Direct or Reflect ... What's your flavor


Was thinking about this from another thread. When we think of a basic speaker we usually think of monopoles. That is, speakers with a single baffle or plane from which sound emanates out of to the room, but as long as I can remember there are examples at all price ranges of speakers designed specifically to reflect, or whose basic construction forced rear or side reflections. Among the "forced to reflect" categories:

  • Electro static speakers (Martin Logan, Sanders, etc.)
  • Open Baffle / di-pole
Then we have ambient reflectors, which I include:
  • Bose 901 and smaller direct/reflecting models
  • Snell with their rear tweets
  • Wilson 
  • Probably numerous others
Let be clear though, NONE of these ambient reflectors are accurate. None of these latter elements can be called a way of credibly and accurately increasing the transmission of information from the recording to our ears. To my mind these are all in the land of bass shakers. They add some pizzazz and excitement, and perhaps an illusionary venue.

So, still, for your music and tastes, who has gone with di-poles or ambient reflecting speakers and never looked back?
erik_squires
Anybody move the chair forward yet to change the direct vs room response but NOT get entirely in the near field ? Granted it takes more effort than typing..,
On beaming... that’s why every Vandersteen midrange is.... drumroll... the same size... ditto for the height of the acoustic lense... 
Part of the problem of the over damped rear wall is the lack of uniform absorption, especially below 1k. At the dealership where I worked out high end room before we moved was over dampened, a better solution is treat the bounces w absorption ( including floor or ceiling ), add diffraction to match AND realistic furnishings, and plants!!!
@tomic601  
Anybody move the chair forward yet to change the direct vs room response but NOT get entirely in the near field ?

Yes, if I am visiting a friend who has a shared music room - living room. You know - gear stacked up against the front wall. The first thing I ask .... as an experiment ....lets put the speakers & a chair  in nearfield first.....just to see how good it can be.

They hear that ......then know after that setup .....everything that follows is a compromised illusion. The discussion that follows is usually about putting the speakers on some type of rollers, to allow them to be pushed against the wall again when his wife is home.