Soundstage Shifting

[fuzz092888]

So I've set everything up in one of my spare bedrooms. I realize I have a ton of stuff in this room, definitely too much. What I'm experiencing is a soundstage shift to the left, towards the drapes/windows. I've checked the speaker levels and the left and right speakers are both at the same level. I've checked the center speaker and it seems to outputting uniform sound. Yet the entire image is shifted about 2-3 feet left. The room itself is pretty close to 12X12 give or take 6 inches in either direction.

Just wondering if anybody had any idea what was going on or any advice.

 

[KEW]

I'm not sure how you matched the speaker levels, but could it be that the drapes are absorbing reflections requiring more power on the left to match SPL? I would guess the soundstage is defined most by the immediate and higher frequencies that travel in a direct line to your ear and not due to reflections... thus the shift to the left assuming the left channel is "louder" to compensate for the drapes.
(I should warn you I am pretty good at SWAG and making stuff up!)

 

[KEW]

An interesting test would be to run your center only and see if the stage is still off to left. I believe that would establish it as an effect of room acoustics instead of something about your setup.

 

[fuzz092888]

I'm not sure how you matched the speaker levels, but could it be that the drapes are absorbing reflections requiring more power on the left to match SPL? I would guess the soundstage is defined most by the immediate and higher frequencies that travel in a direct line to your ear and not due to reflections... thus the shift to the left assuming the left channel is "louder" to compensate for the drapes.
(I should warn you I am pretty good at SWAG and making stuff up!)

I used a Galaxy SPL meter to match levels and the tone generator from the Marantz. According to the +- on the Marantz they're not too far apart IIRC. I don't think it's the drapes because even when they're open the soundstage is still shifting left. I could be wrong, as that happens often enough. I also don't think it's my own ears as my headphones don't sound off (if that makes any sense).

Don't worry I often make things up as I go as well

An interesting test would be to run your center only and see if the stage is still off to left. I believe that would establish it as an effect of room acoustics instead of something about your setup.

Good idea, I'll give that a try. I'll have to try it with a movie since when I tried it with just a tone I don't think I noticed anything off.

 

[Haoleb]

Personally I have experienced similar situations before and although it was in a different room than I have now, I did notice an astonishing improvement in the focus and clarity of the soundstage and the music in general after I added in acoustic panels to the first reflection point along my side walls in my current room. I would say give that a try but it doesn't really look like you've quite got the room to add anything else in there!

 

[shkumar4963]

Sit with your back towards the center speaker. Do you not hee the stage shifted in the other direction. If yes, you hearing may not be balanced.

 

[fuzz092888]

Sit with your back towards the center speaker. Do you not hee the stage shifted in the other direction. If yes, you hearing may not be balanced.

The hearing is all good.