[Sonny]

All,

So, here's the question, which would you rather take as a listening room and why?

One that is 14x19x8 feet (WxLxH) or one that is 14x15x9?

Longer room has window on the short wall end, about 70"x46" the shorter room has a side window on one side of the 15' wall, about same size window.

Simple question, no?

Thanks!

[timind]

If I had complete freedom to make the room dedicated to audio and nothing else, I'd go with the 14x15 room. Yeah, it's nearly square, but I like the 9 ft ceiling. I have my system in a near perfect square room and am hearing the best sound I've heard in any of my rooms.
Good sound is easy with the speakers setup in a diagonal configuration. I got the from the Decware site and damned if it doesn't work wonders.

[Sonny]

Thanks Timind for the response.  I like those Kestrels!   

Yes, this is going to be "MY" room, either one.  I do like the 9th ceiling, like the rectangular room for some reason, feels bigger.  We it is bigger.  Also never like the "diagonal" set up for some reason.

[ACHiPo]

I tend to agree with Timind.  My listening room is similar (15.5 x 17.5 x 9), but with lots of coves, etc.  I definitely like the higher ceiling.  The nearly square geometry can be dealt with fairly well with acoustic treatments (I have bass traps around the wall/ceiling perimeter).

[Sonny]

I tend to agree with Timind.  My listening room is similar (15.5 x 17.5 x 9), but with lots of coves, etc.  I definitely like the higher ceiling.  The nearly square geometry can be dealt with fairly well with acoustic treatments (I have bass traps around the wall/ceiling perimeter).

What about treating the ceiling with some diffusion or absorption?

[timind]

The diagonal set up does seem to limit the room's other uses as it really focuses the listener to be centered in the opposite corner. That being said, I have my chair centered and a nice love seat next to it on the wall.
If you have the chance though, you really should give it a try before you decide. Other than bass traps which are going in corners anyway, you can try it before permanently placing other treatments.

[max190]

What spkrs are going in this room?

[Sonny]

What spkrs are going in this room?

I will also be using some subs, seen at the left of the left speaker. I have two of those...to help 30hz and below.

Speakers and subs are sealed, not ported.

[JLM]

If you read Cardas site or Floyd E. Toole's "Sound Reproduction" you'll choose the longer one which is ideal for breaking up echo. 

I tried the Decware skewed setup, but when I read it I gathered that he was recommending a non-symmetrical layout and even in a longer room did seem to help a bit.

I followed Cardas and built his "Golden Cuboid" (the ancient Greek Golden rectangle): 8ft x 13ft x 21ft.  Love it with near-field setup and 25 - 20,000 Hz speakers (GIK panels are almost useless). 

BTW trying to tame bass with treatments is extremely difficult.

[max190]

I agree with JLM that you should choose the longer room, but I have to disagree that trying to tame bass is extremely difficult.
Also, I hope you are not putting that TV back on the front wall.

[Letitroll98]

All things being equal, another vote for the longer room.  I like 9'ceilings as well, but in this case it just makes it closer to a cube.  You have a near perfect room size, why not use it.  However, I have the same choice coming up and I'm picking the square'ish room for audio.  Because the alternate room must be a bedroom and I want the larger room with the attached bath and fancy closet for the bedroom. 

[ACHiPo]

What about treating the ceiling with some diffusion or absorption?

Ceiling "clouds" are definitely an option, but with an 8' ceiling height things could start feeling a bit claustrophobic if you add a few inches of absorption + gap. 

[FullRangeMan]

All,

So, here's the question, which would you rather take as a listening room and why?

One that is 14x19x8 feet (WxLxH) or one that is 14x15x9?

Longer room has window on the short wall end, about 70"x46" the shorter room has a side window on one side of the 15' wall, about same size window.

Simple question, no?

Thanks!

Bigger is better, 14x19x8 are bigger, roof too low otherwise looks great.
Read Small Room Club:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=107352.msg1183456#msg1183456

[Rocket_Ronny]

Bigger room almost always. I would pull them about 9' into the room and about 1.5' from side walls and sit close to the wall with a pillow behind my head to stop reflections.

I am not a fan of speakers at a 45% to a corner as i hear the soundstage depth diminish the farther away you go from the corner. Now if you heavily damped the wall that would really help.

Rocket Ronny

[youngho]

Is the window in the 8x14x19 room centered in terms of the wall?
Also, are those your Audio Kinesis Jazz Modules in the uploaded pictures in your gallery?

[Sonny]

Is the window in the 8x14x19 room centered in terms of the wall?
Also, are those your Audio Kinesis Jazz Modules in the uploaded pictures in your gallery?

Yes, the window is dead center.  Probably will be the front wall, behind the speakers. 
I am leaning towards the larger room.  Plan to dampen the ceiling, first reflections on the side walls as well.  Will sit near field, maybe 9 ft triangle, set up.
Tuan

[Sonny]

I agree with JLM that you should choose the longer room, but I have to disagree that trying to tame bass is extremely difficult.
Also, I hope you are not putting that TV back on the front wall.

Max, no, this is strictly MY room, so no TV....

[youngho]

Yes, the window is dead center.  Probably will be the front wall, behind the speakers. 
I am leaning towards the larger room.  Plan to dampen the ceiling, first reflections on the side walls as well.  Will sit near field, maybe 9 ft triangle, set up.
Tuan

An open window is essentially a perfect absorber, but you'll want to have some sort of absorption over the unopened portion (or the entirety when closed), whether it's a multilayer (double cell or more) cellular shade or velour or velvet curtains.

Great, that room might be more likely to give smoother bass. 9 ft is probably more than near field? Consider some diffusion centrally behind the listening position, also maybe on the rearmost portion of the side walls? Use thicker (3-4") absorption for the frontal reflection points if possible.

Young-Ho

[Folsom]

I like a window...

[max190]

Max, no, this is strictly MY room, so no TV....

I'm proud of ya    But now you have to deal with that window.  Young-Ho has some good ideas for covering it, and you could open it as that will act as a bass trap.  Nice system you have there.