Room Treatments Advice

[nicoff]

I know what FIR and IIR filters are. What are you using FIR for?
You understand Toole is referring to changing the aural scene in room? I quoted him.

Yes I understand.

I ran REW to generate the actual room response. Then I had someone generate the filters based on the REW data. I added the filters to Roon or HQPlayer. When I listen to music, I can choose to listen to it with or without the filter.

[AJ Soundfield]

I ran REW to generate the actual room response. Then I had someone generate the filters based on the REW data. I added the filters to Roon or HQPlayer. When I listen to music, I can choose to listen to it with or without the filter.

Nicoff, "REW" stands for Room Equalization Wizard. You're doing "room" EQ, which is in reality, speaker EQ.
Like Toole, I advise this only for low frequencies <500Hz +/-. That would be speaker/room effects eq. Above this is pure speaker eq. A pressure mic does not "hear" what your 2 ears do. It simply records pressures at that point in space. It cannot "correct" the directivity of your mystery speakers.
That is what Toole is referring to in my second quote. He's saying both room "treatment" and speaker directivity should be variable, depending on program material. But he also says that will never happen. Obviously, that's why I disagree with him.

[nicoff]

Thanks AJ. I used REW to do a tone sweep and measured the room response at different locations in the room. Then I sent those files to Home Audio Fidelity (HAF) and they developed the filters using the room data.
Their website provides more information.
https://www.homeaudiofidelity.com/

[AJ Soundfield]

Thanks AJ. I used REW to do a tone sweep and measured the room response at different locations in the room. Then I sent those files to Home Audio Fidelity (HAF) and they developed the filters using the room data.
Their website provides more information.
https://www.homeaudiofidelity.com/

Interesting. About 95% of what they say is all true. But Toole referenced an interesting test (can't recall if he or other researchers did it) in his really informative book. They took a speaker and EQ'd it in an anechoic chamber, they smooth the on axis response a bit while carefully making sure that didn't significantly worsen the off axis. The measurements were free of any room influence.
They then put the speaker in a room and used a EQ process like the one you use, which significantly flattened the measured "room" responses, which of course are a combination of the speaker and room (those cannot be separated, unlike in an anechoic chamber). The anechoic EQ'd speaker measured far worse in room. The microphone was a lot happier with the room EQd speaker.
Then they did a double blind listening test. Can you guess which speaker won?
Regardless, if you enjoy the different EQ presets with different material on your players, that's all that matters.
54 posts in, we still don't know what's "ill" about that sound, which requires "treatments" .

cheers,

AJ

[kiwi_1282001]

[...]
54 posts in, we still don't know what's "ill" about that sound, which requires "treatments" .

I may of missed the reveal but think we still don't know what the speakers are either??

I've been following the thread with interest.

[nicoff]

I guess that there is nothing wrong with the room or the sound as long as I like it. BTW, the speakers are MBL.

[kiwi_1282001]

I guess that there is nothing wrong with the room or the sound as long as I like it. BTW, the speakers are MBL.

Congratulations. I love MBL speakers. Which model do you have? I've heard MBL sound fabulous with no room treatments though being an omni design they generally benefit from placement away from front and sidewalls.

[nicoff]

Congratulations. I love MBL speakers. Which model do you have? I've heard MBL sound fabulous with no room treatments though being an omni design they generally benefit from placement away from front and sidewalls.

Thank you Kiwi! I have the 101e mk II.

[AJ Soundfield]

I have the 101e mk II.

Nicoff, not sure why it took so long, but those are terrific speakers. No shame in admitting that whatsoever.
Your speakers have very good off axis.


As I said, feel free to apply EQ below 500hz +/- where you see peaks/dips in the in room response. Cut peaks only, do not attempt to fill dips. I suspect the program you used did that already. I'd be surprised if that filter, engaged with Roon/HQ, doesn't improve at least the bass.
About the only place I would recommend EQ > 500Hz +/-, is a 3-4db cut, Q 1.0 -0.7, at 6.5kHz. There is a bit of a peak there that might emphasize the sshh sounds a touch and add a bit of sibilance to vocals. Or, if you don't hear this, don't touch a thing.
Regarding "treatments", if you are looking to make an audiophile fashion statement, just put stuff everywhere it looks cool. It might even make a microphone and your audio-visual perception happier.
Otherwise, do nothing, or draw a line 90 degrees perpendicular to the speakers and place diffusion/diffusive elements from there back on the side walls and then wherever you can on front wall (behind speaker). Assuming of course, the speakers are already 1m minimum from side and front walls.

cheers,

AJ