Room Treatments and Speaker Placement

After 10 weeks and 2 days, my GIK order has finally arrived! As expected, my wife we very caught off guard be the size, despite the fact that I showed her measurements before I put in the order.

I won't be able to really mess with them until this weekend, but my initial impressions are that the build quality is a little lackluster - especially after the long wait. Once you have them in place they do look good, but upon close inspection you see some exposed glue, fabric could be pulled tighter in some areas, base plates are a little crooked, tattered corners. It's just clearly a rush job. I'd day a 6/10. Not enough to fight them for a return, but enough for me to consider other options in the future.

Excited to start to experiment with placement and get some of my soundstage back (hopefully). We'll stick with this for a few months and see if I decide to do some more down the line.
 
displayname said:
After 10 weeks and 2 days, my GIK order has finally arrived! As expected, my wife we very caught off guard be the size, despite the fact that I showed her measurements before I put in the order.

I won't be able to really mess with them until this weekend, but my initial impressions are that the build quality is a little lackluster - especially after the long wait. Once you have them in place they do look good, but upon close inspection you see some exposed glue, fabric could be pulled tighter in some areas, base plates are a little crooked, tattered corners. It's just clearly a rush job. I'd day a 6/10. Not enough to fight them for a return, but enough for me to consider other options in the future.

Excited to start to experiment with placement and get some of my soundstage back (hopefully). We'll stick with this for a few months and see if I decide to do some more down the line.
Click to expand...
I thought the same of the ATS stuff tbh, It's a good argument for DIY if you have the means and resources and lumber is available. I'm sure they must have a horrific backlog.
 
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Ok, initial thoughts are in!
First off, the traps help, but they are far from a magic bullet. The biggest difference they’ve made is the 50hz null in my room still exists, but it’s within a more narrow area now. By adding the bass traps and moving my chair back about a foot and half, I picked up about 10db in the problem frequency. Once they are in place, they do look pretty good, but I’ll also include some pictures of the corners and fabric right out of the box. I could take more pictures, but I’m honestly tired of moving stuff.
EFE77FC4-8E28-4910-8B3A-135BC40C46BB.jpeg
Overall, smaller rooms can be tough. These do enough to stay, but I think it’s important people go in with the right expectations. I had high hopes, but I also expected this to only do so much. In an ideal world a service would exist where someone would come with a truck load of treatments and spend a day trying various things to find the perfect combo for your room. Dream big right, lol.

I tried several placements because I’ve been in situations where placements that make no sense work. Tried front corners, back corners, one front/one back, directly behind listening position, and I even pulled out the racks and tried them front and center. Ultimately because these are really attacking low frequencies in a small room they seem to make about the same impact wherever I place them.

I’ll probably try some more things in the future, but right now this is better and the imageing is very good again. I actually tamed the bass null the most but pushing the speakers towards the corners, but it really killed depth and had that kind of 3 blob imagining. I much prefer depth and a nice wide sound stage, so happy with this configuration for now.

Ripped corner out of the box
E1C6BD28-58BE-4D91-A421-C423298065F7.jpeg

Those one is harder to see, but the base/top plates aren’t all on straight. There was also some exposed glue on one of the corners, and fabric staples are fully visible on the back sides. Also the fabric is generally looser than I was expecting, but oh well.
27BA9906-C642-4974-BD3A-9BCBA2381690.jpeg

Again, you don’t notice any of this once it’s in position, but up close these seem a little more DIY than I was expecting. But then again, it’s not like that cost anything near something like this… https://www.thecableco.com/victotem-ultra-vmt.html
 
Okay folks, looking to get some advice and/or guidance as I am in a bit of a pickle

I will be reconfiguring the stereo in the living room as part of a wider home remodel project. Right now, I am considering two options - both have pros and cons. Appreciate any insights and recommendations. Thank you!

Screenshot_20241227-094844~3.png

Screenshot_20241227-094914~3.png

Screenshot_20241227-094929~3.png


Option 1 - integrated audio hifi console
  • Wrensilva, Luno, or similar
  • Placement: against wall facing towards sofa (blue circle in renders)
Pros:
  • Looks beautiful in the space
  • all in one solution
  • hides all equipment
Cons:
  • very expensive
  • limiting in terms of future upgrades or changes
  • poor sound quality?

Option 2 - floor standing speakers
  • Wharfedale Linton, JBL L100 MkII, or similar
  • Placement: either side of the fireplace, facing towards the dining room (red circles in render)
  • turntable, amp, etc would be in a standard console, blue circle in renders. Speaker wire in-wall
Pros:
  • takes up less space
  • better sound performance than a hifi console?
  • much cheaper than a hifi console
  • can fill the living room and dining room with sound
  • flexible in terms of position and future upgrades
Cons:
  • low positioning would introduce interference from furniture in room
  • requires speaker wire in wall

Some other things to note:
  • my wife doesn't like to see speakers and gear, so hiding or matching interior design is crucial. I am of a similar mind, but don't mind certain gear being visible
  • I'm not looking for 100% perfect audio. I want it to sound nice and look good in the space.
  • I generally don't sit in one place while listening to music
 
THEEDADROCK.BLOG said:
Okay folks, looking to get some advice and/or guidance as I am in a bit of a pickle

I will be reconfiguring the stereo in the living room as part of a wider home remodel project. Right now, I am considering two options - both have pros and cons. Appreciate any insights and recommendations. Thank you!

View attachment 222586

View attachment 222587

View attachment 222588


Option 1 - integrated audio hifi console
  • Wrensilva, Luno, or similar
  • Placement: against wall facing towards sofa (blue circle in renders)
Pros:
  • Looks beautiful in the space
  • all in one solution
  • hides all equipment
Cons:
  • very expensive
  • limiting in terms of future upgrades or changes
  • poor sound quality?

Option 2 - floor standing speakers
  • Wharfedale Linton, JBL L100 MkII, or similar
  • Placement: either side of the fireplace, facing towards the dining room (red circles in render)
  • turntable, amp, etc would be in a standard console, blue circle in renders. Speaker wire in-wall
Pros:
  • takes up less space
  • better sound performance than a hifi console?
  • much cheaper than a hifi console
  • can fill the living room and dining room with sound
  • flexible in terms of position and future upgrades
Cons:
  • low positioning would introduce interference from furniture in room
  • requires speaker wire in wall

Some other things to note:
  • my wife doesn't like to see speakers and gear, so hiding or matching interior design is crucial. I am of a similar mind, but don't mind certain gear being visible
  • I'm not looking for 100% perfect audio. I want it to sound nice and look good in the space.
  • I generally don't sit in one place while listening to music
Click to expand...
So where are the speakers in option 1? Inside the console? Are they built into the console?
 
THEEDADROCK.BLOG said:
Built in to the console. Option 1 is a modern all in one hifi console like the Wrensilva Standard or Luno KC27.
Click to expand...
I heavily endorse option 2. Those prices are bananas considering they're using Sonos. You could build an amazing system that looks great and blends into the room using option two for a fraction of that cost. Could you go in wall speakers for option 2? Or wall mounted?
 
Mather said:
I heavily endorse option 2. Those prices are bananas considering they're using Sonos. You could build an amazing system that looks great and blends into the room using option two for a fraction of that cost. Could you go in wall speakers for option 2? Or wall mounted?
Click to expand...
Great, that's the direction I was leaning but wanted to consider the hifi console option anyways.

Appreciate the insights, @Mather 😎🍻
 
THEEDADROCK.BLOG said:
Okay folks, looking to get some advice and/or guidance as I am in a bit of a pickle

I will be reconfiguring the stereo in the living room as part of a wider home remodel project. Right now, I am considering two options - both have pros and cons. Appreciate any insights and recommendations. Thank you!

View attachment 222586

View attachment 222587

View attachment 222588


Option 1 - integrated audio hifi console
  • Wrensilva, Luno, or similar
  • Placement: against wall facing towards sofa (blue circle in renders)
Pros:
  • Looks beautiful in the space
  • all in one solution
  • hides all equipment
Cons:
  • very expensive
  • limiting in terms of future upgrades or changes
  • poor sound quality?

Option 2 - floor standing speakers
  • Wharfedale Linton, JBL L100 MkII, or similar
  • Placement: either side of the fireplace, facing towards the dining room (red circles in render)
  • turntable, amp, etc would be in a standard console, blue circle in renders. Speaker wire in-wall
Pros:
  • takes up less space
  • better sound performance than a hifi console?
  • much cheaper than a hifi console
  • can fill the living room and dining room with sound
  • flexible in terms of position and future upgrades
Cons:
  • low positioning would introduce interference from furniture in room
  • requires speaker wire in wall

Some other things to note:
  • my wife doesn't like to see speakers and gear, so hiding or matching interior design is crucial. I am of a similar mind, but don't mind certain gear being visible
  • I'm not looking for 100% perfect audio. I want it to sound nice and look good in the space.
  • I generally don't sit in one place while listening to music
Click to expand...
Have you considered something like the Cambridge Audio Evo One or the Naim Mu-So for this application?
 
I think something with room correction like the NAD C3050 or a Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 or 3400 would go a long way towards making that setup sing.
 
THEEDADROCK.BLOG said:
I am planning on using an old Harman Kardon HK3375 for an amp in the interim, but that NAD looks tasty.

The Evo One and Mu-So look pretty cool, but not sure if they're exactly what I am looking for. Will def read up on each, had no idea units like that existed!
Click to expand...
Check out the French company Cabasse as well. They do powered speakers with on board amps and steamers so all you need are the two speakers and maybe the small sub and you're good to go. These were one of my standout speakers at this year's Toronto Audio Expo. Anything under the "connected systems" menu would do pretty nicely for you.

www.cabasse.com

RIALTO : first Cabasse wireless Hi-fi system in a bookshelf format

RIALTO: these elegant & compact speakers deliver optimal listening pleasure, whether in Hifi mode or to enjoy precise and dynamic sound on TV.
www.cabasse.com www.cabasse.com
 
Mather said:
Check out the French company Cabasse as well. They do powered speakers with on board amps and steamers so all you need are the two speakers and maybe the small sub and you're good to go. These were one of my standout speakers at this year's Toronto Audio Expo. Anything under the "connected systems" menu would do pretty nicely for you.

www.cabasse.com

RIALTO : first Cabasse wireless Hi-fi system in a bookshelf format

RIALTO: these elegant & compact speakers deliver optimal listening pleasure, whether in Hifi mode or to enjoy precise and dynamic sound on TV.
www.cabasse.com www.cabasse.com
Click to expand...
Also just in case it wasn't clear, these are also wireless. No cables. Although you still would need to wire a TT to one of the speakers if you're using one. And the speakers obviously need to be plugged into the wall. So there are SOME wires.
 
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