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SPEAKERS against SHORT WALL or LONG WALL?

R

reformed202

Member
My AR-9 vintage catalogue recommends that the speakers be placed on the short wall, and not along the long wall of a room. Wife approval factor has consigned my speakers, however, to the long wall. Am I missing out on a huge difference? Have any of you found the long wall to be preferable for your speakers?
 
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If you have the option, long wall placement usually makes for better sound-staging and imaging, since sidewall reflections are weaker and more delayed in time. There could be a slight reduction in bass boundary reinforcement, but I think you could deal with this with tone controls, eq, etc. How far is your listening position from the speakers and back wall with your long wall positioning?
 
I'm about 5 feet from the speakers. Also, the speakers are probably about 4-5 feet apart from on another. The layout of the room makes it difficult to vary from this.
 
I think you are probably getting close to the theoretical maximum performance from them, as long as your ears are at the max flat design axis/height. You are certainly within the near or mid-field listening criteria assuming a normally sized and proportioned room. How do they sound to you?
 
I think they sound fantastic on some material, to "really good" on other material. My friend (who has a set of ADS-710s) insists that I would get better results with the speakers on the short wall, so as to fill the room with sound lengthwise.

The speakers are also surrounding an entertainment center, with the side-firing woofers only about six inches from it.
 
I don't think woofers "see" things the size of entertainment centers at very low frequencies. They will "see" things like walls, floors and ceilings that are about the same size (or larger) than the wavelengths they are reproducing.

I assume that you are using AR9's based on your first post -- don't these use foam or felt around the mids and tweeters to minimize sidewall reflections anyway?
 
Are you sitting with your back to a wall? What is the wall behind your listening spot?
 
My speakers are along a long wall in the basement. I started with them on the short wall but it really throws off the setup of the room. I'm also running a second set of speakers now, and placing both would be a no-go with the short wall setup. The biggest weakness of this setup is my ears are only a few feet from the wall behind me, which I'm sure isn't great (at least there's paneling over the concrete wall), but I'm planning on a few acoustic treatments which will hopefully help a little.

Given my compromise speaker placement I'm still pretty happy with the sound.
 
I have one pair on both the short and the long wall in my rectagular listening room. I find it's much easier to get the speakers on the short wall to sound good.
 
marqueemoon said:
My speakers are along a long wall in the basement. I started with them on the short wall but it really throws off the setup of the room. I'm also running a second set of speakers now, and placing both would be a no-go with the short wall setup. The biggest weakness of this setup is my ears are only a few feet from the wall behind me, which I'm sure isn't great (at least there's paneling over the concrete wall), but I'm planning on a few acoustic treatments which will hopefully help a little.

Given my compromise speaker placement I'm still pretty happy with the sound.
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I did the long wall thing after a old Bass List buddy (Bill Poletti) recommended I try it. I had the best results with my armchair right up against the back wall and a big thick pillow right behind my head. The speakers were about 1/2 way out into the room and crossed right in front of my head.

I can say that despite the rather impractical nature of this setup, it did provide excellent sound and presentation of the music. Please remember that it was in this room, with my speakers and equipment.
It may not work in another room or with another setup, so take all this with a grain of salt, but just the same, it's always fun to try new things out...besides, it may be just what you've been waiting for!
:banana:


Best Regards,
TerryO
 
reformed202 said:
My listening spot is on a couch right against the wall, directly opposite my sound system. Is this an important factor?
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It can be. Try hanging something like a heavy blanket (favorite sports team memorabilia can work well here) on the wall right behind your head. It may help open things up, like Terry's pillow.
 
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