Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems HiFi and Home Theatre Photos

Thanks Not'arf,

The answer to your first question is necessarily lengthy! I've been obsessed with small room acoustics and the benefits of properly implemented acoustic treatments for 35 years. I constructed the 20'x14'x11' purpose-built listening room my big rig occupies 25 years ago. As the pics below suggest, it was originally intended as a hi-end stereo listening space but eventually evolved into the triple duty (2.1 stereo, multi-ch music, & HT) set-up we have today.











In a modest sized domestic listening environment each additional loudspeaker sound source potentially creates additional problematic strong boundary reflections which ideally should be addressed by targeted treatment. As my system evolved from simple stereo into 5.1 surround (not consistently for the better sonically! ), and more recently 5.1.4 immersive audio, necessarily so did my deepening research into and understanding of small room acoustics. Shoehorning a SOTA multi-channel system into a modest sized room without significant sonic compromise takes considerable efforts on the acoustic front. Particularly when I was also trying to achieve superlative 2.1 performance from the same system. BTW, the latter goal was why I eventually gave up on Meridian's all digital electronics and loudspeaker environment. While I stuck with active loudspeakers for this latest system iteration, I reverted to SOTA analog ATC active studio monitors and then added a complete parallel and independent analog stereo signal chain alongside the necessarily digital multi-channel signal chain.

Using a 30/35/35 balance of narrow band low frequency trapping -to- broadband absorption -to- mid-to-high frequency diffusive treatment, I managed to remove much of my modest sized room's negative acoustic contributions. In doing so I fool both the loudspeakers and the listener's ears into believing that they occupy a much larger physical space. The end result is a room and system that sounds dynamically effortless, natural, and spacious regardless of whether playing stereo, surround, or immersive audio media.


To answer your second question, that funky looking glass and aluminum contraption to the right of my living room gear & media storage cabinet is indeed a very modern looking gas fireplace.