Speaker positioning, is it just a matter of preference?

microstrip said:

The main question is that one will never have a flat measured FR. We will get many frequency responses, with different deviations at several frequencies, but there is always a subjective appreciation of which is the best.

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Absolutely. Every location gives a different response, with peaks and nulls at different groups of frequencies. The only way to truly approach a flat response is to address the room using bass traps. With bass traps the response is not only flatter overall, but also varies less with placement.

--Ethan

audioguy said:

If you want the best of both worlds (imaging and bass) use a separate sub(s) then place mains and subs where each gives the optimum performance!!!

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Although it is true in theory, the practice is not so easy. Most of the time, the primitive filtering existing in the subs and their response will not complement properly most monitors, independently of positioning. Unless you have a very good bass management unit, such as the Behringer DCX2496 Ultra-Drive Pro or equivalent integrating a subwoofer in a small room can be a nightmare.

Sorry to be so negative, but 95% of the systems I listened to using subs were a disaster.

bdiament said:

Hi DaveyF,

I think speaker positioning is very much a matter of preference.
However, this should not be confused with optimal speaker positioning for best performance from the speakers. ;-}

It seems far fewer understand that in audio, the speakers are the "projector" and the room is the "screen"....

Often the room is furnished before the speakers arrive. Not that many have the good fortune to decide on speaker position *first*, then arrange everything else in the room around that.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

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Very good post and one in which we should all use (the projector example) to educate ourselves and our friends.

microstrip said:

Although it is true in theory, the practice is not so easy. Most of the time, the primitive filtering existing in the subs and their response will not complement properly most monitors, independently of positioning. Unless you have a very good bass management unit, such as the Behringer DCX2496 Ultra-Drive Pro or equivalent integrating a subwoofer in a small room can be a nightmare.

Sorry to be so negative, but 95% of the systems I listened to using subs were a disaster.

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I agree. But there are now solutions at several price points to address sub/main integration and get outstanding results. Without one of these solutions, the integration process can create "disasterous" results.

And that is true in any size room. The first 5 times I heard the no-longer-produced Pipe-dreams (1 home and 4 different CES"s) I thought they were a grossly overpriced joke of a speaker system. Then I heard them in one of our forum members homes (Marty) and it was one of the very, very best audio presentations I ever heard. He uses a TacT 2.2XP to get the kind of sound I heard versus the manufacturers supplied cross over solution. (He also dumped the manufacturers subs for Gothams).

audioguy said:

I agree. But there are now solutions at several price points to address sub/main integration and get outstanding results. Without one of these solutions, the integration process can create "disasterous" results.

And that is true in any size room. The first 5 times I heard the no-longer-produced Pipe-dreams (1 home and 4 different CES"s) I thought they were a grossly overpriced joke of a speaker system. Then I heard them in one of our forum members homes (Marty) and it was one of the very, very best audio presentations I ever heard. He uses a TacT 2.2XP to get the kind of sound I heard versus the manufacturers supplied cross over solution. (He also dumped the manufacturers subs for Gothams).

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Marty's room is the only room I have ever heard where I thought the external sub integration actually worked, and sounded cohesive. I believe Marty is using the Tact to do something with the timing, which is one of the critical reasons his setup sounds so integrated.

As far as speaker positioning being a matter preference, I would say yes. But the effects on the sound with speaker positioning is very real. And the speaker design itself, also plays a role in where the speaker will sound best. Personally, I have never found any of the established speaker formulas to work for me. But in general, I have found that moving the speakers out from the front wall (a lot!), increases the image depth and size. Side to side (to and away from the side walls), I have found that I can find several key spots that really warm up, or cool down the mid range.