engrssc wrote:Every room has a resonant frequency (as well as harmonics of that basic frequency) and if this frequency or a harmonic of it is amplified by the (electronic) settings used, there is a considerable "blooming" effect.
Actually, every room has multiple resonant frequencies (and their harmonics). This is what makes clear reproduction, particularly at lower frequencies, difficult in smaller rooms.
As Ed says, the zero-cost approach is to try moving the speakers and subs around to see what improvements can be achieved. Alternatively, but less conveniently, you could move your listening position (ie the console). A next step could be playing with the voicing of individual pipes. A more effective, and expensive, version of this would be to use one of the various room equalisation packages.
The real problem is that these approaches work, in so far as thay can, by compensating for the resonances rather than controlling them. Generally, the result will be some improvement at one particular listening position to the detriment of others.
A separate, though related, issue is that the room resonances will prolong these frequencies, and their harmonics, rather like a frequency specific reverberation. This 'smears' the sound resulting in a loss of clarity which can't be compensated for by changing position or equalisation.
In my view, a better approach is to try and suppress the resonances by damping them out as far as possible. This involves changing the acoustic structure of the room, and is not necessarily very expensive.
Typical strategies would include using acoustically absorbing material on the walls, 'bass traps', in particular the resonant type, and possibly even false walls to remove any parallel surfaces.
Nick