Distance Between Speakers

[dewd]

Hi,

In your opinion, which setup do you believe is best?

Original Setup (Speakers are 5 feet apart):
IMG_1697 (Small).jpg

Experimental Setup (Speakers are 7.5 feet apart):

IMG_1703 (Small).jpg

I sit about 8 feet from the center speaker.

Notice the couch kind of blocks the lower drivers on the right speaker.

IMG_1709 (Small).jpg

This is the main reason I originally positioned them next to the TV.
However, I feel as if I don't get good separation so I'm trying them further apart.

Opinions welcome (while I go watch Transformers 2).

[crazyBLUE]

You want your fronts 6 To 10 feet apart .
If your front L/R are 8 feet apart(for example) You want to be sitting 8 feet from each speaker for A perfect Triangle !

[Aerodude73]

I think they would sound better spaced out per your 2nd pic. Also, I'm not sure the couch is going to Block sound that much that you would noticeably hear it. My front speakers are spread out for that very reason, to disperse the sound & they are "toed-in" a bit, aimed at the Sweet Spot: My main sitting/viewing/listenign position on my couch. (pics in my gallery's). Have you tried a few diff. Blurays with each set-up to see for yourself if one sounds better than the other, positioning-wise?

[dewd]

Thanks. Just watched the movie and really think this will work. Tomorrow I'll watch something I'm familiar with.

[Rob J in WNY]

Glad you like the more separate speakers - I would have suggested the same thing. The stereo separation and soundfield will be more distinct with the speakers farther apart (but too far apart will cause cause the coherency of the soundstage to break down).

There is a balance which is just right, but suffice it to say that, in most cases, speakers placed immediately left and right of the TV can create a narrow soundfield, below optimal. Obviously, some setups and room situations don't allow for spacing speakers away from the TV, but a little extra separation generally does more sonic good than harm.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

Glad you like the more separate speakers - I would have suggested the same thing. The stereo separation and soundfield will be more distinct with the speakers farther apart (but too far apart will cause cause the coherency of the soundstage to break down).

There is a balance which is just right, but suffice it to say that, in most cases, speakers placed immediately left and right of the TV can create a narrow soundfield, below optimal. Obviously, some setups and room situations don't allow for spacing speakers away from the TV, but a little extra separation generally does more sonic good than harm.

I totally agree Rob . well said !

[richteer]

It's hard to say without first hand experience, but I'm gonna go against the flow here and suggest that in your case the first position might be better. The reason for that is in the second picture, your speakers look far too close to the corners and and boomy sound is almost inevitiable.

[js666]

Originally Posted by richteer

It's hard to say without first hand experience, but I'm gonna go against the flow here and suggest that in your case the first position might be better. The reason for that is in the second picture, your speakers look far too close to the corners and and boomy sound is almost inevitiable.

I agree. I should also add that in my experience, the equilateral rule in NOT NEARLY as critical with HT than it is with 2CH listening.

[Hammie]

I think for HT, it is more important to have the front three the same distance from your listening area. This results in an arc along the front sound soundstage. Additionally, I have read (I think on the Dolby website) that in 2-channel, an equilateral triangle is best, where the fronts are at a 45 degree angle to the listening area. In HT, however, fronts should be around 30 degrees to the listening area. That would result in a wider speaker placement up front. This would make sense since HT has the center channel which would fill in any void seen in a 2-channel setup. This is also why it is so hard to have a multi-use setup. Unless you physically move your speakers depending on what you plan on listening to, you may not be in the optimum position to enjoy the audio.

[VinnAY]

Equilateral triangle.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by richteer

It's hard to say without first hand experience, but I'm gonna go against the flow here and suggest that in your case the first position might be better. The reason for that is in the second picture, your speakers look far too close to the corners and and boomy sound is almost inevitiable.

Depending on the speakers Richteer. My modded Snell/Audio Note AN-E/D's require corner loading for lower bass extention - and after the mods were made (to include the port tube itself) I recognized a huge increase of bass - that's not boomy at all. I atribute that to the design itself. I myself would actually bring them back in just a tad to get them out of the corners with those speakers (narrow baffles - the corners placement would mess with this imaging). A compromise between the two offerings

[kingofgrills]

I agree with Prerich on this one. The setup in the first photo has the speakers too close together compared to the main seating area. I think the second picture is closer to ideal. Try moving the speakers slightly closer together, away from the side walls and perhaps rear walls as well.

Finding ideal speaker placement can be critical to the overall sound. I find it beneficial to use a measuring tape and also a laser pointer for proper alignment.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I'm hesitant to provide an opinion, because I'm not fond of either placement. I think it's a choice between 2 evils. That couch is a major obstruction. If it were me I'd have a serious look at re-arranging the room.

John

[dewd]

Thanks for all the opinions. I did not get to watch anything else this weekend, but I will hopefully have a chance soon.

I agree the couch is the biggest problem here, but this is really a multi-purpose room and the couch has to stay. Maybe someday soon I can get the basement theater built.

[SellmeyourDVD]

What do people suggest for the subwoofer placement relative to the front speakers? Should the sub be on outside of the tower speaker or the inside? I'm thinking of redoing my setup a little bit because I feel that i'm not getting enough from the front speakers and I want them both on the outside and sub inbetween the tower speaker and the center speaker. Any suggestions?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by SellmeyourDVD

What do people suggest for the subwoofer placement relative to the front speakers? Should the sub be on outside of the tower speaker or the inside? I'm thinking of redoing my setup a little bit because I feel that i'm not getting enough from the front speakers and I want them both on the outside and sub inbetween the tower speaker and the center speaker. Any suggestions?

The sub can go anywhere in the room , it does not have to be up front . Try moving it around & see if it sounds better somewhere else . Bass waves are non directional . I have one in front & one in back .

[SellmeyourDVD]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

The sub can go anywhere in the room , it does not have to be up front . Try moving it around & see if it sounds better somewhere else . Bass waves are non directional . I have one in front & one in back .

Looks like i'm going to have a lot of fun this weekend then

[Turnda643]

I have my fronts & surrounds placed in about an 8x8 square with the sub located to the front right, between the tv and front right speaker. And there are no complaints on the sound! Pics are in my gallery if you wana peek.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by dewd

Thanks for all the opinions. I did not get to watch anything else this weekend, but I will hopefully have a chance soon.

I agree the couch is the biggest problem here, but this is really a multi-purpose room and the couch has to stay. Maybe someday soon I can get the basement theater built.

I can understand that situation completely, and it does leave you with somewhat of a problem. I might have an alternative to solve the issue however, and that is this.

Get rid of the Floorstanders and get a pair of high-quality monitors and stands for your front soundstage. This will eliminate the issue of the couch being in the way. If you don't want to do this, try placing your current speakers on some kind of raised platform (the size of a milk-crate for instance).

John

[neckedness]

in onkyo speaker setup, please explain the speaker distance

is it distance from each other or distance from where you sit?