Corner Placement

Map,

Audio Note AN-e speakers are rear ported.

I think they are adequate for sound stage depth although not their priority. I’ve had very critical audio friends over and they commented that they were not expecting sound stage depth and were surprised. I think some of that depth is enhanced by the texture of the mids created by drivers and as mentioned above the carefully braced wooden enclosure and also the rear port. Add to it a 10 watt DHT SET amp and the texture and depth are increased. Over all sound stage is big rich and textured. I feel no dissatisfaction. The combination of a SET amp and these speakers seem to create a different type of depth. A depth created by a beautiful mid range texture. I frequently go to my friends NYC apartment and hear YG speakers driven by CH electronics that are positioned into the room that have amazing depth but unless one has a dedicated listen room having speakers protruding into a living space is usually a problem. At least it would be for me. The depth of the YG/CH system is different than my AN/DHT SET system. I hear the difference and appreciate both approaches. They both have virtues. Some folks use AN-e’s out into the room but I’ve never heard them positioned like that.

You are correct, very careful placement in relation to the corners/rear wall will either add or subtract to the bass, texture and depth. Even as little as an inch either in or out will change the sound. My speakers are about 5 inches from the back wall and what is counter intuitive is if I pull them away from the back wall, I get more bass/depth and if pushed closer less bass. That rear port is most likely having quite a bit of influence. Using silver speaker cables vs copper will also change the bass, texture and depth and require a slight change in position in relation to the corner.

As Erik mentions above I also believe their sensitivity is enhanced by corner placement and very much wife approved since they integrate nicely into our living space. 

I’m doing the corner placement experiments in a smaller room (12X12) where I find it harder to get soundstage depth. I value soundstage depth but this is not my main listening room so I am willing to make a tradeoff there especially since options there are limited.

Having the speakers in the corner out of the way of traffic in a small room is a nice benefit.

With the AN corner placement setups I have heard, the merits overall always seem to outweigh any deficiencies in soundstage depth compared to most in that regard.

I think you have to have a larger room in most all cases for the best soundstage depth, though I have heard it done quite well many times in smaller rooms with careful setup.

The benchmark demo for soundstage depth and imaging accuracy within was mbl 111e demo at United Home Audio a few years back. The gear and showroom were just maxed out in this regard beyond most anything else I have ever heard.

My OHMS and other speakers do a decent job at home in regards to soundstage depth but I do not have a room that really facilitates anything like what United Home Audio was able to do in their showroom.

Yes I can easily see where bass reinforcement provided by corner placement would greatly benefit use of low power SET or other amps ie use the room to best effect provide the extra boost likely needed and not there otherwise.   makes perfect sense.

My big OHM F5 series 3 speakers have 4 3 way level adjustments on each speaker.   The one for the low bass is labeled corner/wall/free or something to that effect ie low bass level can be adjusted to compensate for placement within the room.  I've found this to be a most useful feature to help get the speakers best integrated into the room.    Also John Strohbeen at OHM typically recommends speaker models based on room size ie how big is needed to properly load a room.    That's a  useful metric that most vendors pay little attention to.  It means you may not need the top of the line biggest model to get the best sound possible in teh line in any particular room, so the end cost typically depends mainly on room size.

inna the AN setups I've heard had more soundstage depth than I would have thought and did not seem really 2-dimensional either, just not as much as many other good setups.   Plus other than that the AN setups at these shows continuously seem to be among my favorites.

Knowing what can be done otherwise, would that bother me over the long term?  Not sure.  My experimenting at home will help me answer that question.

One thing I am pretty sure of if I ever decide to take the plunge and add a SET amp system, which I have almost done many times to-date, I am pretty sure I would now definitely go with a corner placement arrangement of some sort. It seems to have the most advantages going for it and makes the flea powered tube amp option much more desirable for me.  WAF of corner placement helps a lot!

Mapman - I am with you, have always been intrigued by a setup like that.  I love everytime I have heard one and it is totally opposite from my long term rig - Thiel speakers and a big powerful SS amp.

I have also heard the MBL setup at the old UHA and it was incredible.  They temporarily hooked me but it is so much money.  I almost sprung for some speakers....just barely almost!

Jetrexpro, great description of your system - I would love to hear it!