Is this why my right channel "disappears" ?

[Alvolake]

here´s the room. Sorry about the tacky sketch but I don´t do plans.

http://s524.photobucket.com/user/VantheManspeakers/media/IMG_20130625_0002.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

As you can see the speakers back on to a solid enough wall but the right hand speaker is right on the edge of a small cubicle-like alcove area (marked A) where 3 doors lead off to more rooms. My listening seat is the sofa opposite the speakers.

I have always had a problem with my central image which is invariably just right of my left hand speaker and the penny has just dropped regarding the effect of said "cubicle/alcove". Is it responsible for the bane of my life ?

The position of the speakers is not-negotiable so I am in the process of fitting a sort of attenuation/balance control inside my Sugden A21SE and which I will leave fixed once I get the values sorted. I don´t suppose I can do much, acoustics-wise, to sort this out other than put a heavy curtain over the alcove which is a no-no but I just wondered if this is likely caused by the alcove. It won´t solve my problem but it will be nice at least to know why ?

 

[68rednose]

AFAIK, yes.

Positioning a speaker towards the corner increases the perceived volume due to (more) reflections.

I have a slightly asymmetrical set up in our room and have to cope with similar issues as well.

I try to lessen the effect by using some absorption, it did improve in my situation.

(So absorbtion on the left side in your case).

YMMV, other more experienced Wammers might suggest good solutions for you.

IIRC the position of the sofa isn't ideal at the wall, also due to reflections.

Suggestions here would be to move the listening position forward towards the speakers, or to put some damping material at the rear wall.

You could try first by putting pillows on top of the back of the sofa to find out if it makes a difference.

Can't find any links at the moment, there was a thread on speaker positioning and links to some set up guides, anyone?

 

[hearingisbelieving]

Chris, I had a similar problem to you due to my speaker being different distances from the side wall (one is 1' the other about 3').

I managed to negate this by building some DIY accoustic panels to create a symmetrical environment for the speakers - see here:

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?64613-Chris-s-DIY-Accoustic-Treatment-Panels-(part-2)

The speakers now image perfectly.

 

[Guest]

guys, I feel really so much sympathetic towards you, but here in our country it's generally not the wife who has the say regarding the husband's hobby - be it closely knit even to room interior or decor, too. how about giving this a new go there, in the U.K., as well? don't be shy, it's a fact: women are much more in number than men, hence it's us who can choose and decide...

 

[Alvolake]

Thanks for the advice but no thanks. And I don´t live in the UK either. If I do what you suggest, then my enjoyment of music will be curtailed because in my book I prefer to think that my freedom begins where my wife´s freedom ends.

 

[bmtell]

Try toeing the speakers in so that they cross in front of your listening position. Maybe a bit of experimenting is needed.

 

[graham67]

guys, I feel really so much sympathetic towards you, but here in our country it's generally not the wife who has the say regarding the husband's hobby.

Hungary here i come ;-)

 

[graham67]

when you say the speaker disappears, do you mean across the whole range or just the lower freq? If lower freq, that alcove could be acting as a bit of a bass trap. If so, as suggested, some LF absorption on the left side might do the trick. I do something similar in my study with bass traps on the other side of room to a door opening. It seems to work quite well.

 

[Alvolake]

I have soldered a pair of 47K resistor /trimmers at the volume pot output and invented my own balance. Once I have measured the values that centre everything up I shall replace them with fixed resistors. My speakers are big enough as it is (WD25Ts) and need to go against the rear wall. No permanent toeing-in. Up to now, my bodged balance seems to work quite well.