Flatscreen between speakers

@spenav 

Had a look at your setup and your solution with hanging a panel on the TV seems to be a more practical (and less expensive) solution.

If I make it so it can either hang the panel on a French cleat situated above the TV when I am using the TV, or hang it on the TV itself when listening to music, then It should be the best of both worlds.

I had this exact problem for years (dual use hifi and home theatre) and it can be overcome without room treatment or tv covers.

Proper speaker positioning. I use Ron’s LOTS method - he has a video on YouTube. Once dialed in the difference between an open and holographic soundstage and something bland was as little as 1cm in positioning.

Funny thing, I once got my speakers setup perfectly, then 6 months later upgraded the tv from a 55” curved to a 65” flat panel. This single change was enough to destroy all that work and the glorious soundstage I had.

But it shows how critical the speaker positioning was to overcoming the centre reflection issue.

I  also had a tv cover custom sown and tried it after optimising with the LOTS method. It actually made things worse, because the positioning had already been done to account for the tv reflection. That’s also why changing to a different tv size had such an effect.

I thought about how to incorporate a screen between my Apogee Divas. A projection screen with a retractable screen allows me to take the screen out of the way when doing serious listening. The pain of installing a projector and screen was impractical. Acoustic treatments you have to move in and out of use is a nuisance  Eighteen months ago I discovered AWOL. It employs a 120 inch screen that sits anywhere behind the speakers, comes in different sizes, and it uses a short-throw laser projector that sits maybe 15 inches away from the screen on a slate base. The screen height is adjustable and is automatic, opening or closing in 30-40 seconds. It has a great 4k image, and the sound plays through your audio set-up. This gives me the option for what experience I want to have easily. Look on-line for AWOL. One of the best additions to my system, which had been purely audiophile for 46 years. HUGE wow factor for guests, too!

@classicalpiano. That’s really cool. It’s called short throw projector. I learned something new today. That would have been my first choice if I didn’t already own a very good flat screen TV (maybe my last now). Thanks for sharing with us. 

Thank you, spenav! The AWOL system is a bit expensive (roughly $6k for mine, plus interconnects). The screen sits hidden in box (roughly 115 inches long, and 5 inches H x 5 inches deep) directly behind the plane of the Divas. Pressing the start button raises the screen up to the chosen height,  essentially occupying 90+% of the area between the speakers. 2 JL subs sit next to the Divas and in front of the screen; they are non-obstructing because bottom of the picture is about 20 inches about the floor. The short-throw project, situated close to the screen, uses laser light on this screen specially designed to reject ambient lighting. Sharp, defined, colorful in 4k with HDR is superb! I stream classical performances (Cleveland Orchestra & Berlin Phil & medici, MetOpera, youtube...) with extremely satisfying results! And when done with AV experiences, the screen quietly retracts back into the box, and the projector shuts down. Then I can enjoy audiophile listening! Anyway, enjoy completing your system, then enjoy your accomplishment with a beverage and music you know well and love. Best of luck!