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Structural beam in middle of listening room

Hello,
Room is 13'X20' with a steel structural beam(covered with wood strips)11' from the short wall behind the speakers, Wilson Sophia 2 with Pass XA30.8 amp.
I am down to twp positions.
Either the speaker woofers 4' from the rear wall behind and 6' apart with the listening chair just in front of the column and 7' from the woofers, or the speakers 6' from the rear wall(per Cardas rec) and the listening chair 2' behind the column so I'm looking at the column. Aesthetics aside, would you expect any adverse sonic effects from the column in front of the listening position?
Thanks,
Joe

jferro
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
jferr0- Not trying to be a fuss-budget, but is it a beam (horizontal) or a column (vertical).  Obviously, two very different situations.
jferro OP
13 posts
 
Swamp,
It is a 4inch diameter vertical column and it can be either right behind my head or about 2 feet in front of my face.
Bob,
This system is about 2 months new for me after 25 years in this hobby. Started in college with a DIY Dynaco st70 clone and Spica TC 50s, had a 15 year affair with Maggies and most recently had Odyssey Stratos with Loreleis which are phenomenal sound for the dollar.
The Pass/Wilsons are my dream system.
 Before my second child 8 years ago,  I had season tickets to the the NY Phiharmonic 2nd row center. The nearer field setup is remarkably close to that while the further out field is more mid-orchestra. I just wonder if the column could have adverse acoustic effects.
Best,
Joe



swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
If it were me, the column right in front of my face would be a psychological non-starter. I'm no acoustician, but diffraction effects would seem to me to be more significant on direct sound rather than reflected from the rear wall.  OTOH, if you prefer mid-orchestra I'd go that way; if you prefer 2nd row, I'd go that way.  IOW, there is no right answer. 
mike_f
53 posts
 
I basically have the same type of room in my basement-14' x 25'.
the support column is right behind my head, and this gives me 12' from the front wall.  I could sit further away and have more "breathing room" for the speakers if I went further back, but then the column would be in front of me -  I don't think acoustically the sound would suffer much, but psychologically-  "looking" at the column would screw me up (unless I deemed the lights really low) hey there's an idea - listen in the dark 😁
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,377 posts
 
I am with swampwalker. The beam in front would be a big issue, especially since the symmetry of the sound waves would be compromised. The beam behind your head is alright and you can manage with treating it with some sort of acoustic treatment.
You can check the pictures in my main system. I have a beam just behind and to the left of my listening position. That was the best I could do without compromising too much on sound.
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