Best to check out Floyd Toole's "Sound Reproduction"' book before you go any further. It will make your changes easier.
Room for discussion?
I might move the stereo to a new room. Are these good dimensions, sonically?
XXXXXXXXXXXX<----WINDOW AREA-- ~75”…XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXX }………………………………....................................................XXXXXX
XXXX…} 24 ½”………………………….................................................... XXXXX
|||XX……}¯……………… WIDTH HERE ~ 125 “ .…………………. ………XXX
D………………………………............................................................................... .X
O………………………………............................................................................... .X
O………………………………............................................................................... .X
R………………………………............................................................................... .X
W………………………………................................................................................X
A………………. >>……………………………... X
Y………………………………............................................................................... .X
|||………………………………............................................................................... ..X
X……………………………….................................................................................X
X……………………………….................................................................................X
X……………………………….................................................................................X
X……………………………….................................................................................X
X………………………………......./\………………………………........................X
X………………………………....... |…………………………….............................X
X………………………………....... |…………………………….............................X X…….……………….…….......LENGTH ~ 210 “……………………………........X
X………………………………....... |…………………………….............................X
X………………………………....... |…………………………….............................X X……………………………….......V………………………………........................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X…… XXXX XX…...... ….. WIDTH HERE = 155” .....….............….XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX<----WINDOW AREA-- ~75”…XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXX }………………………………....................................................XXXXXX
XXXX…} 24 ½”………………………….................................................... XXXXX
|||XX……}¯……………… WIDTH HERE ~ 125 “ .…………………. ………XXX
D………………………………............................................................................... .X
O………………………………............................................................................... .X
O………………………………............................................................................... .X
R………………………………............................................................................... .X
W………………………………................................................................................X
A………………. >>……………………………... X
Y………………………………............................................................................... .X
|||………………………………............................................................................... ..X
X……………………………….................................................................................X
X……………………………….................................................................................X
X……………………………….................................................................................X
X……………………………….................................................................................X
X………………………………......./\………………………………........................X
X………………………………....... |…………………………….............................X
X………………………………....... |…………………………….............................X X…….……………….…….......LENGTH ~ 210 “……………………………........X
X………………………………....... |…………………………….............................X
X………………………………....... |…………………………….............................X X……………………………….......V………………………………........................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X………………………………..................................................................................X
X…… XXXX XX…...... ….. WIDTH HERE = 155” .....….............….XXXXXXXX
16 responses Add your response
Buconero: Checking into that book a little bit, it's 576 pages long and sells for 45 bucks. The reviews on Amazon are uniformly positive and the author appears to be held in high regard. My guess is that after reading a book like this, I'd really know a lot more about loudspeakers (assuming I could understand what he's saying). But that may be just a teensy weensy bit of an overambitious reading task for someone like me, who has very little time even for listening. So, are you aware of anything more.....condensed? |
Jim Smith's Get Good Sound is pretty quick and easy reading, I would recommend it. Can you put the speakers on the 155" wall? 125" is a little narrow for my blood. I would say, curtain the windows in the back (by my design), place the speakers about 3' into the room, 8' apart and toed in slightly to start. Put your equipment on one of the side walls, amp between the speakers - one long interconnect and shortish speaker cables. You may end up wanting room treatments in all four corners. feel free to contact me if you would like more help |
If your speakers are to big to move there for a trial,maybe you can try a smaller pair in your present and new room.Use a receiver or something basic to compare the rooms sonic signature.You might get a starter idea of what the room might sound like (big flaws).The size alone is hard to go on.The materials,those built in items could really play games with the sonic characteristics.A trial with a spare system,if you have one couldn't hurt. |
Buff, Thanks for the tips. Could I just have the room that YOU'RE using for that absolutely gorgeous virtual system of yours????? Yes, I can put the speakers along the long wall. Hifitime, That's a good idea that I hadn't thought of. Not sure whether it will be possible to do or not. Although not huge, the speakers I have ARE heavy, with granite cabinets. Thanks, guys! |
This is a great question. My room is almost the same dimensions. Right now I have the speakers on the long wall. The speakers are six feet apart from the center of the tweeters and my ear is around 7.5 feet from each speaker. The rear of the speakers are 28" from the front wall. Very little toe in. I'm sitting against the rear wall. My ears are about 8" from the rear wall. I still feel I'm sitting to close to the speakers this way. I was thinking of trying the speakers on the short wall. But then i'm not sure the room is wide enough that way. |
Thanks for the responses so far. Dave: Current room: 20 ft 10 in x 15 ½ ft x 9 ft (ceiling height) Possible room: 17 ½ x ~13 x 8 ½ to 9 feet (I think that’s right for the ceiling height). Something to remember: the new room would NOT have Gladys sitting between the speakers. |
Bill Hoover, I must amend my response: I am neurotic. It would drive me crazy not knowing what the new room may yield in terms of performance gains. If you tend not to be so crazily compelled, note... Your current perf resulted in a scintillatingly positive review, particularly noting the mind-blowing imaging. Since the primary Gladys question is imaging compromise, it would probably be easier to at least initially temporarily remove her and note the effect. Mentally scanning the proposed transferral experiment: not only will equipment movement be involved, but you will really have to exhaust all speaker position possibilities (assuming 155" wall only) and definitely preferably some room treatments before a determination can be made. At ~250 lbs a Summit side, the work total work and time required may significantly exceed that which is necessary to temporarily excise Gladys. 155" = 13'. This vs 20'. Very significant distance to sidewall difference. 6' vs 2.5, assuming 8' separation. You will almost certainly have to room treat to absorb that first sidewall reflection. Even if successfully effected, this may not yield the expansive soundstage to which you are accustom. Room volume: 2930 vs 2160, app. Substantial difference. I doubt you'll achieve the bass energy development and overall scale of performance in the small vs the large, current room. If the Summits had trouble driving big room, there would be no question about moving, but we know that certainly is not the case. In summation: 1) If it's driving you nutz, move. 2) If it's driving you quasi-nutz -- Gladys removal experiment. 3) None of the above -- leave it alone. It is possible Gladys has a positive effect on what sounds like superb extant bass performance. (Open to correction on all of this guys). Dave |