bookshelf speakers on the floor

If it works for you, that is fine. For giggles you might try different heights until you find the sweet spot. 

In high school my friend Chip had his KLH 6’s on the floor. His system was a Pioneer receiver and a Pioneer belt-drive TT. Listening to Buffalo Springfield, Traffic’s John Barleycorn, Pink Floyd’s Ummagumma ... was quite an experience! 

You could try decoupling them from the floor with something like Nobsound springs. This will clean up the bass and open up the sound for a more spacious soundstage and focused imaging. Putting them directly on the floor accentuates the bass effect but can also muddy it by vibrating the floor. If you feel they sound better with the springs but lacking the previously colored bass, you might add a small sub or two like the REL T5x.

Typically you want the tweeter at ear level. I wouldn’t be surprised I’d very short stands might be optimal… but as said. Ultimately experimenting will tell. Toe in and tilt will influence directness of treble and soundstage.

Mapleshade (when Pierre Sprey was around) has thick maple plinths with brass cones for bookshelf speakers. The cones angled the speakers up towards the listener. It's the way he said it should be done.

All the best,
Nonoise

first I apologize for misplacing it. Can I change the category to speakers, still? 

@noromance  "vibrating the floor" yes, I was worried about it. I will try the springs! it's hardwood floor so I am sure the wood would want to dance a little

@ghdprentice I never heard of short stands. Ashamed to admit, decades ago, I used bricks

@russ69 "try different heights" I stopped growing when I was 22 :) But I will check out those growth hormone pills

@nonoise 

that's an interesting look! I never thought they existed

Here's a link to their site that shows several ways to do it with bookshelf speakers. They cost a pretty penny since he uses local Amish talent and locally sourced maple for the stands but if you know a good local carpenter (or if you're handy with wood) you can do it for a lot cheaper. Good luck.

All the best,
Nonoise

Rutan ( again ) at audio connection sells a lot of small speakers into the design but sonics conscious market of NYC…placement firing straight up can yield amazing omni type sound…i would send you a video, but…..

Hopefully your back heals

Jim 

@tomic601 thanks! my back is good enough not to need a doctor and bad enough for the pain not to go away :) but the floor helps

@nonoise yes, I saw the prices! Do you know where to buy the legs or whatever they are called? Or I can put Nobsound springs underneath the slab?

Most of the wood rack vendors on this site, @timbernation1 comes to mind, have equal quality and better prices IMO.

Those legs are solid brass and made to spec for Mapleshade and are also quite pricey. I'm afraid you'll have to peruse the threads here or go online to find something that would work. Hopefully someone here knows of some decent cones of differing heights that would work and can chime in.

I don't see how Nobsound springs would work since you'll need much higher ones up front than the back and the springs seem to need a level surface to work properly. Good luck.

All the best,
Nonise

Bookshelf speakers on the floor are a tripping hazard! LOL....otherwise, no harm done.

"on the floor are a tripping hazard" not for us, floor-living creatures

or something...