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Sonus Faber Olympica III speaker placement

I am looking to any Sonus Faber Olympica owners out there regarding your optimal speaker location in your room.  I know it is room dependent (room acoustics and dimensions), but trying to see if there is some consensus to make the process a little easier.  

What I'm most interested is the speaker distance from the rear wall, side all, and the distance between the speakers.  My room is a standard rectangular room: 25 ft long x 16 ft. wide x 8 ft high. Any other personal setup advice would be greatly appreciated, as I know this can have a huge impact on the speaker soundstage, bass, and overall sound quality.  Feel free to share your experience.  
djfst
6 responses Add your response
markmendenhall
223 posts
 
Finally got a chance to spend some quality time listening to my Olympica iii's over the weekend. What a rewarding experience!  Mine are about two feet from the rear wall, 4'-5' in from the side walls, approx 9' apart and slightly toed in.  The baffles face inward.  My initial listening a month ago did not exactly blow my hair back but after some extended time listening to several genres of music I am beginning to understand what all the many very positive reviews which led to their purchase are all about.  This is a very fine set of loudspeakers!  Refined, great sense of spacing, big soundstage, very good and tuneful bass, very emotionally involving.  Nice linearity; played loudly everything remained intact, not a whisper of stridency, everything remained balanced and in its place.  Finesse blended with a great sense of weight and control. I'm not skilled or experienced enough of an audiophile to find anything to complain about or find fault with.  These are as nice as any speakers I've had the pleasure to hear! 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

djfst

From the back wall, are these measurement to the front of the speaker (where the tweeter is, etc), or the back of the speaker? The Olympicas are pretty elongated so that would make a big difference.

I will start experimenting. On one of the side walls, there is a window that is difficult to avoid, so instead of being 3 feet from a "side wall," it is 3 feet from a window. Any suggestions on how much a side window will affect this and any suggestions overall?


Those 1/3rd or 1/5th measurement placements, are to cancel bass standing wave problems in rooms.

The odd ratios of measurements in my last post are to the bass drivers cone and from walls or very large sliding glass balcony type doors.

Tweeter direction angles are another thing again and are for imaging adjustments, and like I said I like the tweeter just crossing over behind my head.


Cheers George

soundqcar
78 posts
 
All of my measurements are to the tweeter.

Some people might feel differently, but I believe glass of any kind to be killers in the pursuit of good sound. If it’s a window that has to be used, then maybe a thick noise cancelling drape to cover it. My window on my front wall didn’t need to be functional, so I form fitted some double wall cardboard into the opening, painted the side facing outside black, then used room treatment to cover that. Very noticeable difference with and without the cardboard....as glass will vibrate and smear and thin out your end result.

My $.02
djfst OP
169 posts
 
From the back wall, are these measurement to the front of the speaker (where the tweeter is, etc), or the back of the speaker?  The Olympicas are pretty elongated so that would make a big difference.  

I will start experimenting.  On one of the side walls, there is a window that is difficult to avoid, so instead of being 3 feet from a "side wall," it is 3 feet from a window.  Any suggestions on how much a side window will affect this and any suggestions overall?
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

This is what an Aussie, Neville Thiel (RIP) of the Thiel & Small parameters, that all driver/box are calculated on once told me, and it works a treat.

To try to cancel any bass standing wave problems, odd ratio measurements should be applied, never even ratios.

 Best: the third rule to the bass driver should be applied, and if that is not practical then 2nd best do fifths, 3rd best is 7th's

So for 3rds in a 22' x 16' = 7.3' from the back wall and 5.3' from the side wall 

For fifth's = 4.4' from the back wall and 3.2' from the side wall

Or you can use a combination of 1/3's and 1/5s'

You can't do much about the floor ceiling measurement, and your toe-in is up to you, I like the tweeters crossing over just behind my head. 

Cheers George    

soundqcar
78 posts
 
I have the Olympica III's in a dedicated listening room measuring 22' x 16' x 9'.

I have them 50" from the front wall, 44" from the sides, 104" between the speakers, with my ears exactly 104" to each tweeter. They are toed in so they fire just outside of my shoulders. With this setup, in my room, they absolutely disappear and throw a huge, well-focused stage, with bass as tight as a nut.

YMMV....

Hope this helps...
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