Recommended Speaker Design for Corner / Near-Wall Placement?

Walls and corners reinforce the lower end of the spectrum, which may or may not be beneficial, depending on the specifics of the speaker design.

Corner placement means that there is a side wall very near by, and reflections off that nearby side wall will arrive at the listening position after a relatively short time delay. This can be detrimental to clarity and/or image depth and/or tonality.

Different designers approach wall and/or corner placement in different ways, but imo a speaker which at least takes such placements into account makes sense. Many such brands have already been mentioned.

Sjofn, Larsen (wall) and Audio Note (corner) come to mind, among speakers that use fairly conventional drivers. Speakers which use a fairly large (or otherwise directional) midwoofer section, along with a controlled-pattern top end (horn or waveguide or coaxial) are also often candidates, as their patterns can be aimed to avoid strong same-side-wall reflections. This category includes Tannoy, Gradient, Klipsch, Kii, Dutch & Dutch, Gradient, Pi Speakers, and others (including mine).

Finally it can be helpful if the bottom end is "voiced" with wall and/or corner placement in mind, or can be adjusted accordingly.

Imo against-the-wall and (even morso) corner placement differ enough from "normal" speaker placement that it’s worth seeking out designs specifically intended to work well there.

Duke

Duke, I linked to one of your speakers but was looking for a different model. Sort of triangular cross section (actually pentagonal, I think). Two way with horn loaded compression driver on top. Is that still made?

Hi Hedwigstheme,

I saw that and appreciate the mention. The model you linked to isn’t idea for up-against-the wall or in-the-corner in my opinion, as it has a rear-firing tweeter which likes a bit of breathing room.

The model you are thinking of was either the Rhythm Prism or its predecessor, the Prisma. I suppose they can still be made, if someone wants the quasi-triangular footprint. Must admit the unorthodox shape did not find a lot of success in the marketplace. 

At this link are photos of the discontinued Rhythm Prism, so people can see what you are talking about:

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=78557.0

A more conventional-looking (and imo more room-friendly, but also more expensive) successor is in the pipeline.

Duke

Thanks for all your thoughtful responses, very helpful, lots to dig into... I suppose there is no way to avoid trying out several of these myself to find out.  The journey continues...

I was reading today that the Magico A1 monitor is a sealed design without a port. Thus this speaker can be placed close to a back wall or even put on a bookshelf.

I have never owned any speaker with such a design. I am curious if such speakers would sound the same in the bookshelf or on stands away from the back wall? That is they  sound the same regardless of placement?