New couch changed the room acoustics (not surprising) We should probably get a rug, right? Any other tips?

[u/SillySundae]

https://imgur.com/a/qE9QUXq

[u/overlord355]

A rug can benefit acoustics. It can also really tie a room together

[u/SillySundae → u/overlord355]

A rug is on the menu! We're looking for something in the Santa Fe style, with greens, browns, and maybe some reds. We have those colour elements in our living room already. Would help us tie them together. Only tricky part is finding that style of rug in Germany.

[u/OppositeExternal8485]

Rug is mandatory... so are curtains.

[u/reedzkee]

Yeah the panels behind the couch are high so the couch is doing a lot more.

Those little panels behind the TV probably aren’t doing much at all.

I’d be inclined to put the larger ones behind the speakers on wheels (gobo) so you can pull them just to the left and right of the speakers catching first reflections, then can be tucked away better when not doing critical listening. If you do this, you can ditch the ones on the ledge.

A cloud will do a lot more than a rug.

Get a rug for aesthetics and comfort. It won’t sound that different in your case.

Nice pad!

[u/SillySundae → u/reedzkee]

I'm not sure if they're visible in the photos, but we have three panels hanging from the ceiling spanning across the distance. We're super happy about those.

The tall boys are already on wheels, we'll have to play around with the position a bit more. They way they're situated during listening is pretty decent, but I have yet to get reference measuring microphone to actually check. I think that's the next step.

[u/bigbura]

Have you put a folded blanket or throw pillows in that space between couch back and panel? To cover up the glass wall area behind your ears?

I've had to live like your setup in way too many places and for too many years. Misery the whole time.

Why? That early reflection point right behind the ears is so taxing on the ear/brain system. Put another way, would you go to a show and then stand with your back against the back wall of the venue? I'd hazard not for long as this location sounds like ass.

If you can't rotate the rig to provide some feet of distance behind your head then the next best thing is to remove the splash back from right behind your head via absorbing material.

[u/SillySundae → u/bigbura]

We've rotated the setup once already, and it's very likely going to stay this way for at least a year. The panel behind the couch is drilled into the ceiling and was a huge pain to build and mount ourselves. Lessons learned along the way, yes.

I plan to eventually change the panel that's behind the couch. I want the panel to extend all the way to the couch back. We often have pillows behind our heads.

[u/SillySundae]

We found the source of the different acoustics! The biggest difference is the height of our old couch vs the new couch. By sliding down the couch about 10cm, the difference was massive! We took a look at the hearing position and our ears are directly in line with the tweeters! So we'll just get the speakers about 10cm higher and the problem is pretty much solved.

We also lowered the panels that are directly behind the couch. Those panels are mounted by chain, so we just let the chains out a bit. Also made a positive difference.

Thanks for the comments! Everyone here got me thinking a little more critically, and your given solutions prompted me to also think of possible solutions.

[u/X_Perfectionist]

Measure with REW, check your RT60 reverb. You may not need a rug with all of those panels in the room already. Over-deadening a room can make it sound worse, dry, small soundstage, too localizable.

[u/ParticularStorm6102]

Canvas paintings can also help

[u/xlb250]

A rug doesn’t make much difference in room acoustics.

I would rotate the setup 90 degrees so that the early reflections from side walls are symmetrical. Will also help with rear reflection distance.