how distant from the wall? --- Mission m70

u235vu239

I am using a pair of mission m70 with a pioneer SA-410 integrated amplifier. Should I keep them quite distant from the wall or are 10/15 cm enough? Someone told me not to keep them really close to the wall, but he didn't explain me why. he just said they would "boom".


thanks

steveinaz

Generally, the closer to reflective surface the speaker is placed, the more bass will be enhanced, but sometimes it makes the bass "boomy" or overly done. Experiment with placement; distance from rear wall, and toe-in (angling the speakers toward the listener) until you get the tonal characteristics you like. You'll probably want to start with the speakers at least 8" off the back wall (to the rear of the cabinet) and work your way from there. With toe-in, try aiming the speakers directly at your listening position, then reduce the angle if they sound too bright or you don't have a wide enough soundstage.

Some tips:
- If your speakers flank a TV, try to position the speakers even with, or in front of the picture tube. Same deal with entertainment centers, get the speakers front baffle "out-front."
- If you notice a "hole" in the sound, like the center phantom image is missing (2-channel), your speakers are probably too far apart.
- Ideally you want the tweeters @ ear-level, so proper stand height is important, but its not absolutely critical

u235vu239

steveinaz wrote:

- If your speakers flank a TV, try to position the speakers even with, or in front of the picture tube. Same deal with entertainment centers, get the speakers front baffle "out-front."
- If you notice a "hole" in the sound, like the center phantom image is missing (2-channel), your speakers are probably too far apart.
- Ideally you want the tweeters @ ear-level, so proper stand height is important, but its not absolutely critical

Thanks a lot for the tips. (:

steveinaz

No problem.

ward91

i thought that it didnt matter so much with front reflex ports

http://www.mission.co.uk/index1.htm

adam2434

I owned the M70s for a while, and was pretty impressed for $80/pr.

They are very small bookshelf speakers with the associated bass limitations of small bookshelf speakers. Their bass output will increase as you move them closer to the wall. I had mine on top of an entertainment center, about 6" from the wall.

However, having them closer to the wall can compromise imaging, soundstage etc., especially if you have furniture or a TV between them.

Like Steve said, experiment to find the best compromise between bass performance and imaging/soundstage.

Adding a subwoofer to play the bass frequencies would give you another lever to optimize bass vs. imaging/soundstage. With a sub, you could place the M70s where they give the best imaging/soundstage and place the sub where it gives the best bass and integration with the M70s.

VR3

Placement from the walls (rear and side) has alot more to do with soundstaging than bass...

The soundstage should be alot deeper if away from the rear wall, and alot wider/defined when away from the side walls..

It took me far to long to figure that out.

adam2434

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Placement from the walls (rear and side) has alot more to do with soundstaging than bass...

With the M70s (were talking about a small bookshelf with a 4.5" woofer), distance from the wall has as a major impact on the bass. I owned them, so I know. The impact on the bass may be more important than the impact on soundstage, depending on what the listener values more. I was using them for casual background music, so having more bass was more important than soundstage for me, since I didn't listen to them while seated in the sweet spot anyway.

VR3

I never said it didnt impact the bass... I said it impacted the soundstaging much more than bass. While putting them close to the wall will enhance the bass, it will also flood the soundstage. Getting them away from the walls will tighten up the bass and open up the stage...

And to me, the way the wall floods the soundstage is a greater sacrifice than the bass. As bass can be substitued with a subwoofer, where as the soundstage is all in the mains.

Different goals, all that - of course.

If you use your mains for background music (stuff to listen to while walking around the house) and rarely any critical listening, I know a pair of speakers you would benefit from greatly, when your ready to upgrade or w/e, just ask and Ill point you to them.