What did you do to your stereo rig today?

I did some experimenting over the weekend, and today, I ordered 3 more acoustical panels for the room. Probably gonna throw the ones that I will be swapping out up for sale when the new ones get in.

For the first reflection spots, I will be going from a 2" thick panels to 4" thick ones that are rated at 100Hz. The biggest difference will be what resides behind my head at the listening position. I currently have a 2" panel that is 1x4', and has a decorative diffuser on it. This one will be replaced with a 2'x4' 6" thick panel that is rated down to 80Hz.

I carried on a conversation with Chat GPT (I have the paid version, so it remembers previous conversations and the gear I have) and went into extreme detail about my room dimensions, speaker location, height and locations of the subs, what the current acoustical panels were, where they are currently placed, where they are located on the ceiling, where the listening position is, blah, blah, blah.

During this chat, it suggested multiple times that I do some experimenting.....and I did plenty of experimenting. I relayed to Chat GPT what I heard, as I was experimenting and it bounced back with other ideas. This entire chat and experimentation time took about 6 hours. My word, was it an eye opener.

It turns out that my placement of the panels was spot on. Where I went wrong was choosing the right panel for that specific application. The first experiment I thought of, after it suggested that I get a new panel for behind my head, was to remove the decorative diffuser. It stated that the diffuser was too close to my head and it affected what I was hearing. It also explained why I was hearing what I was hearing. So, I removed it....and BAM.

What I am now hearing is increased spatial locational cues, a greatly widened sound stage, more depth and the speakers disappeared even more than they already had. That was something I didn't think was possible. Oh, it was possible! So, the conversations went on and I would tell it my preferences, what I liked about a move, what I didn't like and at the end of the conversation and experimenting, I walked away much more knowledgeable about my room acoustics and what affects what.....and why.

It provided me with references, why the panels we choose were good for the soundstage, depth, image specificity, an even stronger center image and literally the speakers disappearing. You couldn't even tell how far away they were from you (even though I know full well where they are). It calculated my room nodes and educated me on why each move for the new panels was a wise choice or a bad decision.

I asked questions like, if I go to a bigger sized panel (like a 3x6' versus a 2x4'), what, if any, would the attributes or deficiencies be? I asked questions on the thickness and why they would matter, given my room and system/seating location. It gave very precise answers and I know that Chat GPT can be wrong. But with that said, as we were chatting and I was doing my experimentation(s), what I was starting to hear was spot on to what it suggested. Not everything, and I let it know when I was displeased with a move or recommendation. It would bounce back with another suggestion or ask another question, and the entire conversation steered me into exactly what I needed, based upon my preferences and proven mathematical ways on how sound reacts within the room. Specifically my room, with my gear and the location of everything.

I will not get the panels for another two months, but based upon my experimenting? I should be ecstatic with the sound when they come in. Heck, I am already enjoying the hell out of what I am now hearing, just with the removal of just the one diffuser behind my head, making that Amplitude panel into just an absorption panel. The difference is almost hard to believe and I have never heard my system sound so good.

Just thought I'd share that. If you already have panels to experiment with (different sizes and thicknesses), you may want to have the same conversation. It was eye (ear) opening for me.....and I know exactly what will happen when the new panels get in. I can't wait!

Just keep in mind, you only get something like 5 questions in one day with Chat GPT, but if you happen to have Co-Pilot, Chat GPT, or some other paid or upgraded service - I would highly suggest using it specifically for this purpose.....and be very specific.

Tom

GIK Acoustics. https://www.gikacoustics.com

I didn't use their "services" initially to get what I have now, because I noticed that many of the rooms they have pictured, have a boat ton of panels. Well, of course they want to fill your room with panels...that's what they sell. There is a big difference between a good balance of panels and an acoustically dead room.

I am pleased with the panels I have gotten from them.

Tom

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

You should have chimed in when I posted a thread asking who uses AI for assistance with their setups.

I saw that thread and was monitoring it. There is a difference between asking for technical questions on proven mathematical realities of how sound travels, reflects and is absorbed, and asking whether you should buy a Bose or Polk speaker for better sound. It seemed to me (IIRC) that the latter was how your question was responded too. A.I.'s output is only as good as the input it searched for......and many people in the world believe that Bose actually makes great speakers.

@tratliff - I hear ya'. It's frustrating and they do need to improve on service and quality control. The service is GREAT at the beginning, when they want your hard earned dollars, but after that? LOL. The sad thing is, nothing ever seems to come of the complaints. Nothing that I have seen over the years would suggest otherwise. Just the same ol', same ol'.....

Hopefully they will get you squared away soon.

Tom