Importance of wall behind listener?

1mrkr, I should have made it more clear that I do use diffusion behind my listening position, only on the ceiling. I use a combination of skylines and doublebusters spread from just behind 1st reflection point on ceiling to behind listening postion. Sitting diffusors on floor stands behind listening postion has not worked as well as the natural ambience of no diffusors.
On WAF, that is difficult for me to know, I have a dedicated listening room so it doesn't matter. I actually like the esthetics of a fully treated room, I'm not so sure others do.

"1markr, I should have made it more clear that I do use diffusion behind my listening position, only on the ceiling. I use a combination of skylines and doublebusters spread from just behind 1st reflection point on ceiling to behind listening postion"

Scott, I think you meant "do NOT use diffusion behind listening position"....

In my room, the wall behind me is 20 ft. away, and I use no diffusors or absorbers. The sound stage is wide, high and deep.

Perfectionist

I have experienced exactly the same results you describe and have therefore always backed my listening chair as close as possible to the rear wall.

I always assumed that the "lean" sound you described might have been inherent to my favorite Magneplanars, but I notice you are not using planar speakers.

For me, in any case, close to the rear wall is a rule of thumb for basic placement, and I only move the position forward into the room to counteract any boominess.

(Nice system and room, by the way.)

1markr

If this is not possible for you, I hope you are still able to achieve happy results.

I cannot comment more specifically on rear wall treatments, but I have had everything from fireplaces to big windows and never thought that was a critical element.

I would think first reflections, closer to the speakers and especially on side walls should be more carefully controlled.

I would also think a lively rear wall might yield acceptable results for ambience and later reflections.

But I am not an expert so hopefully we will hear from others.

It is interesting to hear the different opinions on this subject. But in the end it all comes down to the room your hi-fi is located in, the orientation of hi-fi in said room, and how much money one is willing and able to spend on acoustic treatments. I actually put my 8'x11' rugs on my walls when I was still mid-fi. It was a relatively inexpensive way to aesthetically and acoustically treat a room with 10' flat ceiling's and a lot of wall space. Also, the room my hi-fi is located in was the best choice in my home, as I have a 9' pool table in my other large room. When my house was being built, I even took into consideration which of my two large rooms I would use for my hi-fi in regards to ambient noise levels outside my home during late night loud/listening sessions. My gear had to be orientated in this room a certain way due to a door in the room that leads out to the backyard. Hence, IMR (in my room), I really have no choice but to put the listening position against the rear wall. But, in playing with that seating position both fore and aft a few inches, I've noticed that it profoundly affects bass slam. I will say that there is a more enveloping soundstage with the seating postion pulled out from the rear wall, but at the expense of bass slam. And I'll admit, I'm a bit of a (tight) bass junkie. I wish I would have been into high-end when the house was being built-there are so many things that could have been done in preperation for a proper musical experience (i.e., many dedicated circuits, insulation, wallboard, etc). All that being said, and as deep as I am into high-end now, I would completely design my next (if there is a next) home around my hi-fi. ;-)