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Help Speakers trapped on bookshelves

Help! My "bookshelf" speakers are hopelessly trapped on bookshelves, with no hope of graduating to stands, and I need advice on how to minimize the sonic stifling of the bookshelves. The speakers are Totem Rainmakers fed mostly jazz, folk and rock through a Cambridge Audio Azur 640C cdp and a 640A integrated. Interconnects are Analysis Plus Oval One and speaker cables are XLO ER-12. My home office is in a penthouse room measuring 6ft wide by 13 feet long, and the speakers are relegated to sit in a set of built-in shelves on one of the short walls that includes a fold-out secretary desk. Given the small size of the room (it's the only room in our small apartment that my wife would give up), there is simply no room for speaker stands on either side of the desk, where I do most listening (nearfield I guess). Therefore, until we have a bigger place, the speakers must stay on the shelves, and I need advice on positioning, etc. I've heard that packing books all around them helps, and I've tried that with minimal effect. Also, the speakers are ported, making it even harder. Help! Just please don't suggest that I disregard my wife's input and put them on stands anyway: she's currently carrying our first two children (twins), which gives her three votes to my one. One day, the speakers will be free to roam on stands, but for now I need to tap A'gon members' ingenuity and experience to make the best of this temporary incarceration.

Thanks,
Roger
rogercmd

Showing 3 responses by rar1

rar1's avatar
rar1
1,811 posts
 
Roger:

I have a similar situation with my 2 channel HT system. For this type of placement, acoustic suspension speakers (like the NHT SB2) or front ported speakers (like the Omega Super 3; Wharefedale Diamond 9.1) will work best. Rear ported speakers, even with plugged ports, will not satisfy you. I learned this the hard way with KEF Q55's and EPOS 11.

In my 2 channel HT system, I have had the best success with Acoustic Research 302; NHT SB2; and Omega Super 3. The following is a description from my 2 channel HT system

... The sound is close to the sound of my main system, but doesn't have decent soundstaging. This is attributed mostly to speaker set-up ... horizontal placement on shelves inside of bookcases, sitting about 5 feet high. The speaker set-up looks like this: [o O] [O o]; with the tweeters on the outside. It works well enough as the speakers are an acoustic suspension design and can handle near wall/shelf placement. The sound has decent clarity and punch to it and is probably where most of my music listening is done.

At some point, I think that you will wind up selling the Rainmakers and pick up something designed to work well on bookshelves and/or close to rear wall placements.

Reagards, Rich
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,811 posts
 
Roger:

There is always the $200 or so solution. Try a pair of basic Orb Speakers or the Nucleus Micro Speakers from Gallo. These little cubes were made for set-ups like yours and their design actually compensates for the associated room anomalies. If the cubes are not to your liking, try a pair of NHT SB-1's which can be had for under $200 if you shop around. They are acoustic suspension design and can be placed on shelves; near rear walls and perform beautifully. The SB-2's are the only speaker that I have been pleased with in a similar bedroom set-up. Then you can save the Totems for when you can use them as you would like.

Regards, Rich
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,811 posts
 
Roger:

Well ... sometimes audiophiles (assuming that I am one) do go into speaker set-up knowing that there are major compromises to be made. The speakers in my bedroom system are on top of a bookcase that is 70 inches high. So, I would need to stand on the bed to reach the sweet spot (there is a beaut of a pun somewhere in that sentence). Without the use of tone controls (lower the bass by 2 clicks), the sound would be noticeably off to my ears. If I didn't place the speakers there, I would be reduced to a nightstand radio.

A few years back, I had one high flying cat and so placing speakers high and out of harm's way was the only way to protect the speakers. (She was impressive to watch though) My guess is when the twins are old enough to topple things over, you may need to "child-proof" the house and may consider floorstanders or keep speakers on shelves at that time.

Best of luck.

Regards, Rich
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