Help Total Confusion


I just read where placing your equipment rack between your speakers is a no-no, collapsing sounstage, boomy bass, etc.

My problem is that I don't have a choice. So would it be better to buy a taller, thinner rack, creating more vertical space around my speakers, or a low slung, wider rack, creating more horizontal space around the speakers?

My speakers are monitors (Tyler Acoustic Linbrooks) and all my listening is near field, about 7 to 71/2 feet from listening chair. The speakers are 8 feet apart now and I detect a small hole in the center of the soundstage, so moving them closer an inch or two might be helpful.

I'm almost ready to buy a new rack, but none of the accesible stores will let me give the furniture a trial run, which I find curious because they'll all let me audition components in-home. Thanks so much in advance for your suggestions and comments fellow 'goners.

Dan
tbadder
I have my equipment between my speakers, set back about 2 feet, and I have put a DIY Argent room lens, centered between the speakers, just a few inches in front of the equipment, as Elgordo says, and my soundstage and image focus is awesome. I also have room lenses flanking the outside of each speaker, and one behind the listening chair.
I have a 57" widescreen TV in the middle of my speakers. My speakers are about 2 feet closer to me than my TV. When I completely cover up my TV with a large sheet of duct board, which is made of 1 inch thick fiberglass, my soundstage becomes more transparent / open. There is definitely alot of audio energy coming off the back and sides of speakers. So, the audio rack or TV in the center of the speakers reflects alot of sound.
As others have said, you can make this work fine. Move your speakers out as much as you can. If you lack center fill they're either too far apart or you might try a bit more toe-in. Try pointing in until the center image is solid with a full-width stage.
When you say "between the speakers" do you mean it literally, as "actually between the speakers" or somewhat behind the plane of the speakers? While I cannot say that tremendous improvement has occurred, I did change my rather large rack 50"tall X 22"wide X 19"deep)for something that is not as deep (15")and not as high (32"). This resides along the front wall. Since the speakers are 44" from that wall, I am confident that the sound is not adversely affected. I think that the whole vibration thing is bogus. No valid proof exists that ss or even tubes, which are more microphonic, are affected by vibration. TTs are another story altogether. I do feel, however, that having any kind of furniture around the speakers and between speakers and listener affects the acoustics and should be avoided. Other than that, I wouldn't lose any sleep over these questions. Keep it as far from the speakers, as low and as narrow as you can insofar as furniture, racks etc. are concerned and enjoy the music. Good day.
I have an entertainment center (about 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide) between (but 2 or 3 feet behind) my speakers, and I don't notice any negative affects. I suppose it might sound better if it wasn't there...maybe...but what I don't know won't hurt me, will it? I think it's probably more important to worry about the space in front of the drivers.