Preference: Dedicated room or not?

[Johnny Vinyl]

I've had both several times and I'm currently in a dedicated space once more. I really enjoy the ability to focus fully on my music when in my audio room, but I'm not sure if I always have as much fun. I also find I play less music as time has to be devoted to take myself away from life's goings on, and that's not always possible. As such, I listen to a lot of music on FLAC via my PC setup. While I enjoy it, it is also a compromise as I'm not getting the same impact of sound my dedicated room provides. A bit of a conundrum wouldn't you say?

In the end, and if given the choice, I would one day love to have a space in my main living area that can fully function as an audio room without the isolation of a dedicated space. In the meantime I just enjoy what I have and count myself lucky to have much great music as my disposal.

[MylesBAstor]

I have the opposite problem having to listen to what has to be the crappiest music imaginable all day long at work. The perfect hat trick: loud, horrible and distorted. Youch. I crave silence sometimes and live for my listening sessions at home.

I've never had a dedicated space and have always played with the hand I was dealt.

The closest I came was many years ago when my ex and I were shopping for a home. We had found a nice place but the "listening" room to be just didn't have the right dimensions. The real estate agent, thinking it a negotiating ploy, offered to lop $15,000 off the price. We explained the situation to her but she just didn't seem to grasp the concept that this room was non-negotiable.

[Bruce B]

Definitely a dedicated room. You can move the speakers and listening position where the hell you need to for the best possible sound with no constraints!

[c1ferrari]

[Steve Lefkowicz]

I've been lucky in the past, in that since graduating college in 1979, I've had dedicated stereo rooms almost everywhere I've lived. The two exceptions being the years we lived on our sailboat and the past five years in our current condo. We hope to move again in two or three years, and I will get another dedicated room then.

[Bill Hart]

I vote dedicated room too, but there are drawbacks that I'm not sure how one gets around: first, you are physically isolated, which is good for sound, and perhaps for listening, but being detached from the surrounding environment always seems to lead to a cave-like environment. Since windows are a no-no, that means you can't enjoy a nice pastoral view while listening (Yes, window treatments in effect while listening, and relieved when not in listening mode, but wouldn't it be lovely to have both- the view and the sound?) Since I haven't relocated yet, my plans for my next room remain in limbo, and I would love to have a detached facility that shares a common reflection pool with the main living quarters and a decent view. We have fabulous views of the Hudson in NY, but not from the listening room, which has a cave-like quality despite the fact that it is at the top of the house. I'm not sure this is a quandary one can get around. Or am I wrong? (I'd love to be wrong on this one).

[Beaur]

Bill,

Don't see why you can't have both. I understand the need/rationale to build a personal audio bunker with ultimate SQ but I don't think I would even if I could. Listening to me is about the experience as well as the music for both live performances as well as at home. Being in a typical audio bunker just doesn't float my boat, (never been to MikeLs so I hope this doesn't DQ me from a visit. ). May be better sonically but I haven't enjoyed it as much. I would love to have a view of the Hudson besides from my building's roof deck. If I had a listening room overlooking the river I'd make sure there was a view facing the river. Sure the SQ may suffer a bit but it would more than compensated for as I watch the sun set with a glass in my hand listening to whatever I have chosen for the occasion.

[MylesBAstor]

[Bill Hart]

Bill,

Don't see why you can't have both. I understand the need/rationale to build a personal audio bunker with ultimate SQ but I don't think I would even if I could. Listening to me is about the experience as well as the music for both live performances as well as at home. Being in a typical audio bunker just doesn't float my boat, (never been to MikeLs so I hope this doesn't DQ me from a visit. ). May be better sonically but I haven't enjoyed it as much. I would love to have a view of the Hudson besides from my building's roof deck. If I had a listening room overlooking the river I'd make sure there was a view facing the river. Sure the SQ may suffer a bit but it would more than compensated for as I watch the sun set with a glass in my hand listening to whatever I have chosen for the occasion.

I feel you, Beaur. Too late anyway for the Hudson River house, it is on the market, and the last thing I'm gonna do at this point is gut the entire third floor to move the listening area to the front part of the house. (The front room has now become the cleaning and flattening/intake/room- you know how you expand into the space?). The next room- that's the question. My wife and I have reached a balance- the building for listening will NOT be larger than the building for living.

[Bruce B]

There's no reason you can't have windows as long as you pay strict attention to a few things.

1. If possible, use laminated windows for sound resistance, to keep outside noises out and vis a vis. If you can, slant them so you won't have a direct reflection back into the room. Also, there are rigid insulation inserts you can place over the window when you must have the utmost in sonics.

2. The wall that has the least effect on sonics is the one behind the speakers. Make sure the window/windows are symmetrical. If possible, have them above the listener's ear.

3. You can use acoustical drapery in front of them if need be.

[Bill Hart]

Affirmative. Or custom made glass that is sound absorbent, but the robots haven't figured that one out yet
10-4 and Roger on your comments otherwise!

[JackD201]

Yes the robots have! RPG I believe makes clear coatings. They are used in large glass facade buildings. One guy with a huge covered swimming pool had all the glass coated.

[MylesBAstor]

Great points! Thanks Bruce! I also use the large Marigo tuning dots on my windows. One placed near each corner, the size depending upon the window. I think the larger window (4 x 2 ft (?)) has 2-inch dots in each corner while the smaller windows (2 x 2 ft (?)) have 1-inch dots. And the speakers are pulled a good distance out from the windows. Around 66 inches or so.

[JackD201]

In my bunker now. I'm listening to Byrd while typing and enjoying some lemonade. My kids are on the sofas playing with their gadgets. Summer has come early and the basement is the coolest place in the house. Dedicated room for me. It was a major consideration when dealing with the architect. It can be said that the house was literally built over and around this room.

[allenh]

Wanted my main listening room to by my Family Room, which I initially did setup as such. Then family got annoyed by the music playing so I built a dedicated listening room in the basement. Better sonics, can crank it, but I do miss the impromptu interactions...

[pharoah]

I prefer a dedicated,and acoustically treated room.ive only had that for about 3 years now,but it has spoiled me.