You’ve already done the work. First reflections are likely treated, ceiling cloud in place, corners managed. Imaging seems to lock in. Midrange carries a natural ease. The system feels composed—except for one thing. The top end, somehow, still pokes out. Snare hits may land with a bite, not a snap. Footsteps in the mix give the impression of echo. You’ve probably ruled out the tweeters. The gear’s not to blame. So what’s left?
It might be the floor.
What to Do
Try laying a thick area rug between your listening seat and the speakers. Wool tends to work well, but any dense weave can help. What matters is not just material but placement—right in the early reflection path between tweeter and ear. A rug under the coffee table often works, but a narrow hallway runner likely won’t cut it. If the room allows, wall-to-wall carpet is worth considering. Listen before and after, using familiar tracks: acoustic guitar, brushes on snare, spoken voice. You’re not listening for volume or tone—you’re listening for calm. That last trace of glare that suddenly isn’t there.
Here’s Why That Works
Floor reflections arrive early—often within 5 milliseconds of the direct sound. That’s fast enough to blend into the main signal, yet late enough to smear it. The result? Comb filtering. Some frequencies are reinforced, others sucked out. But your brain doesn’t hear it as distortion—it hears it as imbalance. A subtle glare. A spatial confusion. The highs seem suspended above the stage rather than settling into it. When you dampen the bounce underfoot, the top end stops hovering and starts participating. The room gets out of the way, and the music fills the space it leaves behind.
This isn’t décor—it’s damping. And it might be the piece you didn’t know was missing.
