Getting the most out of my audio system

[Adi777]

Hi. I have simply and noncomplicated audio system - active speakers from Soundfield Audio, MiniDSP SHD Studio and laptop as source. I use Spotify and Qobuz. I also purchased a lifetime license for Roon. I have a simple, straightforward audio system—Soundfield Audio active speakers, a MiniDSP SHD Studio, and a laptop as the source. I use Spotify and Qobuz. I also purchased a lifetime license for Roon. How can I audibly improve the sound? I don't want to invest in passive acoustic treatment.
Thanks for answers.

 

[Keith_W]

Very easy. You have DSP. You have the ability to take some measurements. So get REW out, take some measurements, and that will tell you what can be improved. You can post your MDAT on ASR, but you will need to zip it first. And if you need help interpreting the measurements, you can read this.

Nice dragon, BTW. I like dragons.

 

[Adi777]

Very easy. You have DSP.

You think about Dirac in MiniDSP?
PS My speakers have cardioid low frequency.
I also know that the Roon app has some calibration features. Is it worth using them?

 

[staticV3]

You think about Dirac in MiniDSP?

I think @Keith_W was thinking more of taking REW measurements as a way to assess your current system's performance, to find areas of improvement.
Not thinking of any DSP solutions specifically.

I also know that the Roon app has some calibration features. Is it worth using them?

Not if you have an SHD Studio.

Are you using Dirac currently?

 

[Keith_W]

@staticV3 is right. What I meant was, take measurements to find areas where you can improve. Since you have DSP, you could start by improving your tuning. It doesn't matter if you are using REW, Dirac, or even Roon. They all have pros and cons, and their own limitations. If you want to use Roon for DSP, you will need DSP filter design software. You could use REW, or you could use one of the paid options. But all that is at some point in the future, what you need to do now is to find out what is going on with your room. Diagnosis comes before cure.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

I'm seeing a lot of hard reflective surfaces in a small room. You're going to be hearing a lot of early reflections which will make the sound indistinct, plus likely some standing waves that will play hell with the frequency response that will vary from place to place.

None of this is going to be fixable via fancy electronic filters.

Get a carpet. It will really tie the room together.

 

[Apesbrain]

Get a carpet.

Agreed, and easy to do. Can you possibly slide that sofa back a bit? And push the TV as far back on the credenza as possible.

Reconsider hanging an absorbtive panel on the wall above/behind the TV. Maybe another on the ceiling midway between speaker plane and listening position.

Playing some pink noise through your system at typical listening level and observing frequency response on a phone app will give you some idea of major anomalies to adjust. Post a screenshot from the app and others can make suggestions.

 

[Adi777]

Can you possibly slide that sofa back a bit?

Yes, but I want sit in triangle 2x2x2m.

 

[Adi777]

Are you using Dirac currently?

No. Many people say that apps like Dirac are good only for low frequency. It's correct?
I can buy carpet, but I don't think it will significantly affect the sound.

 

[Mort]

I'm seeing a lot of hard reflective surfaces in a small room. You're going to be hearing a lot of early reflections which will make the sound indistinct, plus likely some standing waves that will play hell with the frequency response that will vary from place to place.

None of this is going to be fixable via fancy electronic filters.

Get a carpet. It will really tie the room together.

Agree on a carpet either way, but he's listening 2m and they appear toed in a decent amount.

The ratio of direct to indirect is likely to be high and the high frequency reflections may be indistinct.

 

[Mort]

No. Many people say that apps like Dirac are good only for low frequency. It's correct?
I can buy carpet, but I don't think it will significantly affect the sound.

DSP in general is best for lower frequencies. It's not specific to Dirac.

It's highly likely, almost guaranteed, that you have an uneven bass response in that room. Dirac would give you a first approximation of what that could sound like with DSP, and then you can decide if you want to manually adjust and measure with a tool like REW.

 

[Good Vibes]

A simple suggestion that popped into my mind, Blu tack under the speakers?

Interesting looking speakers btw.

 

[Keith_W]

Yeah, until we see some measurements, all the suggestions are speculation.

 

[Adi777]

 

[skankhobag]

Those speakers, as shown, are going to be rattling stuff (with their internal subs). That’s the first problem I saw.

Here’s the solution:

https://auralex.com/propad/

$100

They also make wall treatments. Speaking of that…

You should do some type of acoustic treatment to the wall behind the speakers. These guys make some solutions that look nicer than Auralex foam if that’s a consideration:
www.gikacoustics.com

Throw down some thick rugs on the floor in front of the speakers to absorb the first reflections from the speakers. GIK makes panels you can apply to the ceiling to do the same thing.

Platforms, rear wall, ceiling and floor reflection treatments and that’s all I can see. You spent some serious coin on those active speakers. Now you need to make the space those active speakers and sound good enough for them.

OK, square up that damn stool under the left speaker. It’s now a speaker stand so use it like one.

 

[Mort]

Quite the suckout in bass there. The rest looks really good. You aren't going to be able to acoustically treat that.

 

[Keith_W]

There is a lot more to room measurements than just the frequency response. Please post the MDAT, you will need to zip it first.

 

[Adi777]

@Keith_W Yes, I will make it later.
Maybe it's important and I forget wrote about this. My speakers have cardioid low frequencies.

 

[BeeKay]

A quick look suggests you could decouple the speakers from the stands and furniture to minimise energy transfer. Blu-Tack is quite effective for this.

 

[Adi777]

A quick look suggests you could decouple the speakers from the stands and furniture to minimise energy transfer. Blu-Tack is quite effective for this.

I will buy normal stands