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reduce speaker cabinet coloration, increase tonal accuravy, naturalness (long)

Posted by twisty (A) on November 7, 2004 at 11:41:48

Using JM Labs 706s speakers with an all-tube setup in a 14'x14'x8' room. Speakers are on sand filled stands with up- and down- spikes. Placement is difficult in this room. Speakers are 16" from rear wall, measured from back edge of cabinet, 52" between speakers, measured from inside edge of cabinet, with a hollow wooden tv cabinet between speakers, flush with rear wall, only 5" between cabinet and speakers. Listening position is a couch centered on the opposite wall. Various doors and windows including an open doorway partially behind one speaker.

I know how poor this setup is, but it's unavoidable, at least until I can afford different furniture (this is primarily a living room space). I take it for granted that this room will negatively impact soundstage/image/transparency as well as bass levels (I'm comfortable with the bass right now, slightly thin, but not a major problem).

The major problem I'm addressing is tonal accuracy (and bass boominess/thinness may play a greater role here than I realize). Music sounds very good with this setup, but it doesn't sound 'right'. Guitars and pianos are where I most notice that I'm tonally 'off'.

I'm seeking a more natural and accurate tone across the entire band, but especially in the midrange.

Here's what I've tried:
Rollerbearings under speakers instead of upspikes from stands: Major improvement to detail and tightness of bass, minor improvement to imaging, no change in tonal problems.

Tenderfeet/Vibrapods/Klein Tech 'Isodamp' Discs under speakers: Significant improvement to tone but serious muddiness and loss of depth, detail, and presence.

Mass loading speakers (10 lbs on top of speaker with paperback book between weight and speaker): Nearly identical results as the soft footers.

Moving speakers and stands to a more proper listening position: Expected improvement to imaging and presence, slightly boomy bass for my tastes, but I'm sure that could be dealth with by perfecting the position, but tonal inaccuracies remained. Moot point because the speakers couldn't be there for the long term, not if I want to use my front door.

After this round of tweaks, I'm nearly convinced that my tonal inaccuracies are caused by speaker cabinet coloration, not my room position. I'm hoping someone can suggest a non-invasive and relatively inexpensive ($200 ballpark) method of addressing this. I am willing to operate on the speakers if the procedure is simple and the improvements significant, but I'd like to sell them one day. Any suggestions?

My thoughts:
1) TWEAK! (but I'm at a loss as to how, suggestions, please? thanks.)

2) Upgrade speakers. (I've heard JM Labs 806s are nearly identical to 706s with less box coloration, and they could be purchased at a small cost used after selling 706s)

3) Change speakers. Change to speakers more well known for midrange accuracy and naturalness, since this is a feature very important to me. (Spendor, Harbeth, etc...)

4) Examine upstream components. I think it's unlikely that they are the source of this particular problem, but I don't have the budget to find out for certain. Jolida 302b integrated (SED, Mullard, EH tubes), Jolida JD100 cdp, all copper-over-silver cables from Verastarr.

Any suggestions on tweaks to improve accuracy and naturalness? Thanks!

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The Cable Cooker

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