Bookshelf Speakers, orientation in respect to TV?

[hidoa]

I have a pair of Bookshelf speakers sitting in a media center.
The media center is pretty big. They are to the left and right of the tv, laying on their side. Should the tweeter be on the inside nearest the tv or to the outside? Tweeter is on one side, small woofer on the other....

 

[Adam]

I don't think that it will make much difference soundwise. My recommendation is to try it both ways and determine if you can tell a difference (and, if so, if you have a preference for one orientation over another).

If you have a CRT television and have the speakers right next to it, then the woofer magnets might affect the video if the speakers aren't magnetically shielded - so placing the tweeters nearest the TV might help with that.

 

[lsiberian]

Generally Cabinets can cause acoustic issues. So you may consider some sound treatments inside the cabinet to help with that.

I would say the tweeters to the outside would give a wider sound stage, but doing what Adam says will be your best bet.

 

[jostenmeat]

The problem is that bookshelves are not designed to be put on their sides. It's like asking if it's better to put my car on its left side or right side. The best side is upright. Unlike with a car, bookshelves may work very well upside down. However, if you have any particular technology in the bookshelves, waveguides, etc, they are often implemented with only the upright position in mind.

 

[Adam]

It's like asking if it's better to put my car on its left side or right side.

You crack me up, man!

I agree, for sure. I assumed that the media center is similar to my brothers in that the only way that the speakers will fit is on their side. If not - then definitely try them upright.

 

[lsiberian]

How does changing the orientation of the speaker effect sound. wouldn't the driver generate the same sounds waves on it's side as it would upright?

I know the blending of the tweeter and driver will suffer in certain seating positions, but the cabinet would seem to have more negative effect than the side positioning.

 

[jostenmeat]

How does changing the orientation of the speaker effect sound. wouldn't the driver generate the same sounds waves on it's side as it would upright?

I only know the most topical things about speaker design.

If there is a waveguide, or any technology that affects dispersion of the tweeter, you want to leave it in an upright position.

I know that the Ascend Sierra1 center is the same as the mains, but the tweeter baffle is rotated.

My PSBs have a phase diffuser/lens commonly used to flatten the dip before the breakup node of a metal tweeter. It would appear, visually to a noob, that vertical orientation is key, but I've been told that it mainly affects only very high freq, and so not quite as big of a deal.

Outside of any possible application such as a waveguide, one is going to have to deal with offaxis issues I presume, as one does with a horiz MTM. In the case of having two speakers with very poor off-axis response (at least at or around the x-over), the listener cannot be on-axis to both simultaneously.

I know the blending of the tweeter and driver will suffer in certain seating positions, but the cabinet would seem to have more negative effect than the side positioning.

I would agree that placing speakers in a cabinet is a big no-no as well. As for which is worse, maybe you're right, I do not know. Sorry I don't know better, cheers.

 

[hidoa]

Thanks for the good information guys!

 

[DD66000]

How does changing the orientation of the speaker effect sound. wouldn't the driver generate the same sounds waves on it's side as it would upright?

I know the blending of the tweeter and driver will suffer in certain seating positions, but the cabinet would seem to have more negative effect than the side positioning.

Placing a vertical speaker horizontally causes comb filtering and reduced clarity, especially for dialogue. Which is the reason may dedicated center speakers are useless, the ones with mtm horizontal layout. The better center speakers are the ones that have the tweeter and midrange drivers aligned vertically, with the dual mid-bass drivers to the sides.

These are a much better center speakers

Than this one.

 

[TLS Guy]

How does changing the orientation of the speaker effect sound. wouldn't the driver generate the same sounds waves on it's side as it would upright?

I know the blending of the tweeter and driver will suffer in certain seating positions, but the cabinet would seem to have more negative effect than the side positioning.

Changing a speakers axis changes the dispersion pattern, some drastically.

In the vertical position the horizontal dispersion will be optimized, and the vertical dispersion limited. Speakers with odd order crossovers have a tilted lobing pattern of 15 degrees downward if the tweeter is on top and upwards, if the tweeter is on the bottom.

It is most crucial for MTMs which should always be vertical, which makes most center channel speakers a piece of nonsense. The purpose of MTM is to improve horizontal dispersion and limit vertical dispersion.