would be better.

But it really depends on what you do. If as you've said you're always at
your desk playing games or watching movies then you probably want to be
real close to your speakers.

What is the configuration of your speakers, or the make and model ? I
seem to recall seeing a JBL tag on the front but I can't find them anywhere
on the JBL website. They may not be powerful enough to fill your space.

Paul P

[localhost127]

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[PaulP]

The L820 is a speaker intended to be mounted on a wall. Because this
placement reinforces the bass, the frequency response at the low end is
rolled off to compensate. JBL states the response at 55Hz – 40kHz.

These speakers probably won't sound their best out in the open.

The owner's manual can be found at JBL StudioLSeries.pdf

Paul P

[localhost127]

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[Glenn Kuras]

maybe it was the speakers being closer to the wall with bass traps behind them (original setup)...

I think you could be right.

[PaulP]

Originally Posted by localhost127

i understand that (familiar with the speakers optimal placement) but wall mounting isn't really an option for me right now ..

They're really not the right speakers for the job. You'd probably be better off
with a good pair of monitors but with your desk against the wall at least you
can get them close to the wall.

Paul P

[localhost127]

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[localhost127]

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[localhost127]

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[Mr.Smith]

The wall behind you is considered a first refleciton point, so I would think that is a good option. I am actually trying to figure out my back wall right now, because I dont want it to be too dead. Your benefit is that your space is open so ambience is more available.

My opinion on your set up is it seems kind of awkward against the right wall. Regardless if you put a panel there or not, I still think you would you would have symetry problems. That little bass trap tucked away wont do much. I think the real benefit of that panel is that it will keep some of the noise from the computer fan, out of the mix position. just my $.02 though.

Is that your ONLY option for room position?

You can't face the window like some suggested?

P.S. speakers look a lot better without the grill!

[localhost127]

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[Glenn Kuras]

The 3rd panel could go on the reflection point on the ceiling or maybe behind you if the wall is close.

[localhost127]

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[PaulP]

The ceiling is awfully far away and the vent is a poly diffuser so I don't see
that it's really necessary to do anything up there. Best would be to test with
REW to see what strength of reflection you're getting from there.

Paul P