Stereo upgrade with acoustically active room?

[salween]

Coming from a land of wood-framed homes with wood or carpet floors to Bangkok's more accustically-challenged masonry walls and tile floors, I'm a bit uncertain about the value in upgrading our 2-channel stereo system absent significant room modifications (not likely).

The open-plan, L-shaped room: 13m on the long arm, 8m on the short, both about 3.5m wide, ceilings 3m high. Windows and/or widowed-doors along all the exterior walls. Some furnishings, but basically fairly active acoustically, especially with the windows closed. Listening area is in the corner of the L with speakers about 2m away from the short wall pointing down the long arm to a coach 2m away. (sketch attached)

Current set-up is a JVC all-in-one with 6" speakers on stands that get moved around depending on how we are using them. Lots of late night, near-field listening (speakers 2m away) with windows open and closed.

Considering investing in a nicer system, but wondering if the low-volume, near-field listening will allow enough of its value to come through despite the room's less then ideal acoustics?

[IMHO]

First you want to concentrate on controlling early reflections - the more you damp them, the less late reflections you have to deal with.. Some ideas there are get the biggest, thickest rug you can for the area between the sofa and the speakers, install heavier drapes, wallpaper, prints or just open windows.

Your next major concern is going to be primary reflections off the back wall which are going to be around 80ms late - again drapes, wallpaper, prints - whatever you can do to control these.

Play with toe-in on the main speakers - even just a small amount of angle can help eliminate some primary and secondary reflections (i,e. turn them into tertiary and higher reflections with far less energy).

Setup the speakers you have now outside and give them a critical listening test so you can understand what they sound like before the room messes them up. Then take them back inside and compare / tweak. The evaluate what upgrading speakers is going to achieve - bearing in mind they'll be subject to the same room coloration as your existing speakers.

Another option is to go surround, which can help mask reflected sound with stronger primary signals from the sides and rear. Not very purist though

Studio monitors typically have much narrower dispersion angles than home hi-fi speakers, and can really help in an acoustically 'live' room. Just beware that many only really perform well in super-near-field though (i.e, 1M or so), so make sure you audition them at comparable listening distances to your room, and note that they are going to have a much narrower staging 'sweet spot'.

Lastly, the louder you play, the less reflections will be noticed

Edit: re-reading your post again, I would definitely suggest auditioning some studio monitors. A friend has a pair of the Dynaudio BM6 MkII's in a room that's the equivalent of an echo chamber, and they sound amazingly good in the listening location.

Edited October 16, 2013 by IMHO

[salween]

Thanks IMHO. Never thought about trying them outside to get a baseline from which to judge the added confusion when inside. Other good stuff to think about too, but not sure how much treatment could be in the offing. A bit more info on current practice.

1) Mostly have the windows open behind and to the left and right of speakers.

2) The speakers are sufficiently close to the edge of the coffee table when seriously listening (40 cm) that we just through a rippled-surface yoga mat on the table to cut that reflection--other than that running commando as far as treatments.

3) Do have them toed-in, often quite a bit with this pair.

The upshot is that at least you feel it may not be out of the question to pursue upgrading despite the space. Some time back we were pretty intrigued by some Dynaudio Focus 110As, but don't think the shop had the pro line. The sound we've liked the most so far have come out of Harbeth SHL5s.