LSi15, how close is too close?

Ethos · February 2006

Hey, I don't post often but appreciate all the good advice on the forums.

I've got a pair of LSi15s in a bedroom setup where the distance from my listening chair to the speakers is limited. How much space do the 15s need for good integration of the different drivers?

Many thanks.
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gregure · February 2006

I've set my speakers up about 16 feet from where I sit to listen, and they sound better than ever. I'd say if you're within 10 feet you're not really doing them justice for music, but theater wouldn't be too bad. Also, the further they are apart can help with the depth of sound.

Ethos · February 2006

gregure wrote:

I've set my speakers up about 16 feet from where I sit to listen, and they sound better than ever. I'd say if you're within 10 feet you're not really doing them justice for music, but theater wouldn't be too bad. Also, the further they are apart can help with the depth of sound.

Thanks for the quick reply. 10-16 ft away would be terrific but isn't possible in my situation. I'm wondering if 6-7 ft in a triangle configuration would seriously compromise the sound.

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VR3 · February 2006

I sit 4-5 feet away, beat that!

Let me put it like this...

It is far more important how far they are from the rear and side walls..than they are from you.

As long as they are 2 feet from the rear and side walls...you will be ok (if you can go more, go more...

4-6 feet from the rear and side walls would be awesome!

...

Dennis Gardner · February 2006

Too much speaker for the room, but you should be set when something changes and you have a bigger room to fill.

ezc · February 2006

I sit about 9 ft away from my 15's. I have them away from the back wall, towed in, & tilted back. Im very happy with the sound & have messed with placement for awhile & I think now I finally have them dialed in for 2ch.

scottyf · February 2006

I am roughly 8 ft from the speakers. They are 3 feet from the back wall, 2 feet from the side wall and about 6 feet apart. I am also 3 feet from my back wall.

This works for me and negates a really bad base node I suffer from if I am on any of the walls.

gregure · February 2006

While there's no right or wrong answer, sitting further back does allow the sound to spread out more, adding depth and imaging. Optimally, the speakers should be at least 10 feet away from each other, and one should sit at least 10-15 from the central point between them. This is, of course, optimal, and most of us can't quite achieve this in our homes, unless we have a dedicated room, or an understanding wife. This is all for two-channel concerns, of course.

Ethos · February 2006

Many thanks to everyone for the advice. I spent a couple days experimenting with the placement based on the suggestions and thought I'd share what I found.

The placement relative to the sidewalls was the biggest consideration in my set up. Too close and the bass became muddy/boomy. the distance between the speakers didn't matter as much in terms of imaging, though. I have some toe-in but not as much as I did when they were in a bigger space. I think the imaging may have suffered a bit as a result but too much toe-in really affected the overall tone--it made the highs seem a bit bright (which wasn't an issue at all when the speakers were further away from my listening chair). Overall, I'd say the set-up was a lot fussier with the distances reduced.

Hope this helps others.
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LSi15, how close is too close?

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