OK, guys....I need you expertise and help!!!
I've just got my 4430's installed in my room, and wanted to ask the forum's advice.......
I'm running the pre-amp outs of my Marantz 2325 into a dbx 231 equalizer, to try and get rid of an annoying room node I have. From there, into my dbx electronic crossover, at about 1164hz (JBL Internal xover @ 1000hz) and from there into my QSC RMX 850's. Keep in mind, I run this gear 'cause I already have it, and after buying the 4430's and my C70 Alpha 1's, I'm out of sheckels for the time being.
So, here's the scenario: My room is about 14 by 25 feet, all solid wood tongue and groove, except for my basss wall, which is covered in mortar and brick. I have concrete floors, carpeted. So far, so good. Windows are small, evenly spaced, up high, with a patio slider covered by plastic vertical blinds, right in front, and at right angles to my right speaker.
Now, the bad news.....I have a round brick gas fireplace, about 4 feet in diameter, 19" high, 4 and 1/2 feet out from and centered in front of my bass wall. Speakers are about 9' apart, toed in about one inch each, and I'm sitting 9 feet in front of them. Bad news is, the fireplace is there. The good news, I guess, is that at least it's round !!
Then, my equipment, which cannot change location, is mounted on two wooden cabinets along the bass wall......Yicccchhhh. But, my plan is to get an open 19" rack, about 5-6" tall, leave the bottom 3 feet open, and rack mount everything else above that. I THINK that will do the trick.
Then I have a 2 foot screen between the top of the fireplace bricks and the hood/flue/chimney. The screen roughly coincides with the horn dispersion on the 4430's, so I guess I got lucky again. I'm guessing I have a standing wave in the 9" dia. chimney, but I haven't noticed any issues with it thus far. And the chimney is round.
The EQ took care of the room node, sort of, somewhere between 3 and 5 khz, I figure due to the wood panelling. By the way, the ceiling is also wood, and has a slight slope accross the plane of the speakers, ranging in height from 8'8" to 8'10", which I suppose is a gift horse I dare not look in the mouth!!
Although I don't quite have the node tamed yet, I'm hot on its trail. I get a few reflections in the ceiling beam pockets, but not early reflections....although interesting sonically, they are not a problem!!
I had one heck of a time all last week trying to place the speakers so I could get some bass response. After trying every position from 1 to 3 meters out of the corners, with no luck, I finally shoved them directly in the corners !!!
Problem solved, though I'm damned if I know why. Well, if it sounds good, so be it.....Right ???
So, now I have a reasonably good sounding setup, but I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions from the forum as far as how to tune it up a little better.
I'm listening to Seal's first cd right now, which I've used as well as between-the-station FM white noise to get the system to this stage.
Turns out, of my 500 cd's, I can throw 496 of them away due to rotten mixing/mastering..........What a revelation !!! I LOVE THESE MONITORS, AND IF IT KILLS ME, I'LL GET 'EM RIGHT!!!!! CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO GO, CAN YOU??????
This is without a doubt the hardest pair I've ever set up. Makes me love them all the more..........They are the absolute naked truth!!
My friends at JBL thought, in terms of re-sale value, that I paid too much for them..............But, considering that I WILL NEVER GET OFF THESE 4430's, that is a moot point.
Anyway, my new found friends, I would appreciate any comments or suggestions you may have regarding my setup,
Thanks in advance,
Rick