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Speaker placement Quandary

Where to begin here? My question is that in my experience with speaker placement I "think" that it is best to have your speakers well out into the room to achieve the best in soundstage width and especially depth? For example my Legacy Focus XD's are 6.5 feet into the room from front baffle to front wall. I messed with them quite a bit but never went closer to the front wall than that in fear of losing that well spaced out soundstage or emphasizing bass.. Imagery seems rather good as well. The "sound" comes from deep into the front wall not near the speaker plane. I see many listening rooms (in forum members setups, you tube, etc) that seem to follow this thinking and I also see some rather sophisticated expensive high end systems (in dedicated rooms so no WAF effect) that have their speakers just 1-2 feet off the front wall between the rear of the speaker. Is this an element of a different preference in listening? Wouldn't the soundstage become flatter? Is there some tonal advantages to this? I realize some speakers are designed to be closer such as some Wilsons and it seems many the the B&W's end up like this.  I understand that locating speakers is room dependant and a huge variable too. 

 

My speakers weigh 140 pounds each and I have them sitting on Via Blue decouplers so I cannot move them by myself and replace them on the footers, so I have not tried to move them closer to the front wall. Additionally they are rear ported and as I understand it's best to keep them away from the wall. 

 

As many of you have probably experimented with speaker placements, what have you found that gives you that nice expansive soundstage and imagery  in your rooms? 

Also is it more an issue with room modes too?

 

My room is 14w X 18L x 7H  My speakers are 6.5" out, 39" off side walls and 8 feet apart measured from center of front baffle.. My listening position is 9.5 feet (Of the side triangle measurements) from the front baffles and I sit about 4 feet off the rear wall. I have side wall treatments, rear wall diffusion, front wall diffusion and bass absorption. 

 

I am not really looking for placement suggestions unless you see a real flaw here. I just wonder how so many different configurations work so well regarding less distance between speakers and the front wall? Thoughts?

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Showing 3 responses by newbee

newbee
4,751 posts
 

I have box speakers, ports on rear, 3way. My room is similar to yours except a bit larger in all dimensions and a 9' ceiling. Regarding 'depth of image' minimum distance from the wall behind them is 4ft. Best imaging is about 5'. Speakers 9.5' apart and 10.5 ' distanced from chair in a triangle set up. No commercial wall treatments but lots of drapes, bookcases, etc, strategically placed. 

Your present set up sounds good, on paper at least.  Before you move them consider that you might not improve imaging that much but you might experience some bass changes (for good or bad?). 

newbee
4,751 posts
 

OP (and Skinzy), I don’t know what you are using as a reference for ’depth of image’ but ’depth of image’ is not so much because of set up, once you have a good set up drilled down, i.e. 5’ +/- from the wall behind the speakers and first reflection points deadened or diffused, and not so much toe in which is mainly to help with reducing side wall reflections, as it is what is on your recording.

If you do not already have one, that you get a recording that has depth of image imbedded because of the recording of the music. I used a recording by Opus 3 called Depth of Image. This is not a real ’test’ disc, so much as a compilation of music by a bunch of Swedes playing a mix of pop/classic/jazz music using great recording technics. I have heard this played over a SOTA system and it is truly holographic. It can be spooky real! I highly recommend it. It can be found on CD or vinyl. I preferred the vinyl but the CD works as well. Good luck.

newbee
4,751 posts
 

Not really. They are all excellent but different musical formats and instruments. I don't know about downloads, but the CD's and Vinyl recordings came with a description of each cut and what was on display sonically. You really need that. 

I enjoyed track #5, a polka from Shostakovich's Bolt, played by a 'symphonic band', Track #6 South American Pan Pipes, Track #7 Male singer with Guitar, Track #4, Jazz from the 20's, and Track #2, Guitar Music. 

Opus 3 also had several other similar 'test' discs covering other areas but I don't recall their names or if they are currently available. For myself, Depth of Image was enough.

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