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Equipment between speakers...

I've heard this over and over again, but wonder what the details are. I've just removed my cabinet and the equipment is on 3" platforms on the floor and on the fireplace hearth (at least I think it's a hearth). It does indeed seem much more interesting from a sound-stage perspective, with added resolution. This may be spurious, as there are other changes happening at the same time.

Nevertheless, my question for those in the know is... If I had a 13' wide, by 9' high front wall with my speakers 4' out from that wall, would a wall-to-wall book shelf with books, records, equipment (lets say 18" deep) be helpful or harmful? if helpful (difusing), then what of all this "don't put your equipment between your speakers" stuff? If harmful, is it the fact that the equipment is between the speakers or that there is anything between the speakers (other than wall)?

Given the choice, would you have the book shelf with equipment strategically (and artfully) placed, or would you have a dedicated audio stand (and not bookshelf) in between, or have nothing but wall in between (with equipment off to the side and long speaker cable runs).

Many thanks, as always.

Cheers
hatari
rrog
1,958 posts
 
"Nothing" between the speakers is your best bet. You are already beginning to hear the affects and you will hear more as time goes on. Once you are familiar with the difference of having "nothing" between the speakers you can't go back. You can leave your amp or amps on the floor and run a long interconnect to a side wall. Most good preamps shouldn't have a problem running a 20'-25' interconnect.

Now that you have progressed this far you will actually be able to hear changes in the system as you make improvements.

This is why High End Audio and Home Theater don't mix. There is nothing worse than a big screen TV between your speakers.
rodman99999
6,206 posts
 
The bookcase idea would actually get you a bit more depth to your sound stage, by the diffusion of your system's back waves. It would also go far to eliminate slap echo/resonance nodes in the room. If you are using planars; equipment actually between the speakers is not as great an issue, as they are quite beamy. Box speakers need a clear space between them, for the best propagation of sound waves. You are not talking about anything BETWEEN the speakers anyway.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,351 posts
 
Post more pictures of your entire room. The one picture on your system page could be misleading, but it does look like you're leaving much of your system's potential untapped.
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