Coffeetables - the silent killer (maybe)

[Oddball]

To be honest, I don't use coffee table. But have bed in the MLP instead of that . No reflections at all.

 

[Jimi Floyd]

But, the table is nearer to the ears than the floor (earlier reflection).

Ah, that is a very partially true statement, because it is not the time of last rebound which matters about earlier reflection but the difference in total propagation path time between the two possible ways.

 

[respice finem]

Even so, at least in my case (if I had that coffee table) it would be both earlier (speakers at ear height) and louder (carpet on the floor, but not on the table).
In other configurations it can of course be different, there is no "one size fits all" solution.

 

[Ropeburn]

But, the table is nearer to the ears than the floor (earlier reflection).

And the angle is much flatter, so it'll reflect a higher amount than the floor because speaker dispersion.

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

But maybe something smaller and more moveable.

Sliders make most furniture moveable. And ease is important when you are moving things frequently.

Smaller does help, not between speaker and listener helps way more.

 

[respice finem]

@Ropeburn Very easy experiment: Take a hard surface (like a large laptop or such) and tilt it around. At a certain angle it gets really loud.

 

[krabapple]

every reflection from the coffeetable is one less reflection from the floor, so it is a balance.

? If it's a hard reflective floor under it, maybe? But no one recommends a hard reflective floor.

 

[Somafunk]

Fit wheels to your table then it’s easy to scoot it out of the way

 

[Gary_G]

This sounds great!

 

[phoenixdogfan]

You went in a completely different direction from what I thought you would. I was thinking this thread was a companion piece to something titled "Lego blocks, the silent crippler of young fathers" or something like that.

 

[napfkuchen]

Tried to experience the difference with Genelec Grade Report for my desktop setup. At first went for the "clean table approach" (2,2x1,0m desk), then placed a large acoustic absorder and several pillows on the desk. The Grade Report results regarding first reflections improved from "red" to "green" while the impression of stereo separation / imaging didn't really change, even with the clean desk it was sharp. Same for my living room setup with a glass table right next to the MLP.
You should care less about this problem and enjoy the music.

 

[olds1959special]

I just changed my coffee table for a better sound.

 

[Purité Audio]

I just changed my coffee table for a better sound.View attachment 468512

Possibly a thick rug would have been money better spent.
Keith

 

[Thomas_A]

The table is only a ”problem” if the reflection hit your ears. Just make sure it does not do that.

 

[Crook]

So I have one of these between my speakers and listening position. I can't be removed, my other half won't have that and it can't easily be moved, as the glass weighs a ton.
What is the best way to deal with it? Do nothing and be happy, put a blanket over it? Thanks.

 

[krabapple]

Tried to experience the difference with Genelec Grade Report for my desktop setup. At first went for the "clean table approach" (2,2x1,0m desk), then placed a large acoustic absorder and several pillows on the desk. The Grade Report results regarding first reflections improved from "red" to "green" while the impression of stereo separation / imaging didn't really change, even with the clean desk it was sharp. Same for my living room setup with a glass table right next to the MLP.
You should care less about this problem and enjoy the music.

One shouldn't interpolate much from a 'desktop setup' to an in-room setup.

 

[Keith_W]

So I have one of these between my speakers and listening position. I can't be removed, my other half won't have that and it can't easily be moved, as the glass weighs a ton.
What is the best way to deal with it?

1. Divorce your wife. Let her keep the coffee table.
2. Buy a new house, find a girlfriend half your age, make sure she agrees "no coffee table" before you let her move in.
3. Luxuriate in your coffee-tableless sound.

 

[Crook]

1. Divorce your wife. Let her keep the coffee table.
2. Buy a new house, find a girlfriend half your age, make sure she agrees "no coffee table" before you let her move in.
3. Luxuriate in your coffee-tableless sound.

This is the plan I intend to follow.

 

[DoctorRobert]

So I have one of these between my speakers and listening position. I can't be removed, my other half won't have that and it can't easily be moved, as the glass weighs a ton.
What is the best way to deal with it? Do nothing and be happy, put a blanket over it? Thanks.





View attachment 468525

We have a table exactly like that. Its acoustic properties have been improved by putting stacks of books of varying hight on it. As we tend to do with all the horizontal surfaces in our household.

 

[krabapple]

This is the plan I intend to follow.

Less drastically (and less expensively), but more weirdly, you could craft yourself a form-fitting cutout of some thick material ( 4" , I use this stuff for wall panels), wrap it in fabric, and put it on top of the glass reflector when you are enjoying your system. It might look funny but hey, it's a hobby. (On the principle of having a bit of space behind the panel to further 'trap' sound, you could put it on spacers)