Is it the speakers or the room?

[thewanz]

Hi All,
I have my DAW setup in a spare bedroom roughly 9x10 feet. Currently, I'm using a pair of Alesis Studio One monitors (the original 3-way speaks) powered by a Carver amp.

The sound that I'm getting out of them at the apex of the triangle (that point that is the same distance from the speaks as the speaks are apart) is different than when I'm 3 or 4 feet back from the apex. The bass response and the balance is WAY different.

I know I need to 'treat' the room a bit to counter act bass traps, but my question is, would a different set of monitors (such as the Yamaha HS80Ms) provide a truer sound at the apex?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Probably not a whole lot. Changing bass response (and corresponding frequency balance) as you move around the room is a classic symptom of bass modality (peaks and troughs in bass response) caused by the room dimensions themseves. No matter which speakers you use, that will not change. You need to change the characteristics of the room itself. Bass trapping will help, as will plenty of thick, soft furniture and corner bookshelves and whatnot. But the locations of the modes will remain basically the the same as long as the dimensions of the room stay the same.

G.

 

[showstone]

Where is your mix position located within my room? I have an bit of invested interest in this question. My mixing room is about 12 X 16, I have my mixing console set up so my monitors are "almost" 1/3 into the the depth of the room( I am facing a 16' wide wall). That puts the sweet spot of the monitors roughly 5/8's of the way from the wall I face....hope that is making sense.

Anyway, my room is untreated(next project is DIY superchunks and broadbands), now although I don't have an accurate bass response, yet, but there is not THAT much difference is bass response and hardly any difference in spatial recognition....obviously if I am dramatically closer to one monitor than the other it sounds unbalanced but as a general rule, there is a pretty big sweet spot for mixing.

I recently switched to Wharfdale 8.1's from Alesis MKII's, not much difference in bass response, but the mids and highs are DRAMATICALLY improved. I am hearing so much more definition and clarity, I am shocked and a little disappointed I didn't realize how much better these monitors were before. I can't imagine how great it will be when I have my room treated and take the plunge to some really good monitors. Adams, Genelacs, Events, Blue Sky or Mackie's(.... ;0 ....)

Try changing your mix position utilizing the 1/3 rule....see if that helps. Have never used the monitors you have, but am a recent defector from Alesis monitors....and not looking back.

Hope that helps.

 

[richievarnadore]

Try keeping the speakers as close to the center of the room as possible.

 

[kennyboy37]

Get a good stereo equielizer and put it between your board and the powered speakers.Then,tune your speakers to the room.
Make sure your monitors are flat in response and you hear pretty much the same from any area in the room.I used to mix to flat studio monitors,then,I would bring up my big Audioanalist speakers to hear what this mix would sound like in my car.Works GREAT!

 

[xander.moser]

Try keeping the speakers as close to the center of the room as possible.

The center of the room is theoretically one of the worst positions for speakers/monitoring. You will excite a great number of room nodes, causing a very uneven frequency response.

Get a good stereo equielizer and put it between your board and the powered speakers.Then,tune your speakers to the room.
Make sure your monitors are flat in response and you hear pretty much the same from any area in the room.I used to mix to flat studio monitors,then,I would bring up my big Audioanalist speakers to hear what this mix would sound like in my car.Works GREAT!

An equalizer is not a substitute for room treatment. It will not (ever) fix the problem of varying frequency response throughout the room.

Instead of tuning the speakers to the room, simply tune the room. The only way to smooth out the response throughout the room is to move the speakers or treat the room. Moving speakers is free and can be an improvement. Treating the room doesn't have to be expensive (please don't use foam or blankets) and will make a drastic difference, especially in a problem room.