Raising floor standing speakers

[Silo5]

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[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Silo5

Most of the floor standing speakers I've been looking at are between 35" to 38" tall. Due to the design of my sectional couch (L-shaped couch with arm partially blocking right front speaker from the "sweet spot"), I probably need to raise the fronts about 6" to 8" higher. Is there a way to raise them up without affecting sound quality? My only other option would be to use bookshelf speakers for the fronts and buy taller stands, but I'm partial to floor standing speakers.

Speakers radiate sound, and depending on the shape and tilt of the speaker, the "sweet spot" can change. Most floor-standers are set up to radiate towards seated listeners. If you raise it, while you're seated, the focal point for the speakers may be over your head.

It's easy to check out to see if it's a problem, if you're at the demo room. Bring in some music you're familiar with (movies have varying sound levels, they're not much help for this test) and fire it up on the speakers. As you listen, face the speakers at the height you'll be listening to them at home, then again, a few inches lower. You may detect a very different sound - usually mid-range attenuation.

That doesn't mean, don't get the speakers. The simplest cure is to put them on a base that takes them to the desired height, and then slightly tilt them forward until the focal point is correct. It goes without saying that you want these securly anchored...but the tilt may be only an inch or two, it won't take much.

Just check it out first, because if the speakers have a broad vertical dispersion pattern, it's no big deal.