2. speakers
  3. 134784-33962

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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I certainly don’t wish anyone to take this too hard but somebody, I won’t mention any names, is following the wrong....you know....

🐑 🐑 🐑
2channel8
760 posts
 
The distance from the "front" wall behind the speakers and the amount of toe-in are speaker dependent and one should start with the manufacturer's recommendations if any. Canton recommends 12 to 20 inches and no toe-in for my speakers. as well as the speakers and listening spot forming an equilateral triangle. I have found that 19 inches off the front wall and a listening position slightly further back work best in my room. My speakers are 96 inches apart and my listening position is about 98 inches from a line connecting them and about in the middle of the room. I have used the Isotek CD to fine-tune placement and toe-in and it made a big improvement.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 
Broadly speaking, the further you pull the speakers out from the front wall, the deeper the soundstage.  My room is 14'8" x 16'6".  Speakers set up on long wall.  A full 3' from the back of the cabinet to the wall behind.  Excellent depth.  If your speakers can do bass, you should still get plenty.  Admittedly, sofa is pretty much sandwiched against the opposing wall, but it works better than the conventional short wall setup.
Post removed 
handymann
391 posts
 
Newbee and siox have it correct, as many others, at least in my experience. Jim Smith and Dennis Foley have very valuable info on this topic. Use the rule of thirds to start out with and go from there. A equal lateral triangle is a good place to start concerning your speakers and listening chair. . Plenty of room from your front and back wall, as far as speaker placement and listening chair. Move your listening chair up. This helps to give your sound a chance to fully develope. Diffusers and absorption will greatly improve the sound. First and second reflection points need absorption and possibly diffusion. Both on front and rear walls. In my experience, u want the room to be as deep as possible. It takes around 60' for a 30 hz note to develope. Vary few of us have that deep of a room. Cut that in half, then in half again. Lots of absorption on the rear wall makes your room "seem" deeper. I've heard it said an outside field, with no walls or ceiling is the best set up. Crazy. 
More to discover