[Hipper]

Firstly you don't get the outside noises in the bedroom (fans, refrigerator - presumably you get these in the loft?). Secondly you seem to have a large window in the loft but only a small one in the bedroom. Finally you have those half walls in the loft which may make complications.

I therefore go for the bedroom with the listening position near the space between the door and closet - is that central - and the speakers along the windowed wall. This way the source of the music is reasonably symetrical - you can deal with the window. I don't think the angled door in the corner will effect things greatly, depending where your seat is, because I'm asssuming that the speakers will be at such a toe in angle that first reflections off the door won't be a problem. If you find it is a problem you could put absorbers or diffusors on it. It helps to know what angles the main sound comes out of your speakers - mine is supposed to be 30 degrees for example.

Set up for nearfield listening. Position speakers as per Harbeth's recommendations and then work out your chair position by ear (Harbeth seem to have an active forum and you may find useful info there: http://www.harbeth.co.uk/usergroup/index.php).

I've not used diffusers or specific frequency absorbers. I use Auralex foam and a digital equaliser. I have foam bass traps in the corners behind the speakers and along the ceiling, plus the rest of the back wall covered with Auralex wedges - some 60cm deep, some 10cm deep. I made a removable panel for the window and glued the wedges to that. I have carpet and a sonic underlay but nothing to prevent sidewall, rear wall or ceiling reflections as I found the latter two did nothing and allowing sidewall reflections added life to the sound - see my gallery for images. I find my digital equaliser (Behringer DEQ2496) makes a substantial difference and wouldn't be without it.

However I should point out that this works for me and I like the sound but most people on here seem to do things differently.

[JBrahms]

Thanks Hipper,
Yes, I agree that probably the best place for the chair is facing the window. That would also be the longer space (12 vs 11 feet) fwiw.

All things being equal - and that's really my question, can I make all things equal with room treatments? - I would rather be in the bedroom because of lower ambient noise and isolation of my music from the rest of the house.

Again, the pics don't show it but the bedroom is slightly larger.

[JBrahms]

For those who favor the loft, how should I address the issues presented by the half walls and the window?

For example, it all possible positions the speakers have very different reinforcing walls behind them; in some cases it's a full wall vs a half wall, or in the present configuration it's no wall behind the right and a full wall behind the left.

OTOH my newbie research here seems to show that there are very difficult bass issues presented by a small enclosed space like the bedroom

[bpape]

If you did a diagonal setup in the loft, your back would have the 2 1/2 walls behind you so not sitting too close to a major boundary and the speakers would have equal reinforcement pretty much from both sides. The angled setup also has the advantages of pushing many reflections behind the seating position.

Treating the single corner behind/between the speakers mitigates the horn effect and some of the boundary interactions. 

Not a typical setup but I've seen it work very well in difficult spaces.

Bryan

[kernelbob]

I know you indicated using the Great Room is not an option, but if the issue is all the ancillary equipment that would be strewn about, here's an option.  Since your loft is open to that room, could you place the equipment in the loft and only have the speakers downstairs?  What with remotes and music servers, you should be able to control most things with a remote.

I don't know the size and shape of that room, but it must be larger than the loft or bedroom.  I know you want to keep the equipment you have now, but speakers designed for placement close to a back wall would further reduce the instrusiveness of the system into that room.  Just a thought.

[JBrahms]

I know you indicated using the Great Room is not an option, but if the issue is all the ancillary equipment that would be strewn about, here's an option.  Since your loft is open to that room, could you place the equipment in the loft and only have the speakers downstairs?  What with remotes and music servers, you should be able to control most things with a remote.

I don't know the size and shape of that room, but it must be larger than the loft or bedroom.  I know you want to keep the equipment you have now, but speakers designed for placement close to a back wall would further reduce the instrusiveness of the system into that room.  Just a thought.

A good thought, but unfortunately a non-starter for my domestic situation.

[JBrahms]

Any tips on a panel/s that I can put in front of the large window?  No matter what configuration I do, I will have to deal with that issue.

Given that it's a window, I'll need something that can be moved with ease as I can't affix it to the window.

[Alex Reynolds]

Panels on stands should be a simple fix for covering the reflections from the windows. 

[JBrahms]

For historical purposes, I ended up buying 5 GIK products.  I discuss the results (very positive!) in my thread on the GIK forum, entitled "pre- and post-GIK thoughts"

Thanks all for the advice