New Stereo Wall

audiocr381ve

Right now the placement of my stereo is less than ideal. The one thing that is hindering me from placing my stereo on the wall that would work best is the length of our current TV stand. Sooo, I'm replacing it in a few weeks so I can get my entire system on the wall where it should be and that's best for our space.

I need some help more so from a design standpoint rather than a sound quality standpoint, although that input is welcome too.

Here is a little something I pieced together to give you an idea of the what the wall will look like. Unfortunately, the left speaker will be right up against a wall. Not the best from a sound quality standpoint, but a hell of a lot better than what I have going now. To the right of the right speaker is a hallway.

This picture is accurate and scaled properly from the TV, speakers, amp (LOL), to the height and length of the wall.



I'm not sure how high to mount the TV. Higher? Lower? (Either way would work from the viewing area). Would those acoustic panels be well placed?

Joe08867

IMO, The panels are too high. I never had panels setup that high above the speakers. Mine are about 60% below the top of the speaker 40% above. And I would lower the TV about 8-10 inches. You won't want to be looking up at it that much.

In this setup the speakers will be facing the front windows? correct? I would use acoustic drapes instead and pretty much negate the need for acoustic panels. You will avoid the reflection from the back wall and it won't look as strange.

if you already have the panels then you would be better off using panels on the side walls at the reflection point, but you have a staircase in the way on one side so I am unsure how to fix that.

inspiredsports

In an ideal situation, tweeters would line up on the horizontal center-line of the screen. Acoustic panels should cover reflection points behind the speakers (so dropped as post above suggests).

heiney9

TV is way to high unless you sit on a bar stool to watch TV you'll be looking up at it. Perhaps the scale isn't correct in your rendition. I'll post a picture of my set-up tonight for reference.

Also the lower the cabinet in the center the better for acoustic, athough you are seriously screwed if the other speaker is in a corner (worst possible for SDA's). My gear sits on a very low, long table. Gear sits side by side rather than stacked to keep the space between the speaker as uncluttered as possible. As well as not interfering with the mid and tweeters.

H9

heiney9

I had a picture on my phone. You can see how low the rack is so as not to obstruct the mids and tweets. The TV is at the perfect level for viewing from the couch or chair



I have 3.5 feet from the right speaker to the outside wall and about 5.5 feet from the left speaker to the wall of the dining room.

H9

heiney9

Wire management can be quite challenging as well.

inspiredsports

Something like this with your mix of components would sound best and be easiest on your neck

audiocr381ve

Excellent advice guys. That helps a ton. All of my questions/thoughts were confirmed and answered! Thanks.

I'm keeping my open for a TV stand and will post pictures when I get everything in place.

heiney9

audiocr381ve wrote: »

I'm keeping my open for a TV stand and will post pictures when I get everything in place.

So you are wanting to put the TV on a stand now? I thought you were mounting it to the wall, like in your graphic?

Oh well, can't keep up with you I guess.

Good luck on the TV stand/audio rack hunt

H9

audiocr381ve

heiney9 wrote: »

So you are wanting to put the TV on a stand now? I thought you were mounting it to the wall, like in your graphic?

Oh well, can't keep up with you I guess.

Good luck on the TV stand/audio rack hunt

H9

Yes, and no. No, they are called TV stands regardless if a TV is sitting on them. Yes, I'm going to mount the TV.

What would you guys do with the open space above the TV? Maybe a niece piece of artwork? Hmmm...

heiney9

I see, I like my TV mounted on the wall. It's really not necessary to put anything above it unless you want to or it ties in other stuff higher up on the wall. I guess what I'm saying is, just because there is a space up there doesn't mean it has to be filled with something, especially a niece [sic]

inson71

I don't know your space limitations or your diy ability, but you might consider something like this picture. I built a pseudo wall with the audio rack built in above the tv (I have kids). I can access the back of the audio gear buy pulling out the sub and crawling through the opening. The best part is no unsightly cables!

audiocr381ve

heiney9 wrote: »

I see, I like my TV mounted on the wall. It's really not necessary to put anything above it unless you want to or it ties in other stuff higher up on the wall. I guess what I'm saying is, just because there is a space up there doesn't mean it has to be filled with something, especially a niece [sic]

Hhaha, right on.

Since we are renting, we can't paint these white walls which really make the room feel dull. Then again, I don't want to go overboard with artwork to compensate. Are their any interior designers out there?! :biggrin:

audiocr381ve

I found a TV Stand at a Thrift Store that wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it was wife approved which is the most important thing. The little wall is literally all we have to work with so it's the best I can do. The turntable will stay on the speaker until we buy a wall mount for the TV. I know the TV Stand is tall and deep but the price was so right we had to try it.

Since the speakers are only about 3 1/2 feet apart, it's not ideal, but it's a whole lot better than what I had going on before.

20hz

audiocr381ve wrote: »

The turntable will stay on the speaker until we buy a wall mount for the TV. I know the TV Stand is tall and deep but the price was so right we had to try it.

Since the speakers are only about 3 1/2 feet apart, it's not ideal, but it's a whole lot better than what I had going on before.

looks fine has WAF (wife approval factor) looks like you can go much wider holds almost all except the turntable , will the turntable fit inside the doors ?
You could mount a computer keyboard shelf inside so it will glide out ?
I had a tall skinney equip cabinet that did not have any WAF so I cut it down the middle an grafted a shelf in it went from 20" wide to 38" wide weighs like 200 lbs looks good and safe (cant fall over) .
Someday I will get a nice thinner tv to sit atop of it my setup is a 52" rca proscan rear projection , looks good sounds good w/the stereo I run 2 big subs externall ams and polk w/kef center ch .

heiney9

20hz wrote: »

looks fine

But it's not at all if you want to use SDA's and no speaker crammed into a corner will sound good. I completely understand his limitations, but to say "looks fine" is not even close to being correct.

H9

audiocr381ve

heiney9 wrote: »

But it's not at all if you want to use SDA's and no speaker crammed into a corner will sound good. I completely understand his limitations, but to say "looks fine" is not even close to being correct.

H9

Yep, I'm not getting good results sound quality wise this way.

We may be moving soon, hopefully I luck out and get some room for these guys to finally open up!

inspiredsports

I know you already stated the turntable will be removed from the speaker when you wall-mount the TV (the other component should be removed too as anything on top of a speaker cabinet modifies the sound). You also need to be careful with the turntable on the speaker if you listen to vinyl at high levels as the turntable will pick up vibrations that could cause the tonearm to bounce.

20hz

heiney9 wrote: »

But it's not at all if you want to use SDA's and no speaker crammed into a corner will sound good. I completely understand his limitations, but to say "looks fine" is not even close to being correct.

H9

heiney9, what wife wants is VERY important unless you would rather live alone w/your stereo equip
I realize those speakers are less than ideally placed , correct is actually a dedicated sound room with absorbtion material on the walls no windows and double sealed doors, as you know that is not doable in living quarters .

inspiredsports

20hz wrote: »

heiney9, what wife wants is VERY important unless you would rather live alone w/your stereo equip
I realize those speakers are less than ideally placed , correct is actually a dedicated sound room with absorbtion material on the walls no windows and double sealed doors, as you know that is not doable in living quarters .

I don't agree with that. You are describing is basically an anechoic chamber which may be good for recording, but does not make for a very good listening experience.

With a little planning, you can create a great listening environment that's also appealing.

Joe08867

At the very least get the speakers off the wall a few inches. Not ideal looks wise but having them crammed up against a cabinet and the back wall will really kill the SDA and low end. If you can pull them toward the front of the cabinet and away from the sides slightly you will be much better off soundwise.

And until you get the TT off the speaker I would hesitate to use it. Bouncing the needle will not be good for it.

Looks pretty good otherwise.

heiney9

Joe08867 wrote: »

At the very least get the speakers off the wall a few inches. Not ideal looks wise but having them crammed up against a cabinet and the back wall will really kill the SDA and low end. If you can pull them toward the front of the cabinet and away from the sides slightly you will be much better off soundwise.

And until you get the TT off the speaker I would hesitate to use it. Bouncing the needle will not be good for it.

Looks pretty good otherwise.

Joe, it doesn't matter the speakers are for sale. See this thread.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120699

Not sure what's up with this dude, but he's all over the map.

H9

audiocr381ve

heiney9 wrote: »

Joe, it doesn't matter the speakers are for sale. See this thread.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120699

Not sure what's up with this dude, but he's all over the map.

H9

lol, as long as I'm apart of this forum I'll be "all over the map." This is historically accurate for me and my journey through audio. I don't stick with 1 thing very long. I can't tell you how many times I've told my wife "these are the last ones!"

For what it's worth, the guy flaked on the sale this morning after I took the time rearranging the living room for him to hear them properly. With that said, set up correctly, I haven't heard a better speaker yet.

I auditioned some bookshelf speakers yesterday. What stood out were the Paradigm Signature S2's (version 3), but after hearing the SDA's I wasn't impressed at the sound quality from the Paradigm at it's price point ($3,000), although it bettered a lot of other speakers I got to hear. I'm going to try to convince my older brother to buy the SDA's just to keep them in the family, but he has a crazy pit bull that I don't trust.

I found some Paradigm Signature S2's (version 1) for a great deal and picked them up today.

pitdogg2

who cares Why should we waste our time helping you anymore....yep your part of the forum that may just get the ignore button used on. So now you're getting bookshelf speakers who cares....? if the lady complained before she'll complain again bookshelf's or SDA's..... Next you will be asking how to upgrade your Ipod....

Joe08867

heiney9 wrote: »

Joe, it doesn't matter the speakers are for sale. See this thread.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120699

Not sure what's up with this dude, but he's all over the map.

H9

It sounds like he needs to grow a pair or give up the man card.

He has been all over the map from the start. I doubt he knows what he wants and even then the WAF might limit it....

heiney9

I do have to comment, that if you are just going to buy and sell stuff without putting in any effort to see if the piece(s) can become permanent, why should I waste my time and effort.

Do whatever floats your boat, if that means buring thru gear before you even get a chance to evaluate it properly, it's your money, your time and your hobby. But don't expect to get a whole lot of direction. If the perception is you're just wasting time, people will be less inclined to comment and unfortuneatly you will get a bad rep in the process.

H9

Joe08867

What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

audiocr381ve

My online rep is the least of my concerns, Brock. Honestly, maybe some of you should think about a new way to spend your free time if my decisions are hurtful to you. I know you guys take great pride in being the Club Polk master volunteers, but maybe a wake up call is in order. You're volunteers at best. Good volunteers don't need affirmation or letters of intent before they lend a hand. Good volunteers help because they love to help, not because someone is necessarily worth helping. Volunteers definitely don't go around brown nosing other veteran volunteers *cough* Joe *cough*

Come on guys, the real men aren't sitting around crying. I'm done here and I'm willing to bet there will be a flame fest right below post #28 because that's what boys love to do.

TECHNOKID

20hz wrote: »

heiney9, what wife wants is VERY important unless you would rather live alone w/your stereo equip
I realize those speakers are less than ideally placed , correct is actually a dedicated sound room with absorbtion material on the walls no windows and double sealed doors, as you know that is not doable in living quarters .

20hz, I am convince everyone understands the importance of the WAF however, for this specific set-up SDAs will definitley not sound good. IMHO, the OP is doing the right thing by trying to sell his SDA. For his room arrangement, sealed speakers or at best front firering speakers would be the OP's best choice.

audiocr381ve wrote: »

lol, as long as I'm apart of this forum I'll be "all over the map." This is historically accurate for me and my journey through audio. I don't stick with 1 thing very long. I can't tell you how many times I've told my wife "these are the last ones!"

audiocr381ve; I am not sure if your budget can allow you to spent and how true you want to be to your wife? If budget allows, you might want to consider those new babies; http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/lsim/specs.php#bookshelf as I can almost garantee that if she is OK with pricing the look should meet WAF and oyu should not have too many issues with positionning since those babies are sealed enclosure.

For what it's worth, the guy flaked on the sale this morning after I took the time rearranging the living room for him to hear them properly. With that said, set up correctly, I haven't heard a better speaker yet.

Definitely a great speaker but unfortunately placement is critical and your present personal set-up can not accomodate them.

I auditioned some bookshelf speakers yesterday. What stood out were the Paradigm Signature S2's (version 3), but after hearing the SDA's I wasn't impressed at the sound quality from the Paradigm at it's price point ($3,000), although it bettered a lot of other speakers I got to hear.

I do not know if this is at all possible for you but try to get involved in auditioning the LsiM703 and see what you and the wife thinks.

I'm going to try to convince my older brother to buy the SDA's just to keep them in the family, but he has a crazy pit bull that I don't trust.

If you are patient, I am convinced some Polkie would love them if your brother prefers his mean dog to great sound.

I found some Paradigm Signature S2's (version 1) for a great deal and picked them up today.

Correct me if I am wrong, are those also sealed enclosure? If so, if you like them and they have the WAF, they might do the trick for you.

Cheers!
TK

txcoastal1

The 703 actually port out the rear....they have the cone disbursement

TECHNOKID

txcoastal1 wrote: »

The 703 actually port out the rear....they have the cone disbursement

Thanks txcoastal1, my bad... I was in the impression the 703 was a sealed enclosure.

Hum, I'm all confused now...

Enclosure Type Sealed

Enclosure Type
(subwoofer) PowerPort bass venting