Niles Audio OS6.5 Placing Loudspeakers For The Best Sound Quality, Continued, Speaker, Placement

PLACING LOUDSPEAKERS FOR THE BEST SOUND QUALITY

(CONTINUED)

When using more than one pair, it is usually best to alternate a left channel and then a right channel, so that you have the best possible stereo coverage possible.

The position of the loudspeakers and their surroundings play a very important role in how a stereo image is created. You should experiment to find the very best position for your loudspeakers. Here are some guidelines to make the process quick and easy.

	Speaker
	Placement
	Zone
10'	5'	10'
	Speaker
	Placement
	Zone

Figure 5. Illustration depicts the optimum placement zone for a listening distance of 10 feet (3.04 meters).

Make sure you are not blocking or reflecting the sound off of furniture or other objects. You should have a direct line of sight with the front of the loudspeaker. To determine the best position, measure the distance between the ideal listening position and the wall you plan to mount the loudspeakers on. Try to place the loudspeakers so that they are at least one-half the listening distance apart (this maintains a large, pleasant stereo “image”) and less than the entire listening distance (this avoids a “hole-in-the-middle” effect). For example; if you are ten feet back from the wall, the loudspeakers should be between 5 and 10 feet (1.5 and 3.04 meters) apart (see Figure 5).

If possible, mount the loudspeakers between 8 and 12 feet (2.43 and 3.65 meters) high. The less the downward angle of the loudspeaker, the further the sound will carry. If the sound is carrying into areas where you do not want sound, try pointing the loudspeakers more downward; this will reduce the amount of sound further away from the loudspeaker.

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