@deadhead1000 I had the same problem. I had to put the speakers with a rear port close to the wall and the sound was terrible. I simply put a large amount of cotton inside the ports and the speakers sound superb. Try it. It's cheap and effective. I didn't experiment with other materials and I can't think of any other material doing the same job so well done. Common cotton is great. It transforms a speaker with a rear port to a speaker with no port. I forgot to tell you that the speakers were cheap and I used them in the kitchen. Maybe this trick is not suitable for serious listening but give it a try and see for yourself. Cheers.
Bookshelf Speakers that have to be up against the wall
My very first posting, so be gentle. Looking to upgrade my bookshelf speakers, say to a max of 3k or so. I have an old mcintosh amp and pre. plenty of power. I now have to put my speakers against the wall and the ported ones I have now don’t ‘bloom’ now, they sound a bit muffled - they lost most of their imaging. I think because they are ported in the back also aside from being against the wall. I’d like to hear from anyone who has had that problem and recommendations from those with knowledge of solving this issue.