There are many who will argue that a rack or TV or both between speakers is bad, and they are probably right. However, for many of us it is impossible not to do it that way. I have my rack and a large television between my speakers, and I do have a very large soundstage. My particular situation is helped greatly by the fact that my speakers are horns, which help direct the sound where I want it to go. My point here, though, is not to argue for horns, but to say that it is possible to make such a set up you describe work very well, even if it is not completely ideal. All anyone can do is the best they can with what they have to work with, and there are many ways to do it.
Is rack between speakers always less than ideal?
I am planning a dedicated stereo system around a pair of standmounts but not sure what to do about gear placement. I can either have a tall rack off to the side or a low wide rack in the center. I am leaning toward center rack to avoid long interconnects.
The center rack would be 6 inches behind the plane of the rear of the speaker and would be about 75% of the speaker stand height. Width is approximately from the inside of one speaker to the inside of the other.
I understand that TV's and large objects directly in between the speakers can affect soundstage but what about something not technically between the speakers but slightly behind and below? Would something like this be sonically invisible, or would having "nothing" there be even better?
The center rack would be 6 inches behind the plane of the rear of the speaker and would be about 75% of the speaker stand height. Width is approximately from the inside of one speaker to the inside of the other.
I understand that TV's and large objects directly in between the speakers can affect soundstage but what about something not technically between the speakers but slightly behind and below? Would something like this be sonically invisible, or would having "nothing" there be even better?