Question on Speaker Placement


Based on the shape and content of my listening room, I have one speaker with a back wall directly behind it ( roughly 2') while the other speaker is backed by the open entrance into another room. What are the sonic implications of this arrangement? I'm limited in my ability to test alternative positions, although by widening the distance between the speaker by about 2', I can back the 2nd speaker with a wall. This would be about a 13 ' distance between the speakers. The speakers are PSB Imagine X2T. Hope this makes sense and thanks.

mysterioso1

@mysterioso1 

If you measured the frequency response of each speaker independently at your listening position they would show huge differences, mainly in the bass to midrange regions.  It may sound ok, but each speaker is broadcasting a very different tonal balance.  Listen to one at a time to hear the difference.

The good news is that a wider spread can sound great, in fact that is what I prefer.  Based on the recommendation of a local dealer who sells speakers that like to be near the corners I tried a wide spread and now cannot live without it, kind of like an IMAX sound stage.

My ratio is 1.18 to one, meaning if your speakers are 13 feet apart, make sure your ears are about 11 feet from left ear to left speaker, right to right etc.  

To make sure you don't have any holes in the center stage image, play a mono recording and adjust the toe angle of each speaker so that the center image vocals sound full and even with a well defined image.  

Enjoy! 

Echo others I’d think you’d hear a volume imbalance given the reinforcement from the wall in the one speaker, but apparently it’s not affecting you.  You might consider trying some sound absorption behind that speaker just to see if you get an improvement.  To me, 13’ between speakers is really wide.  Best of luck. 

Thanks for all the feedback and great suggestions. As of now, I've widened the distance between the speakers to 10' with a slight toe in. Both are now backed by a wall. Still assessing the sound change, but so far, I think it's positive. Again, thanks.