Raise your acoustic panels or die


Hi everyone,
I just had an interesting result while waiting on new panels from GIK. I've been pretty lazy in setting them up, nothing is hanging.  Everything is just placed on the floor around the speakers.  On the wall behind the speakers I have 2 Soffit Traps and 2 standalone panels inside them. Kind of like this:
(ST) (P) --------- (P) (ST)
With the traps standing up vertically. Last night I decided to put the panels directly on top of the soffit traps, giving me near floor to ceiling coverage in that corner. Lo and behold it raised the stereo image by a good 15-20 degrees or so. Orchestral instruments now appear above my tweets. 

So, if you have been leaving all your panels on the floor for convenience sake I strongly encourage you to raise them so they are more centered around the speaker, instead of at and below it.
erik_squires
@erik_squires I agree that all dimensions really must be tried. I’m curious if you’ve investigated different stands for your panels. I have found that some panels need to be raised off the floor and kept away from the walls a bit. Have you purchase stands for panels, ever? Or made some? Here’s the kind of stand I mean (obviously without the white board): https://tinyurl.com/4cwben3r

Here's a neat DYI solution that looks much better: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/showpost.php?p=8774501&postcount=19
Some panels benefit from the air gap improving the bass efficiency.

Actually, the panels I just lifted off the ground came with feet.  As shipments from GIK start to arrive I'll be relying on wall and ceiling mounting where applicable.
"Cry bullies".

LOL! I am stealing that one, uncledemp!

My panels have been sitting on the floor for a while now, raising them being one of the dozens of "important" things to do around the house.

Thanks for the reminder, will raise them soon (I hope).


I think we covered this but I wanted to clear up my point, yes it's good to center your panels, but panels on the floor and ceiling and floor to ceiling can be very useful. If you have only a handful of panels though, I do suggest you raise them up.

The consultant at GIK in fact recommended several floor mounted panels for my own listening room, so having panels there is not, by itself, wrong.