Room is missing a wall?! How will this affect my speaker choice?

[mibson]

I have a loft, 21 feet by 19 feet that is going to be developed into a theater room. It is vaulted up from about 5 feet at two sides to 12 feet in the middle.

One side of the room has no wall, just a railing, that looks down upon the living room. This side with a railing has a ceiling height from 5 feet up to 12 feet then back to 5 feet (just trying to describe the orientation of this railing). My speakers can can be positioned with their back facing this open railing, or the opposite way so that my back is facing the railing as I listen to the speakers. (I hope this is clear...?)

Im wondering how this "air" and open space will effect speaker sound and my speaker choice, and am I better off with the back of the speakers having all this open air, or should I place the speakers at the opposite side of the room, so that my back it towards the railing?

My understanding now is that I do not want speakers with a rear firing port if I place the speaker backs along the railing...

Anything else I need to know?

 

[jostenmeat]

Normally, it is recommended to set it up lengthwise. However, since 19 and 21 are so close, it's not quite as clear cut IMO. And really, one of those numbers is not really accurate, if you know what I mean.

I would simply experiment, and try various orientations. It shouldn't be too much work, if you are concerned about that. Just some receiver/integrated, and a pair of speakers. An afternoon could likely suffice.

One of the most common compromises that people do is to be against the back wall. I vote for your back at the railing, rather than your back at the wall.

If you find that it sounds better overall with the railing to the side, you will most likely want to absorb the asymmetrically closer side. The stronger reflected energy on that side can tilt the stage and energy over there. Of course, absorbing your first reflections is a good things anyways.

As for the funky ceiling, you are best served by posting some photos. Due to the possibly very close proximity of this ceiling to the listener, it will be extremely likely that the ceiling will benefit from treatments as well.

 

[j_garcia]

You will have to experiment as mentioned, but I think it will end up working best with your back to the open area. The sound will hopefully diffuse in that area, so it won't affect your primary listeing.

 

[bpape]

I'd agree. If the room is missing a wall, it's not really 19x21. It's 21x whatever it's length plus the room behind it is so you are in effect sitting the long way.

What it will cause you to think about is getting enough sub to get good effect when you're actually trying to pressurize the entire large space.

Bryan

 

[mibson]

Its a loft

It is a loft, so behind the railing is a 10 foot drop down to the living room. The loft and living room are cathedraled.

Thanks for the tips, the whole room is wood so I definitely have some sound treatments to do...