What s in front of your chair?

Gee, I'm not sure how to take all of the responses to my query. Some are quite humorous. However, the main reason that I asked the question is because I removed a glass top coffee table that DID have a negative effect on my system WHILE I WAS ENJOYING IT!!! For those that were less than humorous or thought that I had gone too far, I feel that I must be one of the true audiophiles just for asking such a "silly" question. At least three of the responders had given some thought to the furniture at the listening position. MANY of us pay >$10k for the cables in our system due to their effects, why is it not reasonable to be concerned with what we place 4 ft in front of the speakers. Finally, as for carpet, I suggest a wool oriental carpet because the fibers are all different lengths and diameters. A synthetic carpet has identical fibers which can cause preferential reflection and absorption at certain frequencies. So it's not all necessarily hocus-pocus. I do enjoy the music and my system, but I enjoy it more when it sounds better.

As for the carpet fibers, i agree. I have also had great results with synthetic carpets loaded with various amounts of dirt. Extensive experimentation has shown that clay put down in Size 10 1/2 footprints results in excellent bass imaging that makes the music come to life. Motor oil in similar patterns makes the system sound too slick. Sand deposited at the edge of the carpet result in more grainy highs. I was perhaps most surprised by some ketchup put on the corners on the rugs, contrary to what I expected there was very little coloration, at least when used with the black rugs. About the only thing I would really not recommend trying is crushed cookies in the rugs; with this tweak installed the system sounded really crummy.

Metaphysics, now for a serious answer. The coffee table obviously made a difference, as you noted. The surface of the table is most likely an almost perfect reflector. The ottoman would probably have more shape to it, and be made from another material than glass, so it would probably reflect less sound. If you take a ligt orroman, maybe something with a tube frame like I described earlier, you may find that the effect is not too noticeable.

Anybody tried hanging a hammock from the listening room ceiling yet? ;)

Hammock? Humm, It would cost a fortune for the cables!