Shunyata Research

[David A]

Damon,

I do notice contemporary furniture. One or both of your parents has/had good taste.

Thanks for the second photo which really makes a difference. In the first photo the fronts of the speakers looks like they're actually behind the face of the fireplace. That must be due to a combination of the black colour of the baffle and the angle of the light. Also the fireplace looks deeper in the first photo than it does in the second where you can see the side of it.

Sorry I can't offer any other simple, living room friendly, acoustic suggestions. Ethan Winer, the founder of RealTRAPS, used to say that when it comes to acoustic treatment you can have low price, good effectiveness, attractive treatments—just pick 2. Attractive and low price is a lot easier to get than attractive and effective but there's no point for going for attractive if it's not going to be effective, no matter what the price and there's definitely no point in going for attractive that isn't effective when you're talking about the main room in your house, especially when that room looks as nice as yours does. I think wrecking a room visually tends to wreck your mood while you're in the room and that can reduce your listening pleasure more than many acoustic problems can. I much prefer listening in a room I enjoy being in than in a room I prefer not being in.