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some help with speaker placement/purchase

I'm hoping to buy some new speakers. I'm most likely considering stand speakers or possibly compact floor standing speakers ($5-$15k). Without getting into the weeds, I have two possible rooms for listening, and the most likely room has limited/compromised space for speakers: in front of a big bank of windows. I can set them up about 2.5' off the windows/wall but not more than that. 

I've had speakers that need room to breathe (e.g., Magnepan) and I know my room isn't ideal. If I use that room, I'll have to consider some "room treatment" (curtains!) and maybe pull them out, away from the wall/windows, for serious listening. Or I may just use the other room, which would give me more space to work with and no window problems but would be less ideal for a few reasons; or I may decided that, given my space, it's not worth buying high-end speakers at all.

So here's my question. Other than a home audition, is there a good way to know whether a speaker is forgiving about placement? Are certain speaker brands known to be more forgiving about the space behind them? Would one size (stand or floor) be inherently better? And specifically: would a ported speaker in general be worse/better or does it just depend entirely on the speaker/room? (I'm intentionally not naming the speakers I plan to audition--I don't want to go down the speaker-recommendation rabbit hole at the moment--but I can name names if it helps; I'm trying to ask a general question here.)

I would appreciate any thought about purchasing speakers that might end up in front of a bank of windows. As always, thank you to this great forum for all the advice!
northman
mike_in_nc
1,149 posts
 
Speakers with controlled directivity tend to be more forgiving of placement (such speakers usually do not give a wide sweet spot). Still, a wall of glass behind the speakers is not going to give a happy result. Perhaps with sufficient absorption and diffusion on the wall behind the listener, it can be made to work. Maybe, also, drapes can be used behind the speakers when listening.

Dutch & Dutch, Janszen, and Kii are some of the brands that make speakers with controlled dispersion. Also, many pro monitors (e.g., Genelec) are made that way, and are designed to work close to the wall. I have a pair of Janszen Valentinas (a/k/a zA2.1), which match your budget and are indeed compact floor-standing speakers, and I like them a lot. They are hybrid electrostatics, but are not dipoles; they are quite neutral and low in distortion.
celtic66
1,656 posts
 
Agree with rego about sealed design.  A sealed design simply is more often a controlled sound and less interactive with its surroundings.  I'm the guy who always flogs active speakers.  I'm the ATC fan.  Of course there are other sealed active speakers that sound great.
gochurchgo
920 posts
 
Spatial Audio are Very forgiving of room deficiencies. A brand to check out for sure.

tablejockey
3,896 posts
 
Compromised location. More reason to be mindful that blowing a wad of cash on cool speakers is a bust. 

You will never hear their potential in your room. You might get satisfactory  results with a less expensive speaker and optimizing with room treatment?
rego
378 posts
 
@northman, you are asking good questions.
The D&D 8c Loud speakers will work very well in a very difficult placement (that is close to a wall or in the case full length glazing).
The question of 'compromise' is simply that too close does effect how  well the (more typical) Loudspeaker will perform.
And you are right that this is great fun especially with regard to what you want to accomplish.
Throw as many questions as you like my way ... keep working through this until you fully understand what you want to know.
Loudspeaker design is all about compromise in a sense.
I don't think that I can answer the question in one sentence though.

" is there a good way to know whether a speaker is forgiving about placement?"

The Dutch & Dutch example is meant help visualize more than to argue 
for or against a type of gear.
An Active-Powered speaker is a whole different direction from passive.
But it helps illustrate a point.
Could I suggest another visual aid (Real Audiophile)? Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK1cfLcDA8Y

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