Open Baffle Experience

Infinite baffle is just different.

Its what most high end studios use (though they’ll often call it “flush mounted” or “soffit mounted”)

Of course this is for music creation not home “recreation” for enjoyment.

Most music studios don’t want extra ambience from added ambient reflections which most audiophiles enjoy.

They need to focus on the unaltered sound so as to know what to do to thier mix.

Thats generally for both tracking and mastering ……

We read in this thread a redundant dimension of about 3’ off front wall as a minimum with OB.

I wonder if less distance (approx. 2’) with heavy drapes behind might work…

or ruin the intended response? Anyone try this?

Thanks @audiokinesis 

I should be more specific- Are all OB open back tweeter? I thought some had forward only directivity . So the heavy drapes question was more for the mid range and bass frequencies.

@invalid your comment about sounding best at 7’ off front wall is always why these types of loudspeakers (dipole) are “non starters” for me.

I just can’t kill a whole room with that kind of placement. I have a 21’x22’ garage I’m completing mostly for stereo and media…and Still these distances are unacceptable to me. I’m sure it’s why I’ve always been attracted to horns for their controlled directivity.

But man that open spacious sound of OB is hard to beat if set up right…just a whole different flavor of goodness.

I suppose I could move the OB’s back-and-forth all the time for use…but what a BS hassle…

@audiokinesis thanks 

3’ out from front wall is not a non starter in my world. Im certain my corner horns (the baffle face) are likely that far out from the corner (apex) so there’s that.

@audiokinesis I for one would love to hear your description of why the equal spectral balance…but I don’t want to high-jack the OP. 
I believe It certainly pertains to the question “open baffle experience “

@kenjit Im guessing dipoles can be measured in half space or an anechoic chamber (more or less like most other loudspeaker topologies.)

But measurements are all only generalizations of response anyway,  without the boundary interference of the things we all listen within called "rooms".

For me its how the loudspeaker makes one "feel" while listening...not what the polar response might be.

Lets ask ASR lolololol

Lets ask 

“Unless you are prepared to use a sub.....Open baffle are not a good Idea....I have 2 pair and rarely hook them up anymore.”

In my rooms, dual subs (at minimum) are a given… before I even decide which mains I’m going to use.

If all your running is a pair of left and right mains in an average room (with four walls, a floor and a ceiling) and the addition of a couple subs makes  the overall bass response worse…then I’d say you most certainly have either the gain or crossover frequency (or both) of the subs set  too high.

This is only if your in a typical room and therefore have the expected boundary interference.

If you move outside, or even half outside the rules (physics) change

Obviously the degree of room treatments can change the game somewhat, but I still always use both (multiple subs and room treatments) for that clean, tight punchy bass goodness…