New house and not happy with hifi
New house and not happy with hifi
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ChevronB19

Original Poster:

7,988 posts

179 months

Friday 21st May 2021
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Hi folks,

My current system is as follows:

Audiolab 6000a amp
Rega P1 turntable
KEF r100 speakers on lead shot filled Atacama stands

This always sounded great in my old house (new build, room about 18m2), although not at low volumes.

Moved into a ‘new’ house (250 years old) and system sounds terrible. Same problem with low volumes, but at higher volumes things are very ‘trebly’ and ‘muddy’. The room is about the same size, has plenty of soft furnishings etc (sound improved since these were added along with a thick rug on wooden parquet floor).

Any tips? The new room has multiple ceiling beams which I guess might affect things. I know there was an existing problem (quality at low volume), but things are now worse. And yes, I’ve checked the speaker connections!

T1berious

2,517 posts

171 months

Saturday 22nd May 2021
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How close are your speakers to walls? Is their anything on the walls beside your listening position? How far away is your listening position from the back wall?

There's an old rule of thumb about the listening position triangle which might help.

I used to have a new build and went to a Victorian and was much happier with the sound.

I'm going to drop a link to a guy who's done some vids that I've found really helpful while refining the sound of my system.

https://youtu.be/VHOYXjVJKKY

And this one, the feet might help take your new floor out of the equation.

https://youtu.be/Dtb88_hbCFQ




ChevronB19

Original Poster:

7,988 posts

179 months

Saturday 22nd May 2021
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Yay! Resolved!

I’ve added a sub (REL T5i) following advice on AVForums, and it’s absolutely transformed it. Am a happy (poorer) bunny.

Griffith4ever

5,645 posts

51 months

Sunday 23rd May 2021
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Nice - I guess the low frequencies from your mains were getting absorbed somewhoe in the new house and the sub has filled that gap.

I had an omnipolar setup (Mirage OM9s) in my mid terrace victorain london town house - loooong knock-through lounge. Sofa a little past half way back. Sounded absolutely amazing.

Set same speakers up in my current place. Wider room, shorter, much higher ceiling) and they sounded terrible. After a year of ignoring it I picked them both up and brought them about 1foot farther from the walls, into the room, and they are magical again. My partner keeps inching them back. It's a slow war :-)

T1berious

2,517 posts

171 months

Sunday 23rd May 2021
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Thought I saw this on AV forums, glad you're all sorted!