Large Speakers Small Rooms

When comparing the sound from a set of speakers in different size rooms it probably doesn't make sense to try to put the speakers at the same distance from the rear or side walls in both rooms because the ideal distances are a function of the room dimensions; so if the rooms are different sizes the ideal distances will be different.

I've been listening to hifi for a long time and I always thought I had a decent sense of where to put speakers in a room, but recently I tripped across the formula on the www.cardas.com site (you have to look around on the site to find it). I tried the exact distances (ratios) recommended and it was pretty impressive how the image and definition snapped into focus. The formula points out that there are some optimum room dimensions (ratios)- so some rooms are going to work better than others, and there is an optimum place to put speakers in a room. Go to the Cardas site, get your tape measure out, and get your spreadsheet or calculator running and input the ratios and then move your speakers to the recommended locations and you will be very pleasantly surprised. If your room has some irregularities you might have to use the ratios as a starting point and then test variations, but even so, the ratios will be helpful. Separately, I heard from one audiophile with very capable planar speakers that he spent a long time trying to get his locations dialed in only to find that he had been moving his speakers back and forth across the sweet spots and missing by just a an inch or two - so it can be a bit tricky. In any event, the formula recommended on the Cardas site is the least expensive (free) tweak you can add to your system that can really improve the sound. - Maybe give it a try and then report your findings on this Agon forum.

I have a 11 x 12 room. And Von Schweikert VR4jr. Not only is it small, but also almost square. I've been fighting with brightness for awhile now, but have finally arrived at a solution, I think. Oddly enough, the bass is actually tight and solid. I think my bookshelves break up some room modes.

I've had to put a comforter and blanket on the side walls. I have a bookshelf at first deflection points along side walls also which defuse very well. The back wall (behind listening seat) has various objects which defuse and the wall behind the speakers has auralex foam completely covering it.

I have eliminated the brightness and get solid soundstage and imaging. So obviously a medium or big room will give the best presentation, but I do get a decent sized soundstage that extends behind the backwall.

Rob

Rob,

Von Schweikert VR4jrs are almost ridiculous for that room. They are incredible speakers but need a lot of room to breath.

Romakabi, here's your answer finally. My bedroom is downright tiny (8.5' x 12'), but the music is incredible in the room. I own a McIntosh/Totem setup. Please look at my system.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vdone&1092381361&read&3&zzlSpacekadet&&

This has to be one of the best small room set ups. As a matter of fact, I dare, double dare people to post a better small room system. I hope that didn't sound too aggressive, I just want to see what can be achieved in a small room.

Just shove a Kharma/Tenor/Meitner/WalkerAudio system in a closet. I'm thinking the 3.2 CRM monitors. That should sing in a small room. Cost? About as much as my 1300 sq.ft house.

i have studio 100s and had them in a real small room and the bass overloaded the room badly,,when i moved to a larger place they sounded much better,,if i ever move to a smaller place the 100s are going up for sale,,