QUAD 33 - Loudspeaker Position

Loudspeaker
Position
The standard
of reproduction
obtained
from any
loud-
speaker
is influenced
by both
its
position
in
the room
and
its
position in
relation
to the
listening
area.
The
optimum
position
can
only
be
found by experiment
and
this cannot
be carried
out
quickly
or
in
a
perfunctory
manner,
if long
term
non-fatiguing
listening
is to
be
obtained.
It is a
fact that
the standard
of
reproduction
in many
homes,
both
mono
and stereo,
is significantly
below
that
which could
have
been obtained
had
sufficient
attention
been
paid to
loudspeaker
positioning. Broadly,
for
stereo
the
two
loudspeakers
should
be 6ft'
to
8ft. apart
with the
listener
at a similar
distance
from each.
Clearly,
when
more
than
one
person
is
listening
they
cannot
both
occupy
the
same
position
and all
listening
tests
should
aim
at obtaining
good
stereo
over a
reasonable
area.
This can
usually
be achieved
over
an area
immedi
ately
behind
the
listening
point
already defined'
with a
width
equal
to
the distance
between
loudspeakers
and
with a similar
depth.
Outside
this
area
the
overall
quality
should
be satisfactory
although
the
perspective may be
degraded.
The
measurement
of 6ft.
to
8ft.
is based
on
a small
room.
With a
larger
room the
scale
may
be
increased
accordingly.
The
quality
of
the
results obtained
will depend
upon
the
following:-
(a)
The
position
of the
loudspeakers
with respect
to
the
room boundaries
(and
sometimes
floor
joists).
(b)
The
direction
of
loudspeaker axis.
(c) The
position
of
large
pieces
of
furniture.
With stereo
the
following
may be added:-
(d)
The
distance
apart.
(e)
The
point
of
intersection of
the
loudspeaker
axes.
(f)
The
relation of
the base
line
(an
imaginary
straight
line
joining
the two
speakers)
to the
room boundaries.
(g)
The
position
of
the
listeners.
The
instructions
supplied
with
the
loudspeaker
may
resolve some
of
the
variables
and
the
rest
must
be solved
Page Seventeen