Back to the drawing board

Will62

Purchased a home that has a challenging room design where I want to locate a stereo system. 14 by 14 living room. Hardwood floors which I intend to keep. 9 foot high ceilings. On the wall where I need to locate the speakers I have a fire place and mantle that juts out about 15 to 20 inches from the wall, runs almost 8 feet up and and is around 6 feet wide. This leaves roughly 3 to 4 feet recessed to the back wall on either side where it meets up with the other walls.

I've been told that rear firing ports won't work well at all in this situation. Seems logical since it will probably change the sonic characteristics of the speaker especially the phasing of the base since it has another side wall to bounce off of opposite the main wall on the other side.

This being the case I seem to have two options. Find a speaker that has a front firing port only or plug the back of a speaker with rear firing ports with foam. Not sure which is the best method for this situation.

I looked at the Polk RTI A1 and A 3 today. It appears as though there is an opening on the back side but it is covered by some kind of plastic cover that sticks out an couple of inches from the speaker. Not sure what this is or if it is passive or active. Front of the speaker has a port.

Took a look at a couple of TSX series towers that have no port or similar hole in back like the afformentioned bookshelf speakers. However, I don't know anything about this series and whether or not they possess the tonal characteristics that I like.

Budget is under $500 for a pair. Want something similar to one of the following speakers:

Jamo C603 or C803
Boston Acoustics M25
Dali Zensor 1 or 3
Phase Technology V 52 or V 62

All have a neutral sound with detail yet are not harsh in the high end and. Jamo's are slightly warm in the mid range but not overly syrupy. I don't need a lot of heavy bass but want it to be balanced with the midrange and not overpower it. All of these speakers seem to have a wide soundstage which is something that I prefer.

Any suggestions on which Polk speakers to consider given this somewhat challenging environment? A while back someone suggested the LSIM 703 bookshelf but that is not in the cards at this stage. Beyond my budget at this point and for the foreseeable future. Have to stick with speakers that run $500 or less for a pair.

Thanks!

megasat16

Yeah, square rooms are hard to fix. Worry more about the room and the floor than the front or back firing ports. While ports work, they are not going to affect if you put a rug on the floor and some room treatments (trying to place sound absorbing panels at different locations at a later stage).

But for now and for your budget, try looking for a used (or new) pair of LSi9.

Will62

megasat16 wrote: »

Yeah, square rooms are hard to fix. Worry more about the room and the floor than the front or back firing ports. While ports work, they are not going to affect if you put a rug on the floor and some room treatments (trying to place sound absorbing panels at different locations at a later stage).

But for now and for your budget, try looking for a used (or new) pair of LSi9.

I was thinking that that the area that is recessed on both sides (roughly 4 foot by 15 to 20 inches) would create havoc for the acoustics in the room. With a rear firing port I would think which usually needs space all around it would only fire back to the immediate rear and to one side of the speaker while the other side is blocked by the wall of the fireplace and mantle at least for 15 to 20 inches.

txcoastal1

I looked at your list and average budget. I would Wharfedale Diamond bookies to your list. They have a really nice open sound with a sparkle on the top end.

megasat16

Will62 wrote: »

I was thinking that that the area that is recessed on both sides (roughly 4 foot by 15 to 20 inches) would create havoc for the acoustics in the room. With a rear firing port I would think which usually needs space all around it would only fire back to the immediate rear and to one side of the speaker while the other side is blocked by the wall of the fireplace and mantle at least for 15 to 20 inches.

Well, I can't really visualize what your room looks like so if you have a cam, post some pictures.

The LSi and I think also RTi uses Power port which wraps around the rear waves and to the sides than directly firing them to the rear walls, you'll have less concern with the ports.

But it's not a good idea to plug the port in general because you'll change the turning frequency of the bass driver and mid-bass drivers. It'll change the sound and the frequency response of the bass and the mid-bass.

You need room around the speakers because the waves diffract around the speaker cabinet no matter whether it has ports or not. Some speakers need more rear room than the others.

Will62

I will try to describe the room in more detail. Look at your current living room wall or any wall that is empty but visualize the following. 14 feet wide and flat but suddenly a 6 to 7 foot box about 8 feet high sticks out from the middle of the wall about 15 to 20 inches. Looking to your left you see another wall with a window on the middle that ends at the first wall but 15 to 20 inches past the box but where the box starts. Same thing on the right side. So, you have this box that more or less sticks out from the wall and leaves a small open area that is recessed behind the box by a few feet.

Will62

txcoastal1 wrote: »

I looked at your list and average budget. I would Wharfedale Diamond bookies to your list. They have a really nice open sound with a sparkle on the top end.

Yes, I've heard good things about these speakers. But I will have to see if they have a rear port first.

txcoastal1

He probably has this scenario like my living room

megasat16

So, you have two big windows on the opposite sides of the room? And one windowed wall meets the wall with the Chimney?

You have two big windows and a chimney and mantel that sticks out about 15-20 inches from the wall and have a recessed space behind the chimney. So, it's not a prefect square room but it'll be a problem.

Where are you placing your gears? If I get this right, there is only one wall you can use to place the gears.

But for the hardwood flooring, you'll need to put the rug or carpet in some parts of the room or put up with the reflections. You can't do much for the windows other than get a thick cloth curtains / drapes covering them up.

Will62

txcoastal1 wrote: »

He probably has this scenario like my living room

Bingo. That is precisely what I have. Mirror included.

Will62

megasat16 wrote: »

So, you have two big windows on the opposite sides of the room? And one windowed wall meets the wall with the Chimney?

You have two big windows and a chimney and mantel that sticks out about 15-20 inches from the wall and have a recessed space behind the chimney. So, it's not a prefect square room but it'll be a problem.

Where are you place your gears? If I get this right, there is only one wall you can use to place the gears.

But for the hardwood flooring, you'll need to put the rug or carpet in some parts of the room or put up with the reflections. You can't do much for the windows other than get a thick cloth curtains / drapes covering them up.

Yes, two big windows. One on the wall to the left of that picture and then one directly facing that fireplace about 13 feet across the room.

Actually I will have to experiment with the gear and speakers to see if the hard wood is a benefit or detriment. I use a Qinpu A 3 hybrid tube/solid state amp and it is a warm sound. It sounds great on solid hard wood with my Mirage OM 10 towers which I cannot use right now. Thus I am looking for a pair of bookshelf speakers in the interim. I have pet that likes to mess with my speakers but won't bother with bookshelf speakers.

megasat16

txcoastal1 wrote: »

He probably has this scenario like my living room

Thanks for the visual! I got it now. Cool Looking Mirror!

Will62

I was thinking of placing the equipment in front of the fireplace and then the speakers to the side of the recessed area just about flush with the fireplace where it ends. Won't be using the fireplace at this time. If I am using speakers without a rear firing port I figure I should have not have too much of an issue with an echo coming out of the recessed areas or having phasing of the sound messed up.

Will62

I just did a test with my Jamo C601 bookshelf speakers. Stuffed up the rear ports with foam. Really messed with the image and overall sound. Bass became smaller too. Definitely not the answer.

I noted the TSX series which is new from Polk does not have any rear ports. I may demo them since they are on display at a local store. This may be the best way around those recessed areas around the fireplace. Not sure that placing a rear ported speaker less than six feet apart in front of the fireplace will yield decent sound. May have to try that with the Jamo's when I get the chance. I am in the process of doing work to the house and don't iive there yet. Next road trip when I have time I will bring my gear there and try that out.

txcoastal1

I wouldn't worry about the rear ports to much but as you probably well know you will have a nice sound but know real imaging or sound stage with the speakers tucked in the nook. I know, because I have tried putting my towers on each side of my fireplace.

If you are placing them on stands and want to slide them out when really getting in quality listening time that's fine.

I kinda already new what your setup was like that's why I recommended the Wharfedale Diamonds. I had demoed a pair from a dealer close by in my house using Fatman tube amp http://www.fat-man.co.uk/product.php/7/2/itube_202 . Nice little system.

txcoastal1

megasat16 wrote: »

Cool Looking Mirror!

Thanks got 3 as like mirrors out of a Historic Galveston home when a buddy of mine mom passed away and he moved to Cali.

Will62

txcoastal1 wrote: »

I wouldn't worry about the rear ports to much but as you probably well know you will have a nice sound but know real imaging or sound stage with the speakers tucked in the nook. I know, because I have tried putting my towers on each side of my fireplace.

If you are placing them on stands and want to slide them out when really getting in quality listening time that's fine.

I kinda already new what your setup was like that's why I recommended the Wharfedale Diamonds. I had demoed a pair from a dealer close by in my house using Fatman tube amp http://www.fat-man.co.uk/product.php/7/2/itube_202 . Nice little system.

I've noted the Jamo's shine when they are around 20 inches from the back wall. That being the case, do you think that if they are out in the room with the rear of the speakers at the point where the fireplace starts a rear firing speaker will sound OK? If so, then I may be able to look at my list again. I noted Wharfdale has some new 10 series speakers out. Supposedly better than the 9 series. May consider these since they seem to possess the same sonic characteristics as most of the speakers on my list.

Will do that test with the C601's first by the end of March to see how this might work. If they sound OK then I can stick with my list of speakers and won't have to worry about a rear port in this situation.

txcoastal1

Yes the diamond 10 series is what I demoed they been out for at least 3 yrs. I understand where you are coming from on the rear porting. My dyn's are rear ported as the reason for my acoustic panels with a dense filler, but the design of the dyn's is different than most speakers and they dip lower than in other monitor that I have tested. Their range ratings are are very reserved and actually can dip into the mid 30's.