Great Imaging Speakers Working against a wall?


Hey all,

The audio upgrade bug seems to be biting again -

Have an average+ sounding system that I'm desperate to do something with, on a tight budget.
Audio Alchemy DDS Pro Transp.
EAD 7000 III Dac,
Conrad Johnson CAV 50 Integrated
QLN Signature Splitfield Monitors on Target stands.

I'm really wanting a system with warm midrange and great soundstage - I'll never forget hearing a pair of KEF 103's about 10 years ago that threw a soundstage that seemed to start about 2 blocks away!

My QLN's image ok, but nothing special really. Mids are ok with the warmth from the CJ, but they lack soundstage depth/width and pinpoint imaging. (QLN's are a quality speaker from Sweden with an external cross-over unit, bi-wired and sitting on lead-shot filled Target R3's, use Vibrapods, 3 per side, spikes into floor, speakers sold for about $3000 when new)

My room is a problem, 35ft by 12 ft and the only setup position (without divorce) is with the speakers toward one end of the room against the long wall, left speaker about 4 feet away from side wall, 10 feet between speakers, 40" from rear wall, toe'd in to listening seat which is against the back wall. I've messed with toe-in, distance from from the walls etc, but I can't do anything that makes any significant difference to their imaging/soundstage ability.

So, I'm thinking maybe the answer is to find speakers that work best hard against the wall, like the old Kef's or Linn Sara's and Kan's used to do. This would put more space between them and the listening seat, and might improve things.

I'd buy used and have about a $1000 budget.

I would really appreciate any input.

Or maybe I could put the money into another part of the system, but I think the speakers are too constrained by the room and position options for them ever to give me the sound I'm looking for.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Rooze

128x128rooze

Showing 2 responses by subaruguru

Sean, fine post, with kudos to Roy Allison, of course....
But have ever REALLY heard flush-mounts that have stage depth BEHIND the speakerplane?
Deaden the front wall, as 40" is pretty minimal for a deep soundstage. Do NOT think that you'll achieve ANY stage depth with flush/wall mounting. Just won't happen. You can get a little cute with subtle tone control management to move the apparent stage forward or back, but it will still stay pretty two-dimensional. Sounds like you should divorce HER! Try disguising your Swedes and pull them out 5-10' from the front wall. You'll be surprised at how the stage will deepen if you can set up a narfield tiangle in the middle of the room. Maybe if you paint the walls really nice and bright and spray your speakers flat black she won't see 'em? Sorry....