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Experimenting with Speaker Room Placement

Hi - was having troubles with my room, which is 12 wide by 20 long, so logically I was thinking put the speakers on the shorter 12ft wall and sit back about 11-12 feet so I'd have more room between listener and the speakers. But tried my PSB towers, PSB bookshelfs, Bose Bookshelves, JBL bookshelves (and tried PSB sub with each) and that placement was always boomy bass and fatiguing sound. Just didn't sound right. 

So I tried setting up speakers on the long wall, the 20FT wall. It looks odd since I'm sitting pretty close to the speakers, about 7-8 Ft vs. 12 Ft, and the speakers are right up against the wall, and my listening chair is right up against the opposite wall. But it's more listenable, and bass seems tighter. Both the floorstanders and the bookshelves sound better. 

I'm still trying to purchase a new pair of speakers for this room (the other speakers mentioned were just borrowed from other rooms and from my home theatre setup). 

So wondering if others have experimented and found the long wall is better? It's more of a near field listening experience and looks odd having large towers that close to the listener. Would this position get fatiguing after a while? Should I treat the back wall with something since that wall is right behind my ears? What speakers are you using that seem to work well in this type of close listening setup?  If I place the speakers back on the shorter wall, is my issue that I need bass traps along the shorter wall to tighten the bass? 

Thanks very much for any guidance!  

kansas400
kansas400 OP
17 posts
 
Thanks Jadedavid and Czarivey. I will re-try the short wall - what do you guys use for your short wall treatments? You mentioned a 'wall rug' ? I need to treat the back short wall where the speakers are placed and the short wall from my listening chair, which unfortunately would only be about a foot or two from my ears - so need to do something for those reflections.  

I've also been reading more about possibly bipolar or something like Ohm Walsh speakers - so instead of a perfect image studio monitor approach, use an omnidirectional.  Or possibly the Vandersteen VLR right up against the wall. So as to speaker options, seems like there are other choices that may work to overcome these room problems. 
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 
My rooms are furnished heavily with bookcases, drapery, venetian blinds and area rugs. So, reflections are pretty much a non-issue.
Barring that, perhaps hanging an area rug or a moving blanket(that would be a temporary fix to see if it made a difference.

B
jadedavid
76 posts
 
As far as rugs go, there are numerous decorative plush throw rugs of many different sizes available at Home Depot or Lowes or at a Carpet retailer.
As for speakers, I keep reading and hearing good things about the Larsen speakers in situations like this.
Good luck on your journey.
Post removed 
tomcarr
1,504 posts
 
Buy Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound.
Read it, then read it again.
Get your positions of speakers and listening seat established.
Do room treatment.
Enjoy how much better your system sounds.
Enlighten others.
More to discover