sho@maxwell.physics.purdue.edu (Sho Kuwamoto) (09/14/90)
I was wondering if there were any general guidelines about speaker
placement. I imagine it varies tremendously depending on speaker,
room, etc.
My main problem is bass resonance. I have my speakers about two feet
from the side walls and three feet from the back wall. They are on
one inch tiptoes. I would like to reduce the coupling between the
speakers and the floor even more. What should I do?
I don't have a fancy system. The speakers are from GNP, a small shop
in Pasadena. They are about the same price as Vandersteen 2ci's, but
I thought these sounded better. Again, it's nothing fancy, but I'd
just like to get the most for my money.
-Sho
--
sho@physics.purdue.edu <<-- next, we need curtains. ahh, the joys of
moving. drm2@mvuxn.att.com (David R Moran) (09/18/90)
In article <6316@uwm.edu>, sho@maxwell.physics.purdue.edu (Sho Kuwamoto) writes: > > I was wondering if there were any general guidelines about speaker > placement. > > My main problem is bass resonance. [Edited. -tjk] > What should I do? > Again: To get the least ripple (peak/dip) response in the 100- 1000 Hz decade, you must site your speakers so that the driver reproducing this range (especially the lower part, in case there are two drivers handling the chore) is at _maximally different_ distances from the three nearest boundaries (floor, front wall, side wall). The more the distances are the same -- the more cubical the placement -- the worse the ripple. The easiest way to compute "maximal difference" is to satisfy the equation B squared = A x C for A/B/C not equal. The difference this makes is striking -- it fills in the suckout almost every non-Allison system has just below middle C, where voices and cellos lie (and other sounds). It is not all that easy to achieve this staggered distancing; it is especially tough if you use stands. A woofer 18" off the floor and the same distance from front and side walls will have bad suckout and ripple. Of course, many audiophile find this diminution in the 100-400 Hz area to be pleasing and opens up the sound and imaging above, however inaccurate it is. It is also important, but not as much, to site your listening head similarly staggered -- that is, don't sit 3 feet from side and back wall, because your ears will probly be 3' off the floor.... Not following these physical rules is the single greatest drawback in audiophiles' understanding of acoustics and the resultant sound they get, and usually rave about. They should see what the response at their ears is from their speakers on stands.... Happy experimenting and good luck!