Odd rumbling sound

DelClark

Well-known member
Oct 4, 2025
42
22
45
Long story so I will try to be concise.
Recently bought new speakers (Dali Oberon 5's) And I noticed at times a low frequency intermittent rumble.
I did all the obvious things, checked wire connections/moving speakers about, to no avail. even placed speakers in centre of room
I suspected that it may be my ancient Linn amp, which had been playing up a bit.

So, new amp, and same problem !
it is most noticeable about 2:40 into Pink Floyd's "speak to me. it was happening consistently at that time, on all sources.
Same with " Also "money" always in the same places.
So, wired up my old speakers... same
Changed power source to a different circuit in the house.. same.
Switched everything else off.. same
I even swapped out the QED speaker wire for my Linn K400, which only seemed to drive the speakers better (think i will keep using it).. same
I listen to the same track on BT headphones and sounds fine.

So its not the source CD/TT/Streamer/Internet radio.
Not the amp, not the speakers or speaker cables.
Not interference from other electricals, if it was, I think it would be constant. The only thing that I can think of is Acoustics !!
My room is 16'x12' with a bay window. I have sparce furnishings and a Laminate floor, oh and it is a new build with dry walls.
I have considered covering flooring with towels !.
It is driving me to distraction as there are only a few tracks that I get this on.
If you have any ideas/suggestions I would be most grateful.
Cheers

Del
 
You say you recently bought new speakers ...... did you get the rumble before that and changing your amp or not?

If it wasn't and you've still got your old amp and speakers set it up exactly as it was before and see if it happens. The new speakers may "dig deeper" than your old ones so maybe that's a possible cause.

I made similar changes to mine, new speakers initially and afterwards had a similar sounding issue, so I did the same and upgraded my amp and it was no better.
Turns out it was a room node around 42hz, it sounded like I was playing a movie on surround sound and the sub was over doing it and reverberating although I wasn't using the sub for stereo music but it gives an idea of what it sounded like.
Songs that really set it off were Freya Ridings - Lost Without You and David Gray but can't remember if the song was White Ladder or Sail Away.

I had a big room move around that didn't really seem to help but then I put some bean bags and other things in one of the recesses between the Chimney and the wall, I also bought some cheap granite kitchen boards from B&M to stand the speakers on with some spike cups and with the combined things it pretty much seemed to stop.

Room nodes are a pain in the backside, really you want to download and run REW via a computer with a decent mike to see if that is the issue and if so, apart from placement, soft furnishings and carpeted floors will help but if not enough, it really is only acoustic treatment that'll make much difference and that can be expensive and not the most aesthetically pleasing thing in a main living area.
 
As I said in my original post. It happens no matter the source, TT/CD/streamer, even BT.
Happens with both amps, both speakers and both cables in any combination..
 

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