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some help with speaker placement/purchase

I'm hoping to buy some new speakers. I'm most likely considering stand speakers or possibly compact floor standing speakers ($5-$15k). Without getting into the weeds, I have two possible rooms for listening, and the most likely room has limited/compromised space for speakers: in front of a big bank of windows. I can set them up about 2.5' off the windows/wall but not more than that. 

I've had speakers that need room to breathe (e.g., Magnepan) and I know my room isn't ideal. If I use that room, I'll have to consider some "room treatment" (curtains!) and maybe pull them out, away from the wall/windows, for serious listening. Or I may just use the other room, which would give me more space to work with and no window problems but would be less ideal for a few reasons; or I may decided that, given my space, it's not worth buying high-end speakers at all.

So here's my question. Other than a home audition, is there a good way to know whether a speaker is forgiving about placement? Are certain speaker brands known to be more forgiving about the space behind them? Would one size (stand or floor) be inherently better? And specifically: would a ported speaker in general be worse/better or does it just depend entirely on the speaker/room? (I'm intentionally not naming the speakers I plan to audition--I don't want to go down the speaker-recommendation rabbit hole at the moment--but I can name names if it helps; I'm trying to ask a general question here.)

I would appreciate any thought about purchasing speakers that might end up in front of a bank of windows. As always, thank you to this great forum for all the advice!
northman

Showing 1 response by mike_in_nc

mike_in_nc
1,171 posts
 
Speakers with controlled directivity tend to be more forgiving of placement (such speakers usually do not give a wide sweet spot). Still, a wall of glass behind the speakers is not going to give a happy result. Perhaps with sufficient absorption and diffusion on the wall behind the listener, it can be made to work. Maybe, also, drapes can be used behind the speakers when listening.

Dutch & Dutch, Janszen, and Kii are some of the brands that make speakers with controlled dispersion. Also, many pro monitors (e.g., Genelec) are made that way, and are designed to work close to the wall. I have a pair of Janszen Valentinas (a/k/a zA2.1), which match your budget and are indeed compact floor-standing speakers, and I like them a lot. They are hybrid electrostatics, but are not dipoles; they are quite neutral and low in distortion.
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