I’ve looked around and I can get an Artnovion Helen portable absorber kit for reasonable money. Cannot link it, but it’s 1815mm tall x 565 mm wide. So covers a lot of area.
Pro:
Can move it around to find the best spot for maximum benefit. Can also add more and put them along my big glass area easily.
Con: Not sure……perhaps not being wall mounted, it’s not as good ?
Absorbers often work better slightly away from the wall (some panels have a built-in gap behind the absorbent material for this purpose),so bing freestanding is not a negative in itself. For the window side it could be ideal as you could position one or two in main reflection point, and possibly one or two others long the wall of glass if needed, still allowing light and at least a partial view. The opposite wall probably better aesthetically with art panels on the wall, unless you have somewhere to store multiple portable panels when not in use.
I think I’m with @Camphuw here… I’d at least try reorienting the system across the room before throwing money at the problem; and although some more absorption and diffusion is likely still a good idea, thoughtful placement of normal furnishing might be sufficient. I know I wouldn’t want to live in an av retailer’s showroom!
I have 6 spare plain white GIK Acoustics rectangular 242 boxed up and ready to be borrowed. If you want to try a few with only the transportation to arrange.
You may give them back if you don’t achieve what you want. If it works, you may have a few for free as I have no need for them any more.
I did think about using the short wall listening axis.
It won’t really work, as the glass wall area is also a sliding access to my alfresco area and backyard.
That and I’ve only 3.6 m distance to play with. I’d be almost in top my speakers OR I’d be almost back right up against the glass area.
Having glass behind my head isn’t a prospect that I’d like or think would work.
It just looks too cramped for any decent stereo image or soundstage TBH.
E of E, unfortunately no, I’m in Tasmania, Australia.
We have no hifi dealer support here at all, I’d have to travel to Melbourne to engage with any and it’s flights only if I did.
I’ve a great couple of hifi Dealers that I have history with in Perth, WA and I can purchase from them.
Getting items to home demo would be hard, if not impossible, as I’d have to pay for shipping and insurance to/from and that’s even if they agree to that.
Try it with the speakers on the glass wall. You get a view too then…
I’ve (sort of) been there with a pair of Quad 57’s backing on to a secondary glazed set of Crittall French doors, albeit that was oriented on the long axis of the room. Mind your back moving the ATCs though…
OK, never mind. You are on the right path (in my opinion) when you are considering floor standing screen panels in the first instance.
When I started exploring using room treatments I only began with thin panels (GIK 242s) on the first reflection points and they definitely helped a lot!
I have made five separate purchases in total of room treatment orders, and now have spent twice as much on room treatment compared to my amplifier (which is the lowest cost component in my system).
Good luck with your next steps. Keep us updated, we are all willing you to get the sound you desire and are here to help.
Thinking about the cross-room orientation, I did think of suggesting it, facing the window (assuming the view is worth it), but with only 3.6m (the floorplan says 4.0?), and relatively large speakers, space is tight, though it might work, though TV probably then better outside the right speaker. The speakers might work closer to the window behind than current distance from front wall because no longer in the corners (as long as the right speaker is further out from corner than now. However the then very arymetric room may then demand treatment on the current speaker wall, and as you may then be close to the back wall (current right wall), that would lbenefit from treatment, while panels at least behind each speaker may be beneficial. In other words in terms f treatment it is by no means certain that less treatment would be required. In my experience sometimes across room works better than along room, sometimes the other way - but you can always try!
My room is 4.7m x 3.3m. I have treated first reflection points on side walls and ceiling plus some corner traps and some bass traps behind the listening position - I have found treatment via GIK panels is the “sum of the parts” but as others have said speak to GIK if not you are just guessing.
The picture has active 50’s in it and no matter where I positioned them I simply couldn’t get them to work in the space…. Passive 20’s, active 40’s are fine and I’m about to try active 20’s but the bigger ATC’s were just too much…. I was devastated as always wanted 50’s but the best speaker is the one that works in your room!
By all means try panels but the harsh reality could be the speakers are just too much for the room…. Maybe worth engaging a good dealer and doing some experimenting with different speakers.
I’ve managed to find an Australian company that can do a room modeling scenario and recommend a fix from my pictures of the room and a detailed floor plan, room building material, equipment breakdown etc. They don’t need to site inspect and measure, they do these projects day in / day out.
I’ve already ordered 4x of the Artnovion portable absorbers from them as they were going to recommend similar as a first reflection point work around anyway.
You need to speak to GIK…what does the clap test…indicate…( does it echo…with a sort of twang…or does sound drier…go around the room … see how lively it is) Be mindful this does nothing for room modes at bass frequencies…you could try an online mode calculator…
From my own experience the wall behind speakers is usually worthwhile…also some ceiling panels would also help…mix this with some side wall pictures and curtains to windows…and possibly a floor rug…and you would probably be in a good place…
From my own experience…room acoustic treatment proved to be the best money I have ever spent.
It is great you are thinking about this…at this stage.
Perseverance and experimentation will pay off in the end.
My immediate thoughts on looking at the photo; experiment with speaker positioning. I would start by removing the toe in and then try moving the speakers a little closer together to see if the sound couples.
Heavy toe in could explain why it sounds a little too lively. Of course it could also be that those speakers aren’t a good fit for the room and perhaps standmounds plus a sub would be better? Hopefully not.
Curtains will sort the glass area, the rug is a good idea, the thicker the better.
When I moved house the living room sounded dreadful but a big bookshelf behind the speakers worked a treat. Ended up not needing any acoustic panels or bass traps. Plus my partner is a bookworm and was suitably delighted to have extra bookshelves.
I had similar problems when I changed to firing across the room,
I used floor to ceiling curtains, opposite speakers
Also some acoustic foam panels,
Other patterns are available,