Why are tweeters so high off of the ground in many tower speakers...

Tweeters should be at ear level!

that is why.

I’m sorry @don_c55 - That’s not always true.

It’s not just a matter of ear level, but also, angle.

All this should be taken into account by the designer, and hopefully the designer’s intention/recommendations are clearly spelled out in the manual. There are some speakers specifically designed with the mid-woofer at ear level, and the tweeter below it.

This alternate arrangement seems odd to us, but it neatly solves phase/distance issues.

Also, tweeters cover a very narrow band. if we go by which speaker produces the most music, the mid or mid-woofer would be the clear winner.

Of course, having the tweeter at ear level is most common, but keep an open mind as to the designer's intentions.

Best,

E

Keeping the tweeter away from the floor delays the "floor bounce" effect, improving perceived clarity.

Designers will strive for wide horizontal but limited vertical dispersion. Normal dome tweeters have a conical dispersion field however. They disperse vertically and horizontally equally, which presents a little bit of a challenge.

Revel (and others) will use a waveguide to help shape this dispersion to more of an ideal pattern. The floor and ceiling do not need to hear the speaker after all. :)

Best,

E

This is what tilting is for. :)

You can use this to your advantage. Normally (with exceptions!) speakers are designed with the listener on tweeter axis. Some adjustment however is quite pleasant, season to taste. You can do this by either toeing in/out or tilting the speaker back and forth.

There’s no requirement that the tweeters have to point parallel to the floor, so the actual height does not matter.

There are exceptions, I _believe_ the B&W 802s measure / sound much better below and off axis than they do straight ahead, by a lot.

Some speakers are designed with the mid-woofer at ear level.

What’s important is not 100.00000% perfection, but rather, getting an image and tonal balance you personally enjoy listening to as long as possible. Listen and judge what is best for yourself.

Best,

E