Athena speaker placement

[STRONGBADF1]

SPEAKER PLACEMENT
Front Speaker Placement
AS-B1.2, AS-B2.2, AS-F1.2, AS-F2.2
For best stereo imaging, the left and right speakers should be the same distance from their respective side walls. If the distance from one speaker to the listener is very different from the other it can affect the soundstage or stereo imaging. Therefore, the ideal position is having the speakers equidistant to the listener. A general guideline for speaker placement is to set up the space between speaker and listener at approximately 1-1/2 times the distance between the speakers. For example, if the speakers are placed a minimum of 6-feet (1.8m) apart (the absolute minimum), the best seating position would be 9-feet (2.4m) away.

Why a absolute minimum of 6'. This is the only time I have seen a statment like this. (limited experience searching owners manuals) Is it common to list a minimum placement. What about nearfield listening? Would you measure this from centerline to centerline of the drivers or from box to box?

 

[markw]

I don't think it's an "absolute, per se.

I think it's a general suggestion for all speakers, not just for their product. If two pspeakers are placed close together, stereo imaging will be severely compromised, particularly at their example listening distance of 9 feet. Obviously, near field listening has different rules and I don't think the 9' distance applies to that.

If you have these, you already know they image pretty durn good. Why impede it? But, if ya gotta place 'em closer together then I don'tthink they would suffer any more than any other speaker.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Hi markw,

I understand the stereo imaging problems but I was just wondering if placeing two speakers two close together causes any adverse affects like distorsion?

Unfortuneatly my current speakers are 5' apart from box to box the way the room is setup. My system on the short 13'6" wall of a rectangle with a door keeping me from speading them out any further. The long wall is 23'6". My seat is 13' away from the front speakers. I don't like the way my system sounds when it is on the long wall. So....hence the question. Just curious.

So markw/anyone do you have any insight to satisfy my curiosity???


Thanks
SBF1

 

[markw]

To put your mind at ease,

no, you're not adding distortion or causing any harm. You're just missing out on a bit of the fun by having them so close together and sitting so far from them but, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

...enjoy