Getting a decent sound in a tiny room.

quickiequickie
edited January 24 in Loudspeakers
In my quest to get a decent sound in a tiny 8ft square room 
I've discovered that I really don't care much for sitting closer then
the speakers are apart. 

My Royd Minstrels just don't work in here, or anything ported  
though my Q acoustics 2010i with the ports stuffed aren't bad,
so I ended up with not one, but three pairs of Linn Kans.!

The earliest pair with chipboard cabs scans tweeter/B110A are the most exciting, some
stuff sounds stunning, others just plain wrong though, so not really a long term bet, though I might 
mod them at some point to tame the top end a little. 

Many years ago when I lived at my parents house I did a thing called the NVA challenge (Dave will remember this) 
and thought the old MDF cube 2 that I listened to were great, but ended up buying 
a pair of Epos ES11.!

Anyway, I found some NVA Cubettes for sale, but it didn't work out and as I knew
the ingredients from someone on Theaudiostandard.net forum who built a pair, I decided 
to do the same. Just finished bonding the second cab (they are lined with 3mm
steel plate) so hopefully will be up and running by next weekend. 

My backup plan incase I don't like them is a pair of ATC Scm7 V3 which hopefully 
will be with me next Friday. I've had the V1 in the past and liked them. 

Both are very inefficient though (low 80's db) so it will be interesting to see how
my beautiful baby 18w hybrid SECA drives them. 

Watch this space.! 

Comments

  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
    Paul try paper straws glued together in the ports, Paul at ProAC did this in the early 1980s and it sounds amazing in a small narrow room.
  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
    Watching space saw Jupiter and Mars and Venus, she looked lovely 😍 
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    That's some journey you're on, Paul. Keep us posted!
  • quickiequickie
    It's frustrating at times and expensive, but I'm learning new things which is great, and I'm building a pair of speakers which I've never done before though I don't think I'll make a habit of it.! 

    Amplifiers are more my thing  :)

    Col, have done the straw thing in the past to good effect, will give it a try. 

    Right, I'm off to apply some more danish oil. Lovely stuff. 
  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
    Hi Paul yes I tried it on a pair of DF100 made by Brian sounded much better even the bass was better. Understanding why would be nice.
    But I think it makes them sound like infinite baffled. 
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    quickie said:
    It's frustrating at times and expensive, but I'm learning new things which is great, and I'm building a pair of speakers which I've never done before though I don't think I'll make a habit of it.! 

    Amplifiers are more my thing  :)

    Col, have done the straw thing in the past to good effect, will give it a try. 

    Right, I'm off to apply some more danish oil. Lovely stuff. 

    Certainly sounds expensive :s
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    AntiCrap said:
    Hi Paul yes I tried it on a pair of DF100 made by Brian sounded much better even the bass was better. Understanding why would be nice.
    But I think it makes them sound like infinite baffled. 

    Me, I'm infinitely baffled. o:)
  • SmiffySmiffy
    😂
  • SmiffySmiffy
    quickie said:
    It's frustrating at times and expensive, but I'm learning new things which is great, and I'm building a pair of speakers which I've never done before though I don't think I'll make a habit of it.! 

    Amplifiers are more my thing  :)

    Col, have done the straw thing in the past to good effect, will give it a try. 

    Right, I'm off to apply some more danish oil. Lovely stuff. 
    I've heard of this type of sorcery before but never tried it.

    But on a set of £15k Kef Reference 207's ??
    🤔

    🤓
  • SmiffySmiffy
    AntiCrap said:
    Watching space saw Jupiter and Mars and Venus, she looked lovely 😍 
    I missed this 😭
  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
    Venus had a bikini on looked good.
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    AntiCrap said:
    Venus had a bikini on looked good.

    Possibly better without :o >:)
  • quickiequickie
    edited February 2
    😁

    Finished the cubes last weekend, so have plenty of hours on them now. 

    They are rude and crude, a bit like their maker, but I like them 😊

    The image is wide and deep, and a bit diffuse compared to conventional speakers, but I can live with that I think, and it's actually quite nice in this tiny space. 

    The timing is superb, (I do like a sealed box) and the realism is quite startling, although they are a little brash and boxy sounding at times, they aren't really aggressive or shouty. 

    Are they keepers.? Dunno really as the ATC's never arrived on Friday, but they are better than the Linn Kans. 

    Baby amp drives them just fine btw. 
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    What does it matter what I think, but I'm going to throw in my twopennorth...
    The Cubey things. I had a pair - can't remember which - for a while, courtesy of their maker. I couldn't live with them. Like living next door to a loud preacher who never lets up :D
    Kanns? Nope, for similar reasons. And where's the bass?
    ATCs? I would have thought they were way different from the Coobs and Kanns, but have never lived with a pair.
    And, I'm not listening in your room, of course. Why did I bother? :)
    My solution for my small office - admittedly not as small as your listening room - is Q Acoustics 2020is, which I love. Tempted to get a sub. Hmm, you've been there. And I'm not so pernickety as the system is definitely for non-critical listening.
    I can't wait to hear where this all leads for you.
  • quickiequickie
    edited February 2
    Thanks Dave 😊

    Kans are weird. The early mk1's with Mdf cabs were just thin and screechy. Mk2's were much better balanced and had some bass, but ultimately were a little bit boring. 

    The really early chipboard ones were easily the best, but still not a good all rounder. 

    Many moons ago I had a pair of the V1 ATC Scm7 which I liked, but this was downstairs in a bigger room. 

    Ultimately I would like a setup down there again, but for various reasons that ain't gonna happen for the foreseeable, if ever so I'll just have to work with what I have.

    Hopefully will find a speaker that I am happy with long term 😊
  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
     :)well done sir, did not try straws then. 
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    AntiCrap said:
     :)well done sir, did not try straws then. 
    That was the last straw  :#  >:)  :s 
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    quickie said:
    Thanks Dave 😊

    Kans are weird. The early mk1's with Mdf cabs were just thin and screechy. Mk2's were much better balanced and had some bass, but ultimately were a little bit boring. 

    The really early chipboard ones were easily the best, but still not a good all rounder. 

    Many moons ago I had a pair of the V1 ATC Scm7 which I liked, but this was downstairs in a bigger room. 

    Ultimately I would like a setup down there again, but for various reasons that ain't gonna happen for the foreseeable, if ever so I'll just have to work with what I have.

    Hopefully will find a speaker that I am happy with long term 😊
    I'm sure you will, but it's a difficult acoustic environment.
  • SmiffySmiffy
    uglymusic said:
    AntiCrap said:
     :)well done sir, did not try straws then. 
    That was the last straw  :#  >:)  :s 
    😂
  • quickiequickie
    AntiCrap said:
     :)well done sir, did not try straws then. 
    I did try them yes. Was similar to partially blocking the ports with foam (I found the supplied ones in the Q box) they helped, but didn't sound right to me. 
  • quickiequickie
    uglymusic said:
    AntiCrap said:
     :)well done sir, did not try straws then. 
    That was the last straw  :#  >:)  :s 
      >:) :# :pensive:

  • uglymusicuglymusic
    edited February 3
    quickie said:
    AntiCrap said:
     :)well done sir, did not try straws then. 
    I did try them yes. Was similar to partially blocking the ports with foam (I found the supplied ones in the Q box) they helped, but didn't sound right to me. 
    I don't recall there being straws with my Qs. The joys of eBay? Or do you mean foam?

    Although it's crossed my mind that some may be in there already. I'm downstairs with the dog, so must have a squint next time I go upstairs.
  • quickiequickie
    edited February 3
    uglymusic said:, 

    I don't recall there being straws with my Qs. The joys of eBay? Or do you mean foam?
  • quickiequickie
    Foam 
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    quickie said:
    Foam 
    Thanks, Paul.
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    Shall I make a confession? Mine have a sock stuffed in each port! :# o:) >:)  And before anyone says the obvious, they are mine and were clean when bunged in said portal.
    The speakers are on brackets, close to the wall, so I imagine I wanted to reduce the output from the ports.
    I think I'll try removing the footwear once I've moved the brackets when I decorate the office.
    Or maybe use a pair of fishnet stockings to give a little more output? The possibilities are endless!
  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
    Black fishnet wooo sexy digital lies now that sounds better. With a garter?
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    For you, dear, of course!
  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
    uglymusic said:
    For you, dear, of course!
    He he
  • quickiequickie
    😁 First thing I tried was socks. Black too.!

    Little ATC 's are arriving today 😎
  • quickiequickie
    DHL are shit  🙄
  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
    Yep and the spam you get after you sign in is worse than Amazon
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    quickie said:
    😁 First thing I tried was socks. Black too.!

    Little ATC 's are arriving today 😎
    I'm not sure what colour/pattern mine are, but they're not black.
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    quickie said:
    DHL are shit  🙄
    And so are Evri and Royal Mail. Everything is being lost or delayed.
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    AntiCrap said:
    Yep and the spam you get after you sign in is worse than Amazon
    Have you tried sending them your famous virus?
  • AntiCrapAntiCrap
    I did it went from 80 on some days now only 5.
    Worked a treat.
  • uglymusicuglymusic
    AntiCrap said:
    I did it went from 80 on some days now only 5.
    Worked a treat.
     :smile:  
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