Placement of Floor Standing *UPDATE*

[BassBomb]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/option1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/option2.jpg

Turns out they werent the same height.... thats what I get for eyeballing.

Anyways so those are my two options, ear level is at the top of the monitor. I will be rotating the speakers to match where I am sitting to avoid being off axis too much.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/option1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/option2.jpg

Turns out they werent the same height.... thats what I get for eyeballing.

Anyways so those are my two options, ear level is at the top of the monitor. I will be rotating the speakers to match where I am sitting to avoid being off axis too much.

Rotating the monitors will generally have a negative effect. Due to the cancellation nodes with the tweeter, listening with them horizontally creates many more negative effects that with them vertically.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: BassBomb
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/option1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/option2.jpg

Turns out they werent the same height.... thats what I get for eyeballing.

Anyways so those are my two options, ear level is at the top of the monitor. I will be rotating the speakers to match where I am sitting to avoid being off axis too much.

Rotating the monitors will generally have a negative effect. Due to the cancellation nodes with the tweeter, listening with them horizontally creates many more negative effects that with them vertically.

Rotating them towards me is bad idea?

Would both options (in pics) be bad compared to having them both standing normally but on slightly different heights?

 

[BassBomb]

set them up i like it like this now

One side is slightly above my ear one side is slightly below

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/DSC00751.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/DSC00753.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/DSC00754.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/DSC00755.JPG

~50 inches apart, 40 inches away from listening position

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: BassBomb
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/option1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/funkbro2/option2.jpg

Turns out they werent the same height.... thats what I get for eyeballing.

Anyways so those are my two options, ear level is at the top of the monitor. I will be rotating the speakers to match where I am sitting to avoid being off axis too much.

Rotating the monitors will generally have a negative effect. Due to the cancellation nodes with the tweeter, listening with them horizontally creates many more negative effects that with them vertically.

Rotating them towards me is bad idea?

Would both options (in pics) be bad compared to having them both standing normally but on slightly different heights?

No, rotating them horizontally is bad typically for any off axis listening. However, this can be hit or miss. I would recommend keeping them vertical. There is a reason Front speakers are typically vertical and center channels are horizontal(again...typically)

 

[BassBomb]

Thanks for the help PurdueRy again

I noticed something regarding the crossover settings:

I used Audacity for my tests
Tone generated 44100 @ 24bit Mono

Generated a 40Hz tone, and noticed the Front's are trying to play that also (even with reciever Crossover at 100Hz, speaker set to small)

Generated a 200Hz tone, and noticed the sub is playing it (albiet barely), Sub's own crossover is set to 150Hz (changing it from 50 to 150 still heard the tone)
Did the same thing for 150Hz also.

Should it not be exhibiting the following:

Sub: 25 (physically limited) - 100Hz
Front: 100 - 20000Hz

OR

Sub: 25 - 150Hz
Front: 100 - 20000Hz

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
Thanks for the help PurdueRy again

I noticed something regarding the crossover settings:

I used Audacity for my tests
Tone generated 44100 @ 24bit Mono

Generated a 40Hz tone, and noticed the Front's are trying to play that also (even with reciever Crossover at 100Hz, speaker set to small)

Generated a 200Hz tone, and noticed the sub is playing it (albiet barely), Sub's own crossover is set to 150Hz (changing it from 50 to 150 still heard the tone)
Did the same thing for 150Hz also.

Should it not be exhibiting the following:

Sub: 25 (physically limited) - 100Hz
Front: 100 - 20000Hz

OR

Sub: 25 - 150Hz
Front: 100 - 20000Hz

Crossovers are not ideal. It takes a number of octaves above the crossover point for a note to become undetectable in the speaker it is being filtered out of. They are not a brick wall type filter.

Depending on the quality of crossover, an octave above the crossover point may be as little as -6dB less than the original signal, or possibly 24dB less in volume. Either of these will still be audible, especially if you are putting your ear close to the speaker.

 

[BassBomb]

they were really moving because of it, but make little sound (should I be worried about the movement?)

Indeed you are correct in that I won't hear any of it from the sitting location since they were much lower dB compared to what the speaker that SHOULD be playing the sound was putting out.

This is still proving to be informative, and I will continue to learn for a long time

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
they were really moving because of it, but make little sound (should I be worried about the movement?)

Indeed you are correct in that I won't hear any of it from the sitting location since they were much lower dB compared to what the speaker that SHOULD be playing the sound was putting out.

This is still proving to be informative, and I will continue to learn for a long time

by movement you mean movement of the cone? In that case, no, provided that you can tell its getting quieter the higher the pitch goes(in the sub) its working fine. Just make sure to turn your sub crossover as high as possible.

With those speakers though I would think you could get away with a 80 Hz crossover. Might want to try it.

 

[BassBomb]

Infinity C350 Center Channel speaker went on sale at my local BB for $240.

Should I add this?

Will this add any depth to my sound (games, movies or music)?

 

[herm0016]

a center would be the next step, but i do not think it would be worth it. can your receiver do just stereo with a center channel? i think Mine only does stereo, 5 channel and 6 channel. may want to check on this.

 

[BassBomb]

The final cost turned me away, was 290 after taxes and shipped so I decided not to get it.

Along with the issue of where to place it..


As far as reciever modes, It would work fine from the PS3 since that is just DTS/DD without C or Rears
But for pc I think I would have to set the Audigy to 5.1 mode

 

[BassBomb]

UPDATE: Well as some of you know I've got Infinity P162 bookshelf speakers in tandem with a PS12 sub.

I am thinking of completing my set with P362's and a the C350.
However as with the original setup I've got issues with where to set up floor standing speakers.

To Familiarize yourself with my current setup:

Current Setup 1
Current Setup 2
Current Setup 3
Current Setup 4

Top view made in AutoCAD. As you can see there isn't a great deal of possible placements
Current Setup ACAD


The Proposed setup:

Move my armoire closer to closet door (top left) and place the P362's on each side of the room directly in line with my seating position pointed at my ears.

The rears can go on my night stands or one on a small shelf to keep symmetry. Another option would be mounting them to the roof angled downwards but they are heavy and I won't be fond of drilling holes into my speaker back (they don't have mounting brackets already built in because of the weight compared to the P152 P142).

Proposed Setup ACAD

Would this be a bad idea? Any other suggestions?

 

[BassBomb]

TEH BUMPS?

 

[Tiamat]

Dolby suggests...

What you are proposing will not work. Sound is composed of waves that interact with their surroundings. These interactions need to be considered and accounted for in order to achieve reasonably good sound within the acoustically small-room environment. Dolby has taken these considerations into account when they made their setup guidelines. Stereo needs to come from in front of you, not to the sides. If you have an extensive binaural collection, it is possible that your proposed setup would work for those (minus the surround speakers). But, I doubt that is the case.

You seem to have a bedroom setup? If this is the case, your situation is already heavily compromised in all respects regarding acoustics. I always recommend limiting heavily compromised areas to a 2.0 setup whether that is simply full-range floorstanding speakers or standmount speakers with a low-passed subwoofer. The acoustic field is simply too compromised to allow for satisfactory surround sound.

So, for proper reproduction of sound, get your front speakers in front of you. In 5.1, the speakers go to the sides of the listening position, not so far back. Again, refer to the Dolby guideline. If you cannot set them up, then do not bother with them as they will just worsen the sound field.

If you cannot follow the guide at all, then I suggest you reevaluate what your expectations for sound reproduction. Perhaps headphones, would be the best bet in that situation.

Edit:
Since you already have the stereo + subwoofer 2.0 configuration setup, I would stick with that. I would not go forward and buy extra speakers. If you want better sound quality, upgrade the speakers to better speakers and/or upgrade the subwoofer to a better subwoofer depending on your needs. Further, find a way to get the front speakers aligned. Your picture shows unequal height and this causes troublesome vertical misalignment which presents a messed up stereo image and potentially other serious problems that are very audible. Since your stereo is already severely compromised, I would not recommend compounding that even more with additional speakers and even worse placement.

optimal Speaker placement and listening position placement within the room are paramount to good sound. If these are compromised, the bar for sound quality is already unacceptably low.

I hope this helps. There are many facts of acoustics physics that get thrown to the wayside by many people and then they get confused when they don't have good sound. It is pretty commonsense once you take the time to think about it. If you want good sound, then you or the person setting your equipment up has to have regard for acoustics plain and simple. You can't defy physics!

 

[BassBomb]

Thank you for the wise words! I will remain with 2.1 in my room

I think I may pick up the p362's and send my setup w/ P362's downstairs with our main TV for HT use.

My room is 40% gaming 50% music 10% HT so it will be better used down there and I could find myself another 2.1 setup or buy the same one again.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
Thank you for the wise words! I will remain with 2.1 in my room

I think I may pick up the p362's and send my setup w/ P362's downstairs with our main TV for HT use.

My room is 40% gaming 50% music 10% HT so it will be better used down there and I could find myself another 2.1 setup or buy the same one again.

No problem. Like everything physics related, many people want it to bow to their wishes, but it is us (people) that have to bow to it.

Physics is kinda like cats. They do whatever the hell they want and you can't do sh1t about it. You are lucky if your "desires" align. The benefit to physics is that if you are willing to study and think just a little bit extra than most people, you will understand how it works enough to work with it rather than against it.