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imaging and speaker placement with tv in center

I have a long room 27 wide by 15 deep which is my music room (8' ceilings). I have my speakers 10 ft apart with the stereo cabinet (CWD lowboy) between them and slightly recessed from the speakers which are 26 inches from the back wall. My 36 inch behemoth Proton tv sits on the lowboy. The imaging is great, with soundstage larger than the speakers and at times depth farther back than the wall itself. I get pinpoint imaging that seems to eminate from where the tv is in the centered position.

The speakers are Von Schweikert Vortex Screens (somewhat similar to the VR4's) low driver 28 " off the floor and mids and highs mounted in separate cabinet section above. These speakers have a transparent nature to them, they sound like sound eminating in space, with no hint of cabinet coloration - even though they are 4.5 foot tall monsters. By walking around the speakers one can determine that they do not radiate sound off axis 90 degrees so I don't see that TV between them would interfere with the image, as it's slightly recessed back from the side axis of the speaker. Sometimes the cabinet doors are open for ventilation which could affect the imaging a little (I can always take these off, no spousal unit or gf to confound things cosmetically)

I am in a near field setup. Speakers 11 ' from me and 10 feet apart, 28 inches from speaker backs to the wall (speakers 14" deep). Speakers toed in an inch. My couch is against the back wall, so no back wall reverberation. The side walls are 9 and 6 feet away for cosmetic and traffic flow reasons.

I use the system primarily for music, but it also serves as a great two channel movie setup (not into 5 channel HT).

I have three questions
1) should/does the tv disctract from the imaging?

2) how far from the backwall?

I checked the archives for speaker placement and saw the Cardas setup. His depth to backwall calculation of width x .447 seems ridiculous or only applies to setups where the speakers are along the short wall. For my setup 27' x .447 says the speakers should be 12' off my back wall, or 3 feet from me. Or 6.7 feet if the width is really the short wall distance for calculations, still well out into the room

My setup seems to be very nice from an imaging standpoint, but I would like to fine tune things if possible. I don't have any special room treatments - carpeted, some posterboard music posters on side and back walls

3) does anyone have room placement formulas or recommendations for placing speakers on the long wall like my 27x15 setup? the cardas setup doesn't seem to hold here, except the equilateral triangle end

thanks

Tom
128x128audiotomb
garfish
1,840 posts
 
I agree with those above who say "if it ain't broke....etc". But if you'd like to try something else, I like the Vandersteen formulae which is an "odd dimensions" placement.

Measure the rooms length and width in inches, then divide these measurements by 1/3, 1/5, 1/7, 1/9 etc. Put the speaker center at one of these distances from the long and short walls. Of course the 1/3 line puts your speakers well out into the room, and this is often not acceptable for various reasons. But, I was able to use the 1/5 line which put the speakers about 54" from the back wall of my 14 X 22' room (speakers on short wall).

If you have your speakers placed on the 27' wall, this formula would have them 36" from the back wall using the 1/5 placement, 1/5 X 180" = 36". Interestingly, the 1/7 line, which in your case is 25.7" from the back wall is almost identical to your present placement of 26" out. Happy Tweaking. Craig
tom_nice
387 posts
 
Since I've already said that I put a 7-tube Room Lens copy in front of my TV set (which sits between Quad ESL 63's), let me add that I had previously tried several layers of a thick blanket, and the Room Lens worked MUCH, MUCH better. This could be because my room is on the edge of having too much absorption, and might not apply to all rooms. But if you can try a row of wine bottles, say, raised to a suitable height, I'd compare that with the blanket. They'll diffuse without absorbing, and that could be what's best for you.
gregg_c
36 posts
 
I hate to be someone going against the grain here; however, I have never thought of the "golden rules" as having anything to do with imaging. I would suggest prior to even trying to fine-tune imaging, checking frequency respones with a test cd. If your speakers can remain flat, at your listening position, you will do more for realistic sound than worrying about your TV interferring with imaging. In my experience, I haven't had that much trouble dialing in imaging once I found good frequency response. Besides, if imaging and soundstage are a high priority, try Synergistic Research's Designer's Reference interconnects with active shielding. I believe Garfish will support me on this--you will take imaging and soundstage to whole nother level.

I could be off the mark here but I thought I would throw out my 2 cents.

Gregg
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