speaker location - front ported speakers - wall distance

jolson72

Just trying to figure out speaker locations for a new set of speakers. So am I correct in assuming that front ported speakers aren't as affected by their exact location to the rear wall as rear ported speakers? Or will the speakers get a bit more 'boomy" the closer to the wall they are?

I know I can move them, but they are awfully heavy..... Maybe 60 - 70 pounds each. Making spikes for the stands, then I'll refine the speaker location.

dannylightning

you have a manual for those, it may tell you the recommended distance from the walls. but personally i would just move them around till you get the spot that sounds best to you.

you are correct front ported should not matter "as much". but it may still need some space.

Emlyn

I would bring them forward a bit so the front of the speakers is even with or an inch or two in front of the rack. Distance from the front wall should not be an issue with those speakers in that location. Toe them in so they are pointed at your shoulders in your seated area. If you can, set the speakers so your seated position and the speakers form roughly an equal triangle. The tweeters should be even with your ears as close as possible. Could be a shorter stand may work better for that since the tweeters are high mounted on the speakers?

Upstatemax

I found running front ported speakers pretty close to the rear wall to have little impact on them.

Corner loading them, or one of them can impact them though.

jolson72

Upstatemax : corner loading means getting them too close to the corner of a room, right?

txcoastal1

Objects (racks etc) in between the speakers will deteriorate the stereo image (sound stage)

Front of speakers should clear rack by at leat 2-4".

Height is another tweak, along with toe-in and width between speakers
6'-8' is a start, some masking tape is useful to mark

Those speakers should and are capable of producing a nice sound stage, which is a 3-dimensional effect like the band is on stage.

Corner loading is a term for bass response, by using the corners of the room to create more resonance but to much can cause a bloated bass effect.

It's all about dialing in a system to whats best to your ears, and what genres of music you listen too.

Upstatemax

jolson72 wrote: »

Upstatemax : corner loading means getting them too close to the corner of a room, right?

It's hard to say "too" close. Getting them in the corner might help with bass response and a better balance. But it can also lead to bloated bass and loss of a balanced response.

It's all dependent on the room, speaker and your preferences...

As txcoastal1 said, it's all about dialing it to what's best for your ears.

SCompRacer

Is your right speaker near a corner too, like the left?

When you are boxed by corners close to sidewalls, first reflection points on sidewall can obscure the stereo image, narrow the sound stage. Acoustic treatments will help prevent that.

jolson72

Putting the speakers on spikes right now. Will take a photo in a few minutes of where the speakers are sitting. From the installation instructions, the speakers should be 3/4 of the distance apart from the sitting area.... So in my case, the speakers should be about 7.5 feet apart, as the listening distance is about 10'. Trying to slowly dial it in.

txcoastal1

Also on the height of your speaker and listening chair or sofa

Your sound will most likely be best heard with ears between the red lines...and yes the sweet spot gets better by every inch, but of course not everyone can sit in the "sweetest spot"

jolson72

TX Coastal: sounds like I need a minimal rack as well. I think what I have is too big...

txcoastal1

Just bring the speakers a little forward, if you have kids family running through the room move them back

When no buddies around move them to the sweet spot and enjoy....no rules here

jolson72

I have them about a foot from the wall. 1.5 to 2 feet is likely better?

jolson72

TXCoasal: luckily, the tweeter height is just right for the couch. I think I'll need to get the speakers a bit closer together, and get a smaller stereo cabinet..... Still trying to decide if I want to keep a CD player, or go for a good computer / DAC setup.....

txcoastal1

You can best start of with an equilateral triangle by toeing in the speakers. Get a folding chair to move around in your listening position. Might not be the best for every day life style, but most of us take advantage when just hanging out and family is away.

Your just looking for the sweet spot, which is likely where the edge of the table is just in front of your couch, with a little more toe in.

But this all varies, and like I said may not be practical for daily use, but fun when you can do it.

halo

@jolson72 - You may find the following information useful:

http://www.myspeakersetup.com/

https://youtu.be/84Pf0ycbyBM

Emlyn

jolson72 wrote: »

I have them about a foot from the wall. 1.5 to 2 feet is likely better?

That's a tough room to work with because of the opening in the wall unless there is a door there that can be closed. Or, can the system be moved to the opposite end of the room? I suspect the way it's set up now a good balance will be difficult to achieve for two channel stereo.

mikeyb128

That's a cool room, but man is that a tough one to work with. You're couch is way too far away for one. I would tear everything down, and situate the speakers on either side of the fire place, and put the equipment rack off to the side. A friend of mine does this, and it works out very nice.

I would think that door way is sucking out your soundstage? I've had the displeasure of working with some tricky rooms, but in the end, and after a lot of buggering around, I figured things out.

dannylightning

i would try to get that speaker cable laying flat on the ground.. the way its hanging off that speaker i see someone stepping on it at some point and knocking over the speaker..

yes the couch looks too far away.. generally if the speakers are 10 feet apart you want to have the couch about 10 feet away from the speakers. each line in the tangle should be the same length..

jolson72

Yes, the speaker cables are temporary. Trying to figure out the best location, first. Then I might drill through the floor so they can be below the carpet. Still moving, trying to figure out the best location.

jolson72

Part of my thoughts on my current speaker / stereo placement is the long room that I have to work with. Probably 15 feet wide and 40 feet long. Here is a photo. I'd get better sound if I had the stereo on the wall with the fireplace, most likely?

The photo shows the room. You can see the chair at the bottom of the photo,
which is where the dining room table is. Again, I appreciate all the help:

[Deleted User]

Good thoughts and GREAT room.
Following w/ interest...

pitdogg2

Looks like you have a good spot on left side of the room. Move the LP' s to where stereo is now. What I do not know is whether or not you have an outlet there.

Emlyn

Things would be so much easier for audio if fireplaces did not exist in living rooms.

I agree, if there is enough room to the left of the fireplace that may be the best location.

jolson72

thanks for the continued help. another question: having the stereo facing a big bank of windows.... Is that bad for the sound, or too hard / harsh? Here are a few more photos. Most people seem to think I should put my system near the fireplace. It would face the windows, with the listening area being a couch sitting near the windows. Thoughts?

Emlyn

You would want to put some curtains up on the windows and close them when listening to music. Looks to me like it is best to have the speakers flanking the fireplace given there is not enough room to the left and there is another doorway there.

jolson72

Emlyn: thanks for the help. I am not interested in curtains, or going to that level for sound. Is the fireplace still my best option? Makes speaker cable / stereo placement difficult as well, however.... Always some sort of difficulty....

Emlyn

I agree, there's not really an ideal audio choice in that room and it is a good looking window. You appear to have a really nice LP collection, so a turntable is necessary there which means a two channel system instead of a single wireless streaming speaker set up some people have moved to. Since everything is already set up where it's at now, I'd stick with it for a while with minor tweaks. To answer your original question though, you would just need to move the speakers out a little bit from the front wall and make them equal distance and toe in from each side wall.

motorhead43026

jolson72 wrote: »

thanks for the continued help. another question: having the stereo facing a big bank of windows.... Is that bad for the sound, or too hard / harsh? Here are a few more photos. Most people seem to think I should put my system near the fireplace. It would face the windows, with the listening area being a couch sitting near the windows. Thoughts?

I like the Mid Century Modern influence.