Speakers closer to walls?

organ

Just wondering how many members here place your speakers closer to the wall to help the bass. Either to make it more solid, powerful or to help with extension. I'm not talking about shoving them in the corner but something in the range of 1-2ft away. Just enough to prevent male vocals from becoming boomy/chesty and get a nice natural sounding bass enhancement.
Curious because for the longest time I tried my best to get as much direct sound as possible from my set up. This usually means far away from the walls/corner. But recently I tried placing them closer to the wall and it really helped the bass in my set up. For some reason I was getting more bass anomalies, peaks/dips using the "ideal" positioning method. Placing them much closer to the wall gives me a nice even response and the bass is so much more powerful. It doesn't sound boomy or overpowering.
Every "audiophile" positioning I've tried have failed. The only one that worked out was a pair of Magnepans.
Am I the only one experiencing this?

tonyb

I have had the 1000p's if thats the speaker your refering to. Had them 1 foot from the rear wall to sound their best. Every room is different so playing around with placement is a good idea no matter what scientific formula is spoken for optimal placement.

kawizx9r

I too had RT1000P's and I actually had them about 3-4 feet from the wall.

The built-in subwoofers never impressed me, but with the towers pulled away from the wall the bass seemed as if it 'tightened' up. For music, this setup was ideal however for HT they sounded better closer to the wall. That was of course before I got my SDA 1C's (which later became my 2-ch speakers).

organ

Yeah, running the 1000's a foot from the wall right now.
I tried them 3-4 feet away but lost a lot off bass extension and dynamics. It still sounds pretty tight at 1ft for me.
I think I have a pretty messed up room or something.

You guys are right about every room being different but I'm wondering if it's only in my set up where following the "golden rules" and "scientific calculations" just never result in good sound?

kawizx9r

Depends if you're room is pretty closed off from the rest of your home or in a rather large opening leading to a dining room/kitchen/etc.

Also take into consideration whatever is in your room IE hardwood floors or carpet, windows, etc.

Room treatments could always help.

organ

Makes sense. I do have a large opening near the right speaker, so I think this may be one of the cause for uneven bass when using proper positioning.

Room treatments is something I've been putting serious thought into but really don't know where to start. Also, the prices are insane. I have to find a cheaper source than the ones I've seen. I wonder where movie theaters get those sound panels?

kawizx9r

DIY!

There's a thread that a member posted awhile ago regarding some DIY panels. Not sure how long it went though but I'm sure there's some good info.

If and when I decide to add some, I think I'll build my own before purchasing any unless I find some used.

organ

Thanks. I will do a search. I have one of those soft foam stuff you put between your bed sheet and mattress on my back wall. The couch is right up against the wall. So I will try to treat the front wall with some DIY.

kawizx9r

I read somewhere that if the thicker the absorbent, the better it'll absorb the deep notes.

I'm tired so I could be wrong

organ

lol I think you're right. I heard that too before. Thanks again.

kawizx9r

Eh, I phrased that all wrong but you catch my drift!

organ

yup:)

newrival

I have my rt3000p's 14" from the wall, but thats just the subs. The satellites are 8" farther. I tried them +/-8" and this was best. They sound great, but I woulld like to get them wider. Looks like it's time for a new room

steveinaz

My Carbon 7 monitors are about 18" off the wall, from the rear of the cabinets; with 1/2" of toe-in. At 16", they got a little too thick in the mid-bass.

erniejade

It depends on the speaker. In my living room ( wall next to open dining room on the right and hall to the left) The Def Tech's, need to be 11" from the back wall or the bass is gone. The JM labs I have 2 feet from the back wall or the bass is gone. If I put the JM Labs be the back wall, the bass is gone! same room same equipment just a different speaker. The Polk 10B i had in there, 1 foot or less. Carver amazing needed 1.5 feet behind.

SO besides the room, every speaker can be different on what sounds best

organ

Thanks for sharing your set ups, guys. I keep thinking everyone in here are doing 3ft+ or following the 1/3 placement rule.

I will be getting new speakers next week and it will be interesting to see how these guys work out.

steveinaz

I rarely pay any attention to the "formulas."

organ

Yeah, that's it. I'm no longer following any 'audiophile' forumulas. Everytime I do, I end up being frustrated. Thanks agian.

doctorcilantro

Mine are pretty close to the wall, maybe 10"?

We pulled them out a couple feet a few weekends ago and it was incredible. Maybe have to do with what you have between them as well, as I have a large entertainment center, and the Hoyt Bedford sit in there like a bookcase.

I'm looking at stands for dedicated listening sessions (i.e. no kids around).

rubin

My mains are 5 ft out and 3 ft from side walls. My subs, which I rely on for most of the bass are in the corners.

cnh

I'm usually about 1 foot or more from the sidewalls and 1 foot to 18" from the back wall, except for my SDAs where I FOLLOW the rules for placement 'strictly' but that's in order to achieve the 'effect'. That said, my placement has come at the expense of a lot of 'experimentation' where the received wisdom did not work for me either. This first began with a set of Home Versions of JBL Studios (large towers I still own)--which claimed you should be 2-3 feet away from everything. The JBLs were too damned 'thin' sounding out that far. So I gradually moved them in a few inches at a time till I got to the place where the bass became to volatile to control then began moving them out again. One foot from the side wall. 18" from the back wall--no toe-in required. Priceless!

cnh

Bababouey

Isn't this all dependent on the size and shape of the room?
Glen

phipiper10

I'm something close to 4' out from rear wall and not that different from the sides.

phipiper10

I'm something close to 4' out from rear wall and not that different from the sides. (This is almost the 1/3 rule for me)

crazytasty

just talked to fritz today, he recommended some of his smaller monitors to me, is it possible to have some monitor speakers about 6 inches from the wall and still get quality sound?

tonyb

crazytasty wrote: »

just talked to fritz today, he recommended some of his smaller monitors to me, is it possible to have some monitor speakers about 6 inches from the wall and still get quality sound?

Sure, why not ? I guess if they are rear ported, it may make a difference,and of coarse the quality of the associated gear, source. Remember,garbage in,garbage out.....regardless of what speakers you have.

steveinaz

If it's not windy, I love the way speakers in an outside environment (no walls). I once brought my patio rig to our organizations summer picnic, and was really impressed at how good the Energy C-3 bookshelves sounded with zero boundries..

steveinaz

crazytasty wrote: »

just talked to fritz today, he recommended some of his smaller monitors to me, is it possible to have some monitor speakers about 6 inches from the wall and still get quality sound?

You can give it a shot--Fritz's stuff digs pretty deep in the bass for their size. I estimate my Carbon 7's are probably down 6dB @ 35Hz. If you closed your eyes, you'd never know you were listening to a monitor.

VR3

I used the Cardas method of placing my speakers and they ended up (from the front of the speaker) about 3.5 feet from the side wall, 1.5 feet from the back wall (about 8" from the back of the speaker to the back wall) with slight toe in...

Aside from better bass response I have never heard a better sound.

My speakers are about 10 ft apart and I sit about 5.5 ft from the center point of them.

BlueFox

Are we talking about the front or the back of the speakers away from the wall?

VR3

I just mentioned the front of the speakers because that is how Cardas tells you to measure it.