Von Schweikert Audio
World Class Reference Speaker Systems for Music and Film
Starting Location:
There are a number of considerations regarding initial placement, particularly involving bass response and basic imaging. In general, bass response is strengthened when the speakers are placed close to the rear or side walls, while imaging is enhanced by pulling the speakers further into the room, away from walls. With your VR loudspeakers and the following suggestions you will be able to achieve both deep and powerful bass and an open sound stage.
ROOM CONFIGURATIONS: If you have a room with fairly rectangular dimensions, you can place the speakers on either the long or short wall. If your room is cubic, you will have far better results placing the speakers diagonally. See next section.
ON LONG WALL: Placing the speakers on the long wall enables you to achieve a very large and wide sound stage. In fact, using an equilateral triangle as your starting point, you can space the speakers as far apart as the listening distance, even if this is 15 feet. Since the VR's have very wide dispersion, there will be no hole in the middle effect. Place the speakers about
*Note: Do not use the same distance from the rear wall and side wall, as this distance will result in too much boost at this wavelength. Stagger this distance by
Do not toe the speakers in at first, place them parallel to the side walls. In general, the sound stage will be constrained to the distance between the speakers, so if you have the VRs only six feet apart, you will hear a small sound stage. Since there will be a lot of overlap between the left and right channels, the center image will be very dense and monophonic. To correct for this, separate the speakers further; 8 feet to 12 feet apart is not too much in a large room, but remember, the spread depends on the listening distance. If you have to spread the speakers well apart but can’t sit far enough back due to furniture and cosmetic considerations, you may have to toe the speakers in, with the tweeters aimed directly at your ears.
ON SHORT WALL: Placing the speakers on the short wall and sitting far back in the long end of the room may give you a concert hall experience if your room is large. Long reverberation times due to long distances from boundaries can impart a ‘grand’ sense of scale with classical music, although smaller rooms might curtail this effect somewhat. Also, too much boundary reflection will result in echoes that may interfere with the direct sound and blur imaging somewhat. If you suspect this condition, clap your hands while standing at the speaker position. If you hear distinct echoes, you will have to treat the room with specialized tuning products from Michael Green, RPG, ASC tube traps, Sonex, generic foam panels, and the like. If decorating is a consideration, try using rugs hanging on the side- walls at the first reflection point, and behind the speakers, directly
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