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Weird Speaker Placement Configurations


My latest listening room has presented me with many challenges, because it is not only a listening room, but also a "music room", study and spare living room.

So fitting everything, including a piano, a big desk and two sofas, working around a glass pocket door and fireplace, while accomodating Magneplanar Tympanis has been no small feat.

In the end, my solution has me sitting with my back in the corner of the room behind the desk most of the time.

This has me wondering: could it be possible to successfully fire speakers diagonally across a room?

Obviously there has been lots of discussion of short vs long walls, distance from walls etc. but is it possible to create the classic triangle where the speakers vary in their distances from their respective boundaries in the room?

Or would this create obvious problems?

Of course I can also experiment, but experimentation can be a full day's work with Tympanis.

Has anyone stumbled into success with an unusual or unexpected placement of their speakers?

Thank you,
cwlondon
mcondo
202 posts
 
I am forced into a diagonal placement and am pleased with the result. For a while I fretted over all the talk of reflections, standing waves etc but as I became more educated on the topic realized I had none of these issues - or at least they were minor. My only issue is a lack of a very wide and deep soundstage, which may be caused in part by an armoir in the middle of the corner diagonal against the wall (TV & components are within the armoir). Jim Smith's book talks a little about this placement in a positive manner. I found that using his grid system with a centerline helped with bass response.
saki70
907 posts
 
I too have my setup on the diagonal . It is exactly on a diagonal in relation to the corners , the speakers and listening chair . I also have the same problem as Mcondo ie. all of my soundstage is between and behind the speakers and at the same height . But no anomolies as to sound quality !

This is in a square room where I have tried three different amps , two different pairs of speakers and two different CDP's all giving the same results . I assume that it is the setup and not the equipment . I have tried a futon cushion and then a piece of plywood in the corner behind the speakers and could not discern any changes .
I have noticed that Bdgregory's diagonal setup is off axis . That is , to one side of the corner . I wonder if that might make a difference with the soundstage ?

Any comments ?
rcrerar
215 posts
 
Saki70; Yes having the placement off axis even when oriented diagonally in the listening room is just as important as with a more traditional placement. Even with the diagonal set up asymmetrical placement of the loudspeakers is still undesirable for all of the same reasons.
saki70
907 posts
 
Rcrerar ;
So if you move the speakers off to one side do you then move your listening position to compliment it ?
In other words , if you shift the speakers to the right of diagonaly true would you then move your listeing position to the left an equal amount so as to stay directly in front of the speakers or square to them ?

And this will improve the soundstage ?

Thank you .
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 
I hope I am not confusing any previous questions...but to the advocates of "diagonal" placement:

I assume the usual triangle still applies? Where the speakers still fire on axis to a listening "sweet spot"? And each speaker is still equidistant to the listener?

But diagonal placement would create UNequal distances behind and in front of the speakers as well as to their sides and thus, first reflection points?
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