Horizontal vs. Vertical placement of speaker

[rolyasm]

I read this article on Audioholics
http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/vertical-vs-horizontal-speaker-designs
Not sure if Chris or Clint wrote it, but cool article. Anyway, I had a couple of thoughts. If it is almost always better to place the speakers in a verticle design, why don't more speaker companies design differently to account for this. I understand the space constraints of up and down, vs. along your TV or projector, but even some of the people with very nice systems and a lot of space seem to keep their center vertical.
Next, I have a friend who has the Klipsch RF-64. It is a huge beast.
http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rc-64.aspx

His system sounds great, but I wonder if it wouldnt be better to have it vertically. I would love to see the above mentioned tests done on this speaker. Maybe he could put it behend a perf. screen in vertical.
Also, would it be inherent that a smaller, few driver system would sound better, such as the smaller RD-62
http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rc-62.aspx
and if so, why would Klipsch make a larger, poorer sounding speaker that costs more? For that matter, why wouldn't everyone just use one driver of each type (woofer, tweeter) so even less interference wouldn't happen?
Just peaked my curiosity. Thanks for any replies.

Roly

 

[Soundman]

I read this article on Audioholics
http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/vertical-vs-horizontal-speaker-designs
Not sure if Chris or Clint wrote it, but cool article. Anyway, I had a couple of thoughts. If it is almost always better to place the speakers in a verticle design, why don't more speaker companies design differently to account for this. I understand the space constraints of up and down, vs. along your TV or projector, but even some of the people with very nice systems and a lot of space seem to keep their center vertical.
Next, I have a friend who has the Klipsch RF-64. It is a huge beast.
http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rc-64.aspx

His system sounds great, but I wonder if it wouldnt be better to have it vertically. I would love to see the above mentioned tests done on this speaker. Maybe he could put it behend a perf. screen in vertical.
Also, would it be inherent that a smaller, few driver system would sound better, such as the smaller RD-62
http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/rc-62.aspx
and if so, why would Klipsch make a larger, poorer sounding speaker that costs more? For that matter, why wouldn't everyone just use one driver of each type (woofer, tweeter) so even less interference wouldn't happen?
Just peaked my curiosity. Thanks for any replies.

Roly

WOW! Alot of questions. I think the main reason speaker manufacturers design them that way is b/c it fits most users setup better, even though it may not be the best design. It is a business and most speaker companies probably feel like they won't sell as many virtical center channels. For users that have the space, they can pass on the center channel and pick up a speaker that's identical to their L-R channels. That's the best solution, IMO.

 

[avaserfi]

The article was written by Chris, I have had the chance to talk to him about it a few times as he lives pretty close to me.

As far as speaker placement (horizontal versus vertical) speaker performance is determined by a variety of factors. A loudspeaker that is designed for horizontal placement properly (a measure rarely taken by most manufacturers) will be able to perform as well as a speaker built to be positioned vertically. I will refer you to this article on the situation.

By placing the tweeter on the axis above the other drivers as well as placement of an acoustically absorbent material between the tweeter and these drivers horizontally are some examples of measures that can be taken to eliminate problems caused by horizontal placement of speakers.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If it is almost always better to place the speakers in a verticle design, why don't more speaker companies design differently to account for this.

I hear you!

View attachment 5460

View attachment 5461

My Center speaker is placed Vertically too.

 

[rolyasm]

Hey AcuDef,
Your attachments didn't work.

So you have your horizontally designed Def Tech placed vertically? Have you tried it both ways? Was it a big difference?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Hey AcuDef,
Your attachments didn't work.

So you have your horizontally designed Def Tech placed vertically? Have you tried it both ways? Was it a big difference?

Oh, sorry.

Let's try that again.

View attachment 5466

View attachment 5467

My Center Speakers are actually designed for both Horizontal & Vertical. Notice how the "Definitive" Name Plate at the bottom is placed appropriately as if the speaker were designed to be placed vertically?

I have no intention of placing my Center speaker horizontally because I believe it is best placed vertically.