muudrock
Experienced
I had the opportunity recently to have access to an anechoic room located near me. I took this opportunity and shot a few near field IRs of various speakers/cabs in the chamber and then shot the same speakers/cabs in a live room at the same facility. Used the AXEFX III to capture them along with a Matrix GT1000 power amp -- MIC + DI method to eliminate the power amp influence. Vintage 57, AT4050, API 512 mic pre's. Interestingly, the results are only slightly different from a "typical" IR with "normal" room reflections, and not quantifiably better. I'd equate it to the difference of turning down the IR length in the cab block from max to one of the 2 lower settings. If anything, my ears perceived the higher frequencies from around 2.7k up to be slightly more present and maybe a little smoother sounding. There are still reflections in the IR from the anechoic room, they were just more muted and at slightly different times and frequencies compared to an open room. I'm assuming because the anechoic room has dramatically less reflections? Unfortunately I didn't get a copy of the graphs afterwards.
As this was not a scientific attempt, I know there is a lot more at play affecting the results than the room itself. But, I found it very interesting how little difference was obtained in the anechoic room. We did use a Dynamount in both the chamber and the normal live studio room so the mic position was identical in both environments. Same mics and preamps as well. What I've taken away from this is that the difference is there, but for the average user, negligible. It's not some magic mojo. Not anywhere near as different as a far field IR compared to a near field IR. It might just be my ears and what I'm used to hearing, but I did/do not prefer the anechoic IRs over the IRs with reflections baked in. . They are just a slightly different flavor.
As this was not a scientific attempt, I know there is a lot more at play affecting the results than the room itself. But, I found it very interesting how little difference was obtained in the anechoic room. We did use a Dynamount in both the chamber and the normal live studio room so the mic position was identical in both environments. Same mics and preamps as well. What I've taken away from this is that the difference is there, but for the average user, negligible. It's not some magic mojo. Not anywhere near as different as a far field IR compared to a near field IR. It might just be my ears and what I'm used to hearing, but I did/do not prefer the anechoic IRs over the IRs with reflections baked in. . They are just a slightly different flavor.