Anyone using floor standing speakers close to the wall?

[owa]

I've been wanting to upgrade my 5.1 satellite system to floor standing speakers because I'm not happy with how the satellites perform with music. But, it's a little discouraging. I wanted to take advantage of a sale on Definitive Technology BP-8060ST speakers (free center and surrounds) or the Klipsch RF-62 II speakers (free subwoofer) but every review I've read suggest they need to be a good distance from the wall. Even reading reviews on some front-port firing speakers (for the bass, Klipsch models) still suggest a good distance from the wall is better. Is there any way to make the D.F. BP-8060ST speakers work closer to the wall or is that a lost cause?

If so, are there any floor standing speakers that sound good fairly close to the wall? My livingroom isn't that big and with the furniture in it, I can't put floor standing speakers a couple of feet (or more) from the wall. If none of the floor standing speakers can be close to the wall, should I be considering a bookshelf with subwoofer arrangement instead?

[josh6113]

Originally Posted by owa

I've been wanting to upgrade my 5.1 satellite system to floor standing speakers because I'm not happy with how the satellites perform with music. But, it's a little discouraging. I wanted to take advantage of a sale on Definitive Technology BP-8060ST speakers (free center and surrounds) or the Klipsch RF-62 II speakers (free subwoofer) but every review I've read suggest they need to be a good distance from the wall. Even reading reviews on some front-port firing speakers (for the bass, Klipsch models) still suggest a good distance from the wall is better. Is there any way to make the D.F. BP-8060ST speakers work closer to the wall or is that a lost cause?

If so, are there any floor standing speakers that sound good fairly close to the wall? My livingroom isn't that big and with the furniture in it, I can't put floor standing speakers a couple of feet (or more) from the wall. If none of the floor standing speakers can be close to the wall, should I be considering a bookshelf with subwoofer arrangement instead?

I own the 8060-st's and they need about 8 inches to a foot from wall to sound great...I think you should be just fine...there a great speaker...

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by owa

I've been wanting to upgrade my 5.1 satellite system to floor standing speakers because I'm not happy with how the satellites perform with music. But, it's a little discouraging. I wanted to take advantage of a sale on Definitive Technology BP-8060ST speakers (free center and surrounds) or the Klipsch RF-62 II speakers (free subwoofer) but every review I've read suggest they need to be a good distance from the wall. Even reading reviews on some front-port firing speakers (for the bass, Klipsch models) still suggest a good distance from the wall is better. Is there any way to make the D.F. BP-8060ST speakers work closer to the wall or is that a lost cause?

If so, are there any floor standing speakers that sound good fairly close to the wall? My livingroom isn't that big and with the furniture in it, I can't put floor standing speakers a couple of feet (or more) from the wall. If none of the floor standing speakers can be close to the wall, should I be considering a bookshelf with subwoofer arrangement instead?

You do not put bipolar speakers close to the wall. The rear drivers in a bipolar speaker need room. In fact, the bass on most floor-standing speakers may sound a bit boomy if you place them against the wall.

[owa]

I went ahead and went with the deal to get the BP-8060STs and the free center and surrounds. I wasn't all that impressed initally but after playing with the the placement and distance from the wall, I'm liking them more and more. Currently, I only have them around 16 inches from the wall and it is sounding good. My biggest concern is that I have the center on a shelf below the TV so sometimes it sounds kind of muffled. I've tried pointing it up more and that helps some but not always. I don't really have a choice in the matter though.

[Spurrier Sucks]

Originally Posted by owa

I went ahead and went with the deal to get the BP-8060STs and the free center and surrounds. I wasn't all that impressed initally but after playing with the the placement and distance from the wall, I'm liking them more and more. Currently, I only have them around 16 inches from the wall and it is sounding good. My biggest concern is that I have the center on a shelf below the TV so sometimes it sounds kind of muffled. I've tried pointing it up more and that helps some but not always. I don't really have a choice in the matter though.

You should post some pics for us to see.

[prerich]

My mains are now close to the wall and corners .... But unlike most speakers, mine are designed to benefit from this type of placement. I don't advise most people to do this (I usually say get your speakers out into space), but now it depends on the type of speakers you own.

[owa]

I recently bought some home-theater type furniture and moved closer to the TV. So, I had to move the left and right speakers further out. The bass in the outlying left and right spots rocks but in the middle where I sit isn't as good as I had hoped. I'm thinking of getting the higher model center speakers that have a powered subwoofer that would hopefully help even things out. Any comments on that? I currently have the CS-8040HD and I'm thinking of going with the CS-8060HD or CS-8080HD to go with the built-in subwoofer. Preferably, the CS-8060HD since it's cheaper.

[Goat1]

Congrats,I had that same exact setup. I didn't care for the tweeters,had a metallic sound to them,but it could have been due to my receiver. The onkyo 805. I now have the Onkyo 818 and it made all the difference in the world on my Martin Logans. For sure get the CS 8060.. That is the matching center,I actually sold mine to my brother. I couldn't deal with the looks of the def techs either. But they are nice. There probably is a little break in time for those also.. Have fun with them..

[owa]

Thanks Goat1.

Okay, Spurrier_Sucks wanted pictures so this is what I'm working with. I currently have the left and rights about 15" from the side wall and about a 12" from the back wall. I'm still playing around with the placement and currently will need longer speaker wires if I keep this like they are. Some of the stuff in the area, I'm just trying to see how it'll hide wires. Looking online I think I may try one of the setups along the baseboard to see how that looks. I'm sitting about 6 ft. from a 52" TV and did play some with placing the speakers further from the back wall.

I have the speakers out wider than I initially thought I'd go but I was trying to keep them just to the outside of the sitting area. One problem with this is that the bass rocks on the ends but isn't as tight/defined (I guess is the word I'm looking for) in the middle. Another reason I plan to get the 8060 center.

I don't like my center speaker being so low so I've tried angling it up some to see if it seems more clear to me. Currently using a wrist wrest for a computer and a bean bag but those won't be permanent.





Speakers aren't tilting. I'm not sure why it comes out that way. Same thing happens when I try to take a picture of my blu-ray collection. Also, the kind of large black box to the right is an ottoman, not a sub. It's just another object I was trying to see about hiding wires, cables, etc. Also, one of the best things is how much better music sounds with this setup than the satellite system I was using before. Just that fact makes them worth it.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by owa

Thanks Goat1.

Okay, someone wanted pictures so this is what I'm working with. I currently have the left and rights about 15" from the side wall and about a 12" from the back wall. I'm still playing around with the placement and currently will need longer speaker wires if I keep this like they are. Some of the stuff in the area, I'm just trying to see how it'll hide wires. Looking online I think I may try one of the setups along the baseboard to see how that looks. I'm sitting about 6 ft. from a 52" TV and did play some with placing the speakers further from the back wall.

I have the speakers out wider than I initially thought I'd go but I was trying to keep them just to the outside of the sitting area. One problem with this is that the bass rocks on the ends but isn't as tight/defined (I guess is the word I'm looking for) in the middle. Another reason I plan to get the 8060 center.

I don't like my center speaker being so low so I've tried angling it up some to see if it seems more clear to me. Currently using a wrist wrest for a computer and a bean bag but those won't be permanent.





Speakers aren't tilting. I'm not sure why it comes out that way. Same thing happens when I try to take a picture of my blu-ray collection. Also, the kind of large black box to the right is an ottoman, not a sub. It's just another object I was trying to see about hiding wires, cables, etc. Also, one of the best things is how much better music sounds with this setup than the satellite system I was using before. Just that fact makes them worth it.

While I don't know those speakers per say, if you're sitting that close, your speakers might be too far apart. As for the bass, did you calibrate your setup. Also you might have to move your sub to find it''s sweet spot, getting a 2nd one would rock. I don't think changing centers is going to help your bass problem. Might sound better but that's not why you're lacking bass.

Read the stickies.

[owa]

I thought the speakes were supposed to go to the outside of the viewing area is why I have them that spread out. The front left and right speakers both have built-in powered subwoofers. I was thinking of getting the 8060 center because it also includes a built-in powered subwoofer thinking that would help balance the bass, essentially giving me 3 powered subwoofers across the listening area.

I didn't do the calibration process because the manuals that came with the speakers said the calibration process usually doesn't work well with bi-polar speakers.

[Nick The Slick]

Where your couch is sitting, is the middle seat in the center of the room? (not just from left to right, but front to back as well?) The center of the room is where bass will be the weakest (and sometimes non-existent). If that's the case you might try moving the couch back a foot or so if at all possible (while still avoiding being directly against the back wall of course). Also, your center might sound weak not only because of how low it is, but because you have it inside the stand surrounded on all sides. You've probably already got this figured out or have a plan but I would suggest either wall mounting the TV so you can place the center on top of the stand, or getting something you can put on top of the stand to lift your TV up to make room for the center. Raising it and getting it into open air will probably make a world of difference. Just some ideas from my point of view.

[owa]

Thanks for the info and ideas.

I have the left side the couch (where I typically sit) pretty much in the center of the room. Actually, maybe slightly forward of center but maybe that is one of the main issues for the bass.

I've been thinking the same thing about the center and had thought about just trying to place it in front of the TV, on top of a small stand or something that lets it sit in the open just to see how that sounds. If that improves things I can work on raising my TV so I can put the center on top or I've also been looking at a different TV stand. I saw one recently with a mounting bracket attached so you can have the TV sitting above the stand. That would keep me from having to mount to the wall (which I'd like to avoid if possible).

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by owa

I thought the speakes were supposed to go to the outside of the viewing area is why I have them that spread out. The front left and right speakers both have built-in powered subwoofers. I was thinking of getting the 8060 center because it also includes a built-in powered subwoofer thinking that would help balance the bass, essentially giving me 3 powered subwoofers across the listening area.

I didn't do the calibration process because the manuals that came with the speakers said the calibration process usually doesn't work well with bi-polar speakers.

FRONT SPEAKERS SETUP

For front speakers, put the speakers at least 2-3 feet (approx. 1 meter) away from the front and side walls.

• The distance between the two speakers should be between 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters).
• The distance between your main listening chair and the distance between the two speakers should be approximately the same. They should form approximately an equilateral triangle.

• The tweeters should be about the same level as your ears when you are seated. For smaller speakers, use a stand. Slight tilting backward or forward of the speakers until the tweeters point toward your head may also work.
• You can slightly angle (toe-in) the speakers toward the listening chair. You can use a string or laser pointer to make sure both speakers are angled exactly the same. Angling the speakers toward the center of the listening position will make the sound brighter, clearer, with a sharper focus, and a more solid central image. Pointing the speakers straight forward, parallel with each other, will result in a warmer less sharply focused sound. Angling the speakers too much may have two disadvantages:
  1. It may ruin the sound stage.
  2. It will not be very effective for others who may be sitting elsewhere in the room. Don't be selfish.

Play a CD with good soundstaging and a singer in the middle.

• If the soundstage is good and wide but the center stage is blurred, move the speakers closer together.
• If the center stage is focused and sounds great, but the soundstage isn't very wide, angle the speakers away from the listening position a little at a time until the soundstage becomes wider without losing the center stage.
• Many speakers may sound better if they are pointed at your shoulders rather than directly at your head.
• Always use a string or laser pointer to make sure both speakers are angled the same way.
• Don't be afraid to experiment. Rooms are not the same and interaction with room boundaries, furniture, carpets, etc. play an important role in the sound that you hear.
• Many experts believe that in a small home theater room, you hear the room and not the speakers. It is highly recommended that you use room treatment.

[Jim Hawkins]

Not sure if anyone else mentioned this but if your powered subs in your towers are to close to a corner you could be corner loading your subs. If you are trying to add boom that is a quick way to do it. Looking at your picture you have to corners, one next to each tower. You might try bringing them closer in away from the corners and then reset the gain/volume for your subs to compensate. Subs away from the corner will (in my experience) tend to be less boomy and more tight.

Anyhoo, have fun.
(Also ditto on mounting the TV so you can put the center on top of the stand. Even there you may want to point it up at your ears.)

[owa]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I moved them closer together last night and I'm much closer to an equilateral triangle. What was weird about the corner bass is that it seemed tight and defined sitting on the ends near them but was more boomy in the middle. I guess I expected it to be more boomy near them and since it wasn't figured I had other issues. Moving away from the corners has helped the bass making it seem more tight and defined in all areas. I'm still experimenting with this setup though and what level of bass to use for that setup since I did lose some moving away from the corners. I was happy with music in the previous setup but it definitely sounded better with this new setup.

I still need to get the center channel up though. Right now, that's the biggest issue since to be able to hear things clearly, I have to turn it up way too loud so during the loud scenes, it is startling loud (especially at night). That's even with the center level bumped up +5 over the right and left also. When I'm laying on the couch watching a movie, so my head is closer to the level of the center speaker, it's much, much better. So, I'm sure getting it off the underneath shelf will hellp a lot (and like you mentioned, even then probably pointing it up some will help even more).

I'm not sure I'll be able to move 2-3 feet from the front wall though. I can but that pretty much puts the speakers right in someone's face when sitting on the ends. That is kind of why I initially tried to have them spead out and past the ends of the viewing area...so someone wouldn't have a speaker in their face. While I could move the counch and recliner back, part of the whole reason I got them was so I could move really close to the TV. The couch and chair recline so I don't need a coffee table for propping up my feet. Before, the coffee table was keeping me from being able to move closer to the TV. I was sitting around 7.5 feet from the TV. Now I'm at about 6 feet.