Am I going insane? Could my room be causing this?

Vedder323 · « **Reply #20 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 06:07 pm »

Quote from: bpape on 3 Oct 2012, 05:39 pm

Can you describe the construction of the room? Is there anything different on one side than the other - maybe one is a full stud wall and the other is just firred over concrete? Maybe a window on one side? Anything?

Bryan

I can do a little better than that, these photos are ancient and my gear has all together changed but it does give you an idea what the room looked like and how things are setup.

Vedder323 · « **Reply #21 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 06:09 pm »

Quote from: boynamedsue on 3 Oct 2012, 05:40 pm

I understand the agony. I went to great lengths to figure out my center image problem - moving speakers around, adding room acoustics, swapping components and cables, ruling out recording by using headphones - and nothing seemed to help until I realized that the left speaker (maggies 3.6) was tilted slightly to the left. I leveled it (left to right and front to back), with speakers symmetrical relative to room dimensions and listening position, and the image was roughly centered whereas before it egregiously swayed to the left. Interestingly, when I over-compensated by tilting to the right, the image moved to the right - I wonder if this may work for you.

Another interesting observation was that the height of my listening position affected center image as well. When I recline my couch to lower position, the image is higher as if I'm looking up at stage and image is dead center, whereas the image still sways slightly to the left at normal listening height but not to the point it bothers me like before. There is definitely some room interactions going on in my system, and my hypothesis is that my right wall is leaking a bit of the sound because it is lined with windows whereas left wall is bare wall and the left wall reflections are pulling sound in that direction.

Even though you're getting better center image having left speaker a foot or so back, I wonder if it is negatively affecting the image in other ways because the sound is not arriving at your listening position at same time.

BTW, have you tried toe in? And how about EQ (gasp)?

Such great information and you made me think of a few things I have noticed. The center image becomes more apparent as I move closer to the speakers and lower my head down.

Im gonna try your other suggestions when I get home tonight and see what I can come up with.

Thanks

bpape · « **Reply #22 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 06:12 pm »

Got a picture showing the side you took that one from?

Bryan

Vedder323 · « **Reply #23 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 06:22 pm »

Quote from: bpape on 3 Oct 2012, 06:12 pm

Got a picture showing the side you took that one from?

Bryan

I sure dont, ill take some tonight. Its basically open into the living room...

Here is one actually

bpape · « **Reply #24 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 06:55 pm »

That would explain a lot. You have early reflections and boundary gain on one side and not the other. We could likely help some with treatment on the one wall you do have but there appear to be obstacles on that wall from the other picture.

Bryan

Vedder323 · « **Reply #25 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 07:06 pm »

Quote from: bpape on 3 Oct 2012, 06:55 pm

That would explain a lot. You have early reflections and boundary gain on one side and not the other. We could likely help some with treatment on the one wall you do have but there appear to be obstacles on that wall from the other picture.

Bryan

Do you see where the book case is in the first photo? That back wall is actually wider then the wall they are on now by 1 foot.

Im thinking about getting rid of the green couch and placing my system on that back wall so the speakers have the same walls on each side of them.

Thoughts?

roscoeiii · « **Reply #26 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 07:14 pm »

So the imbalance is in the direction of the open space, not the wall?

Vedder323 · « **Reply #27 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 07:19 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 3 Oct 2012, 07:14 pm

So the imbalance is in the direction of the open space, not the wall?

Yes, the center image is on the left side (open side) The vocals are like 6 inches to the left

shadowlight · « **Reply #28 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 07:24 pm »

Would it make sense to toe the right speaker in a bit more compared to the left one?

bpape · « **Reply #29 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 07:42 pm »

Not if you're getting a phase cancellation off of the side wall that's not happening on the other one.

Bryan

bpape · « **Reply #30 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 07:43 pm »

Quote from: Vedder323 on 3 Oct 2012, 07:06 pm

Do you see where the book case is in the first photo? That back wall is actually wider then the wall they are on now by 1 foot.

Im thinking about getting rid of the green couch and placing my system on that back wall so the speakers have the same walls on each side of them.

Thoughts?

If you can move it around so you have walls on both sides, that would be better. Plus, you'd have your back to the opening so you're not sitting right next to a boundary which will also help tighten up the bottom end.

Bryan

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #31 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 07:47 pm »

Why does it look like the right speaker is out into the room more than the left?

roscoeiii · « **Reply #32 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 07:51 pm »

Bryan,

What would you recommend for that single side wall if the stuff on it can be moved?

bpape · « **Reply #33 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 08:01 pm »

I would do something like a couple of 244 panels. Diffusion isn't really an option as it won't go low enough to deal with the phase cancellations if that's what's happening.

Bryan

Vedder323 · « **Reply #34 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 08:25 pm »

Quote from: bpape on 3 Oct 2012, 08:01 pm

I would do something like a couple of 244 panels. Diffusion isn't really an option as it won't go low enough to deal with the phase cancellations if that's what's happening.

Bryan

Hi Brian,

You have me thinking about just getting a couple 244s. Before I do, if they dont work, would they do me any good if I move everything around as we were talking about?

I just dont want to waste the money on them if they dont do me any good if I move things around...

bpape · « **Reply #35 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 08:36 pm »

Absolutely. Even if you turn the room 90 degrees, you can use them straddling front corners or at side wall reflection points.

Bryan

Vedder323 · « **Reply #36 on:** 3 Oct 2012, 08:39 pm »

Ordered 2 244s... Thanks

Vedder323 · « **Reply #37 on:** 5 Oct 2012, 09:42 pm »

I have a request for anyone that doesnt mind, if you happen to have Dave Matthews (Some Devil) can you let me know if the vocals are panned to the left on this track a tad? Im starting to wonder if its just the recording

stevenkelby · « **Reply #38 on:** 6 Oct 2012, 04:56 am »

Quote from: Vedder323 on 5 Oct 2012, 09:42 pm

I have a request for anyone that doesnt mind, if you happen to have Dave Matthews (Some Devil) can you let me know if the vocals are panned to the left on this track a tad? Im starting to wonder if its just the recording

I'm going to say yes he is off to the left a touch. It's mainly noticeable in the reverb of his voice when he ends a note, it echoes away on the left side a touch more than the right.

He sounds bang on center in Dodo but the backing vocals there are a touch to the left.

Hope that helps.

Rclark · « **Reply #39 on:** 6 Oct 2012, 05:34 am »

This happened to me with my first system two years ago, my GR Insignia's. I thought it was my amp. A simple (maybe not for you) shift of the system placement fixed everything.