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Maximum distance from my monitors

OK guys, here's the scoop. I have my speakers set up in a way less than optimal position. I'm sitting in a pefect triangle, however, I'm just six feet from my speakers which are also 6 feet apart. They are 6" from the back wall and my listening chair is right against the wall that's behind it(chair). Terrible!, I know. Finally, (diamond stud earrings helped, of course), my wife is going to let me move my system to the other side of the living room. I'm going to place the speakers (the best I can do, given my room dimensions) toed in slightly, 2 feet from the side walls and 3 1/2 feet from the back wall.---6 feet apart. My listening chair will have 3 feet behind it before the wall. I'll be 12 feet from the speakers. Is this too far? Will I be giving up anything? I can get closer, but that will require moving a chair closer, when listening, to make that happen. The, chair, although movable, has to remain where it is for optimal living. Not listening, though. I'd appreciate feedback on the distances. Given, where my speakers were (on the long wall, as well) and where they will be now, I'm excited about the anticipated improvement, regardless. SOUNDSTAGE!, alone will do it, for me. I'm just waiting on an electician (my electrician loves me. thinks I'm nuts, of course) to put in the dedicated lines/Hubbells; and then I'm off. Should be a day or two. I hope I gave you enough info. Thanks in advance, my fellow audiophools. peace, warren
128x128warrenh
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
It sounds a bit too far back to me. I would get close to equilateral triangle for good imaging, as I've found imaging is degraded as I get further from the speakers. The trade off is that you'll lose bass reinforcement if neither you nor the speakers is near a rear wall.

Try to get a listening chair that can easily slide forward. Also, unless the system is very bright, you could try the AudioPhysic trick of toeing in the speakers even more, so that an imaginary line from the speakers would intersect in front of you ... that helps to minimize side wall reflections.
drew_eckhardt
394 posts
 
Move the chair. Somewhere arround an equilateral triangle seems to work best - you're still getting a seamless sound stage, although it can wrap arround you nearly 180 degrees.(I'm at 7' from a line drawn through my tweeters which are 8' apart - making for a triangle 8' on all sides. A little in either direction can make big differences in both this area and where you are in relation to bass peaks/nulls.

You also get a different balance between the direct sound and reflections when you're closer. Up close it's clearer, you have better image focus/precision, and I think the inner detail resolves itself better.

Play with it ! Speaker placement is free.
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,299 posts
 
Thanks guys. Good points. You all seem to be on the same page with this one. I'm there. peace, warren
richingoth
326 posts
 
FWIW, Energy's literature recomends the ratio of 1:1.5 (speaker separation to sitting distance) with the distance to the rear and side walls not being equal, (exact dimension skips my brain).
Rich
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Depending on your speakers(which were not mentioned)...it is generally considered that with true phasecorrect speakers such as Meadowlark,Thiel,Green Mountain,etc...a listening distance of at least 8 ft is optimal...for other speakers...a more near field setting works best in my humble opinion...I would side with Sean...you are too far back my friend! I actually like your first arrangement better(on paper anyways)...happy listening!
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