[mresseguie]

Hello there, all you HT folks!

I've now noticed some distortion coming from my CC a few times recently. I place a 2' X 4' acoustic panel to lean against the media cabinet below the speaker. That helps somewhat. I've considered using some sort of decoupling feet (Herbie's?) to see if that helps. I have tried spongy foam rubber mats before, but I'm not sure those helped.

The media cabinet is not a solid, not-subject-to-resonance construction. It is the cabinet that my lovely wife likes.  [It's not going anywhere.] The CC is as far forward as possible on top so as to avoid as much resonance as possible. The top of the acoustic panel is just 4" below the CC.

Remedies I've also considered:

~setting a slab of granite between the speaker and the cabinet
~taping all doors and handles (wife thinks this is a horrible idea for some reason)
~replacing the current CC with a much better CC
~shooting current CC followed by buying a new one
~upgrading the crossover in the current CC
~replacing my wife is NOT an option

Here's my HT equipment:

AVA Synergy 240/3 SS amp 120w X 3 channels
Nuforce AVP-18 pre/pro
Oppo BDP-103
Paradigm 570 V.3 CC
ProAc Response D2 monitors
Rythmik F12G subwoofer (need another one!)
There is a pair of bipole surround speakers, but they are not currently being used.

I know the CC does not match the D2s. Most likely what I will do is sell the 570 and replace it with an MTM speaker kit using SB Acoustics Satori drivers. It was designed by Jeff Bagby. I already own the 2-way TM monitors. This trio of speakers would become my new HT speakers. The D2s would be moved up to my bedroom system or back to my home office.

Anyway, replacing the Paradigm will give me improved SQ, but I will still be faced with the never-to-be-sold media cabinet.

[Edit] I just realized what was different last night - the 570 has 2 rear ports. I did not have the plugs in place. If I plug them with rolled polyfil (speaker stuffing), much (but not all) of the excess resonance is controlled.

Any suggestions?

Michael

[Phil A]

Do you have a picture of the set-up?  Is it possible to put some bracing (e.g. wood, metal shelf supports) underneath where the center channel is without being seen?

[mresseguie]

Photos:





In the second photo you can just barely see my Rythmik F12G subwoofer in the lower right corner.

[Phil A]

The set-up looks nice.  How about brackets and a shelf attached to the wall (with the brackets into the studs)?

[Phil A]

Something like - http://woodworker.com/folding-shelf-bracket-mssu-936-890.asp?search=&searchmode=2

[Phil A]

You can get a shelf that is close in finish to the furniture and if you need to have the bracket extended from the wall more you can get hardword 1x2s (at Home Depot or Lowes) and secure them into the wall studs.

[mresseguie]

Phil,

Somehow, I hear this far off wailing coming from the room where my wife is. It's faint, but I think it sounds like waf....louder now.....Waf....and closer....WAF

All joking aside, we will quite likely sell our house next year, so my wife fears 'scarring' any walls. Just wait till we find a new place! 

Your idea would separate the speaker from the resonant cabinet altogether? Yes, that is a good idea.

[mresseguie]

Three more pics to give you an idea of the open space/cu ft. challenge.

[Phil A]

Phil,

Somehow, I hear this far off wailing coming from the room where my wife is. It's faint, but I think it sounds like waf....louder now.....Waf....and closer....WAF

All joking aside, we will quite likely sell our house next year, so my wife fears 'scarring' any walls. Just wait till we find a new place! 

Your idea would separate the speaker from the resonant cabinet altogether? Yes, that is a good idea.

You could always get a divorce this year and get the move over with sooner

[Phil A]

You could always try something cheap like these - http://www.soundproofing.org/sales/vibrationpads.htm

[mresseguie]

That ugly "D" discussion did come up a couple times in the past, but it seems we're inseparable now. 

At this point, I cannot imagine living without her.

This house was not built with HT in mind. It was built for entertaining guests. I've actually met the original owner who had it built, and he and his wife loved to entertain. My next house will (hopefully) be better suited for HT and/or 2-channel.

[Phil A]

That ugly "D" discussion did come up a couple times in the past, but it seems we're inseparable now. 

At this point, I cannot imagine living without her.

This house was not built with HT in mind. It was built for entertaining guests. I've actually met the original owner who had it built, and he and his wife loved to entertain. My next house will (hopefully) be better suited for HT and/or 2-channel.

I was 'D'ed twice and had brown hair once.

[kenreau]

I'd suggest, in order or expense;

a. clean your interconnects and speaker cable connections with Caig Deoxit/Pro Gold and make sure all connections are snug.
b. buy a set of 5 Herbies feet (I use one on each corner and one in the center point) to put under the CC speaker.
c. buy a thick/shag decorative area (6' to 8' diameter) rug and place it centered over the hard wood floor (at the first reflection / floor bounce point)
d. try a HT Reciever, or pre/processor with Audyssey, or similar DSP programming.  I've found these do wonders for normalizing different speakers sound and helping with room acoustics challenges.

Good luck
Kenreau

[mresseguie]

I'd suggest, in order or expense;

a. clean your interconnects and speaker cable connections with Caig Deoxit/Pro Gold and make sure all connections are snug.
I hadn't thought of this.

b. buy a set of 5 Herbies feet (I use one on each corner and one in the center point) to put under the CC speaker.

That reminds me that I have four pads (forgot their name) that I bought from Herbie's. Now where the heck are they?

c. buy a thick/shag decorative area (6' to 8' diameter) rug and place it centered over the hard wood floor (at the first reflection / floor bounce point)

I've got carpet remnant in the attic. It's not shag, but it is very thick. I'll experiment.

d. try a HT Reciever, or pre/processor with Audyssey, or similar DSP programming.  I've found these do wonders for normalizing different speakers sound and helping with room acoustics challenges.

  The Nuforce has this. I had originally set up the HT with it, but then I made several changes....I meant to redo it...

Good luck
Kenreau

How's the Devialet treating you? I got to audition one in Vancouver BC. It was powering Magico speakers. Very impressive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phil,

"I was 'D'ed twice and had brown hair once."

Never been 'D'ed, but I used to have brown hair as well. It's just that most of it fell out. 

[Mag]

You don't mention what kind of distortion. I have the 590 v5 and I detected some kind of distortion as well in the upper freq, possibly tweeter.

I may have over driven the speaker as I was breaking in my Model T's at the time. The problem may also be in the amp which I haven't got around to having serviced yet.

I have since taken the center channel out as the power consumption was somehow interfering with the Model T's performance. With the Model T's I don't need a center channel so I'm listening in 4.1.

Sorry, I also haven't got around to determining if the problem is the speaker or amp.

[mresseguie]

Here's an update:

I stuffed polyfil into the two rear port tubes of my center channel last night before watching Big Hero 6 with my wife. I set the 2' x 4' acoustic panel below the cc (as I have done in the past). I did not lay carpet down on the floor below the media cabinet (forgot). There was considerably less resonance during the movie. This may be good enough until I finally get round to replacing my center with the Adelphos center kit (may be a while if I buy the Harbeths I mentioned in another thread). My money tree doesn't seem to be fruiting so well these last few months. 

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions!   

Oh, yeah. Big Hero 6 was a lot of fun. I'm sure it would be a great movie to watch with one's children or grandkids! We watched it on Vudu in HD for $5.99 rental.