I've been reading the whole thread today, and while it is not possible to adress all topics raised, I think one important aspect is: which acoustic space do I want to be in when listening to music ? I think this is a preference and nothing you can argue about. I prefer most of the times to have the event in front of me, but to keep my own room around me. Since sound becomes gradually directional above 80-100 Hz or so, I think this needs to be taken into consideration. Precedence tells us which direction the sound comes in an otherwise reflective environment, but reflections also gives loudness and timbral effects of the direct sound. Reflections from the same direction as the direct sound has no real meaning in precedence (directionality) other than colouring the direct sound. Ideally I should get rid of the front wall and fuse my room it with the room where the musicians are playing. Naturally, I can't do that, but I can treat the wall in front down to 100 Hz (i.e. down to the limit where direction can be sensed). This does not imply that you need very thick panels - you can get very far by having 10 cm rock wool covered by perforated masonite and a further layer of 60 mm foam, i.e. 16 cm. These damping panels should ideally run from floor to roof and behind the speakers (not so between the speakers, they can be reflective). I've experimented with this in the past and it gives tremendous impact on illusion and clarity of the event in front of me. For the rest of the room, I never liked treating it more than normal furniture. (There are other issues with side wall reflections, and I am not sure that the rather large reference room that was used in the research by Toole and Olive can be translated to smaller living rooms in that aspect. This since both delay time and levels are important.)
Last points about stereo reproduction, which has flaws as mentioned a couple of times. It could be significantly improved by using three front speakers, still having the "lounge model" in mind. Replacing the lounge model with the hall model to mimic a "transfer to the event" would require many speakers around you and ideally a recording that is made that way. But those are rather few today.
Last points about stereo reproduction, which has flaws as mentioned a couple of times. It could be significantly improved by using three front speakers, still having the "lounge model" in mind. Replacing the lounge model with the hall model to mimic a "transfer to the event" would require many speakers around you and ideally a recording that is made that way. But those are rather few today.