How do I "compromise" speaker placement


When a flat response is not possible, how does one place speakers?
I would imagine that every time a freq gets flattened another peak/dip gets introduced in another freq?
So how does one "compromise" with the placements?
Do I simply use the flattest response?
Or perhaps, certain frequencies are more significant than others? Meaning, even if one placement introduces less dips (or peaks) across all frequencies, there might be more dips introduced in the bass area. Or the human voice range?

I have a very small room: 18' x 11'2" x 8'. I am having a professional take readings at 8 possible placements. I'm not sure what to do once I get the response graphs.
captaincapitalism

Showing 5 responses by captaincapitalism

Helps a lot. Thanks. I will research.
I want to take baby steps for now.
Acoustic treatment is not an option.

For step #1 I want to do speaker placement. I have a very small room so there is not that much leeway. I figure there are about 8 positions each main can go. (That's counting 1 inch increments.) I hired a professional to move the speakers and give me response graphs for each placement. He's coming in 2 weeks.

Also, I want to take a few measurements to see if my sub placement near the L main interferes too much with L main. I would give up a flatter bass response for a flatter main response.
I see possibilities:
I can simply take the flattest response.
Or I can take the flattest bass response.
Or I can choose the flattest human voice range response.
Very cool room BTW.
Thanks.
But from what I can tell from your picts.
Old pics. Sorry. The actual room is the same, but I did many tweaks over the years. A professional once cam and moved the speakers by ears. I also bought a BIG 2 seater HT seat. I put curtains to block off the bay window amongst many other tweaks. I also have an EQ.

I will have around 8 possible response graphs for every speaker based on different placements.

My current plan in order of priority:
1) The placement that has the least BIG peaks.
2) The placement that has the least BIG dips.
3) Flattest Bass Response
Actually your room is not quite that small. A bit narrow but otherwise I'd consider this a smaller mid-size room.
I only have 8' usable width. I have fire place on 1 side and bookshelves on the other. I also have cabinets in the fron and back of the room. So even though the room might no be so small, usable space is.
Finally use a PEQ or TACT or PARC to fix the worst of the room modes
I decided on the Audyssey EQ after auditioning for some time. I auditioned 2 other EQ's.

Rule of thumb - speakers placed well out into the room will excite less room modes. Keep away from side walls (at least three feet).
Not possible. 3 feet off the wall in a 11’2” width will have the mains less than 4 feet apart. The speakers are about a foot in width.