small dedicated room or large multiuse room?

timind · « **on:** 16 Jun 2012, 02:42 pm »

My system has been in a small (11x12) bedroom dedicated to audio for quite a few years now. The room has been treated without regard to the wife's aesthetics as she has no interest in the room. Now my question.
We are building a sun room which will allow me to move my system in to our family room. I will have quite a bit of freedom, so she says, to make the room audio friendly. My current gear was purchased with small room in mind, so this will mean some new gear. The new room is 18x30 with a half wall at about the halfway point as a divider between kitchen and FR. Ceiling is 9 feet.
Although this sounds like a good idea, I'm not sure I want to make the change. I would probably keep the small room as is for serious listening which would make the new system a bit of a waste. Also, maybe I have been trained well by my wife. When I look at system pics and see these all out assaults I kind of cringe at the excess.
What do you folks think? Would a larger room provide a better listening space?

JohnR · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Jun 2012, 02:45 pm »

I think it all depends on how far you can get the speakers from the wall. Does "audio friendly" means 5-6 ft from any wall?

timind · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Jun 2012, 03:00 pm »

Not sure about 6 ft, but 4-5 ft should not be a problem. The wall the speakers will go on have bookcases flanking a modest fireplace taking up the entire wall.

Ethan Winer · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Jun 2012, 05:34 pm »

Quote from: timind on 16 Jun 2012, 02:42 pm

Would a larger room provide a better listening space?

Yes! The low frequency response will be better, and the mids and highs will be better too. Both because the reflecting surfaces are farther away which reduces their strength. If you already have acoustic treatment, the only downside is you'll need more because a larger room has more surface area that needs treating.

--Ethan

poseidonsvoice · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 01:29 am »

Timind,

I looked at your systems page and it appears you have a nice well tuned system for your small room. You obviously put some thought. But I will be honest with you the room is the most important factor. I agree with Ethan's comment here. You will not know if the system has the potential for improvement unless you try it in that new larger space. If you don't automatically here an improvement after playing with speaker positioning, etc... you can return back to your old room with little risk other than time invested. My thoughts are that any time you can avoid a square you should hear an improvement especially in the low end.

Let us know.

Anand.

viggen · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 01:34 am »

I moved my stereo from a 10x10 office to the living room that is much bigger. Sound is much better. I am using the same equipment too. So, I say go for it. Your system doesn't look like it is not up to the task. Depends on many other factors too of course.

timind · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 02:36 am »

I had to go and look at my system posted here. The major change being amplifier change. Now using a Unison Unico integrated amp instead of the Bel Canto amps. Another change is the addition of a Mac Mini with PS Audio DLIII.
My current room has acoustic panels at 1st reflection points as well as a large panel directly behind listening position and bass traps in two corners. Not sure how much treatment is going to fly in family room, it will have to be tasteful.
I have enough spare gear to give it a try. Suppose that will tell me. Looking forward to hearing the difference and being able to turn up the volume without overloading the room.
I was wrong about the room size. It's actually 15x34 with a half wall at 18 feet. Speakers will be on the short wall and moving them 4-5 ft in to the room will be ok.

doug s. · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 02:48 am »

definitely go for the big room. easily the most important "component" of a good sound system is the room. when i had a 26x38 room, everything sounded at least wery wery good in it. of course, a pair of vmps larger subs crossed over to whatever else was in the mix certainly helped.

you may still wanna keep the small room as a second system, for when you are wanting to listen, and no one else does...

doug s.

BruceSB · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 03:30 am »

I have moved from a big "shared" lounge/dining room to a small 12.5 foot by 10.5 foot by 7.8 foot "dedicated" music room and I am very happy with the change.
First off my wife no longer complains about the "big black coffins", that is acoustat spectra 22 electrostats in the room.
Secondly, she is much more supportive about my upgrades now, really, I can have whatever I want (within our financial limits).
Thirdly, and this is very important to me, she is now happy that she can do whatever she wants in the lounge/dinning room.
Fourthly, I can set up my "music room" however I want, very, big, very heavy curtains right across the front wall, electrostats where I want them, subs half way across the side walls, HiFi rack & CD cabinet placed wherever I want, dedicated listen chair in the ideal position, plus whatever sound traps/decorations/lights that I wish.
For me, at least, the dedicated music room suits me fine - I'm happy, my wife is happy, what more could I want?
Hope I have given you some food for thought.
Regards
Bruce

AUDFILE74 · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 03:32 am »

My vote is for staying in your dedicated room. i say this because you should have a space that makes you happy. at some point something should truly belong to you . that room should make you happy even down to decor. if you cannot even get that type of freedom in your own room then things are out of hand. the bigger space is going to come with "compromises and change" do not fool yourself into thinking other wise. you already see this , you just want to hope for better , understandable. but with some women , one compromise sets up the next compromise and etc which all works towards her real goal that you never saw coming from day one. sad but true words . so stick with the small roomand be happy. i would then focus on improving the small room's acoustics and improve the sytem if needed

Rocket_Ronny · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 03:41 am »

Sonically, I would almost always go for the bigger room.

I am house shopping these days and have to wonder how you guys get away with playing loud music on your main floors. Since we live on a acreage now I can play as loud as I like.

So any tips would be much appreciated.

When I look at a potential house I always look for a big room in the basement so I can have good sound, play it loud, and not bug the neighbors.

Rocket_even louder_Ronny

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 06:04 am »

Timind, if I read you right, you have one end of the room with a half wall. If so, the speakers should ideally, I think, be in that end of the room so they will load to the room more equally.

JLM · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 11:14 am »

Big questions: would this bigger room be dedicated to you and is it open to other rooms/functions?

When we built 7 years ago I got a dedicated audio mancave, which I consider the cheapest room in the house (cheapest carpet - my choice and cut down the storage room available for the domestic manager to fill with her excesses). Bottom line, a good (not perfect) audio room doesn't have to be expensive (size, shape, and isolation are paramount).

As a dedicated room you can listen to what, when, and as loud as you want. And hopefully if insulated you can do what I do, turn it down and still hear it all. Try it with your current gear and see how it sounds, but more importantly how "dedicated" it will really be.

max190 · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 12:30 pm »

Quote from: AUDFILE74 on 17 Jun 2012, 03:32 am

My vote is for staying in your dedicated room. i say this because you should have a space that makes you happy. at some point something should truly belong to you . that room should make you happy even down to decor. if you cannot even get that type of freedom in your own room then things are out of hand. the bigger space is going to come with "compromises and change" do not fool yourself into thinking other wise. you already see this , you just want to hope for better , understandable. but with some women , one compromise sets up the next compromise and etc which all works towards her real goal that you never saw coming from day one. sad but true words . so stick with the small roomand be happy. i would then focus on improving the small room's acoustics and improve the sytem if needed

+1

Devil Doc · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 02:03 pm »

Multi-use? Doesn't that mean she gets to multi-use it and maybe, just maybe you'll get some use out of it. Don't do it. My room is anything but a perfect space, but it's my space, with my things and decor. And she stays the hell out of because I've found the perfect spouse repellent. Cigars! You'll understand when you get older and been married for 30 plus years. Actually it's probably why we've been married so long. You need to be able to get away from each other on occasion

Doc

bpape · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 03:37 pm »

Keep the existing system and get a new system for the other room. Then you can see what flexibility you'll have in terms of WAF. If you find that it's going to work out well, then you can sell the other system or keep it. If not, then you'll have a secondary system in the common area.

Bryan

timind · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 04:59 pm »

Quote from: bpape on 17 Jun 2012, 03:37 pm

Keep the existing system and get a new system for the other room. Then you can see what flexibility you'll have in terms of WAF. If you find that it's going to work out well, then you can sell the other system or keep it. If not, then you'll have a secondary system in the common area.

Bryan

That is my intent no matter what. My wife travels on business frequently and on her next trip I plan on experimenting with the room. As stated, I have plenty of spare equipment on hand to set up a system in the family room. I'll see how it sounds.
Multi-use means there will be a tv in the room and it may be a place where she reads from time to time. Basically it will be shared space. There will be plenty of soft furniture in the room but acoustic panels will be hard to sell. Maybe I'll get some with art work to blend in.
BTW, we've been married 27 years. She has a reading room and I have my "stereo room." I could not have less interest in the furnishings in her room and she feels the same toward mine. I believe this is healthy for or relationship.
Thanks for all the advice here. Very interesting.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 05:57 pm »

Get some gear that your wife doesn't find unsightly and you might be surprised...

I'm with the rest that vote for a bigger room...

Best of luck on the negotiations.

bummrush · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 07:17 pm »

I'm in a small room 10 by 12 give or take. It's what I have and it's a dedicated space ,, I can do what I want.
I say you gotta see what the big room can do give it a try and write back.

TRADERXFAN · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Jun 2012, 08:46 pm »

Well, I could see a case for both. I think you should consider the things you like most about the room and equipment that you have now. I have moved quite a bit over the last few years and it forced me to try my equipment in different kinds of spaces. Some partially enclosed by concrete walls, like lower level of split story house, and big open spaces with vaulted ceiling and lots of windows, and a loft with angled ceilings, and now tinkering with a small den setup.

I find the bass impact and pressurization and close and detailed sound from smaller speakers I have setup in the den with subs, has a certain intimate and relaxing character, with pinpoint precision and accuracy, that I love. But I guess its also what I choose to play in here. I sit here to just get immersed in a very active listening to my best well recorded vocalists. I actively listen for the the sounds to come from certain places and for more detail. I am listening to the cues in the mix, I guess. So I feel the more resolving I can make this with upgrades the better.

For a bigger, open and less locked in sound I play the system in the family room. It has clarity, but is less embodied (its open baffle speaker which plays big role in this for me) There isn't a chair setup in the sweetspot, its a couch that extends the middle of the room and it sounds good all over the room. When I walk around, the whole floor just has a live happy sound that I can rock out on. -Also a factor of what I want to play and listen to here. Even though the bass doesn't have that pressurization effect that I have in the smaller room, it sounds full and deep here and the modes have much less of an issue to deal with as the windows and space naturally let the bass energy leave the space.

- I probably should go back and organize these thoughts better, sorry for the stream of consciousness here.