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RE: Acoustic treatments and dipoles

Hi Smitty,

Most speakers sound best when placed out a bit from the front wall. It becomes a balance between spaciousness and bass extension.

However, Maggies, or any dipole, usually work best out the furtherest. Since they radiate equal sound from their back side, that gets reflected by the front wall. Optimum clarity happens when there is a minimal delay of at least 10 milliseconds between direct sounds and reflected sounds. So depending on the radiation from the speaker that can affect distances to front walls and side walls. GL's (see below) Maggies are way out from the front wall.

Fortunately this is easy to estimate. Sound travels at approximately 1 foot per millisecond. So reflected sound paths should be 10 feet longer than the direct path from speaker to the listener. With dipole designs this means they should be a minimum of 5 feet away from the front wall (to the wall and reflected back = 10'). That is not always possible or desirable for aesthetic reasons. In that case diffusion treatments on the front wall can increase reflection delay times. Absorption may help but diffusion will retain a more balanced result.

Some folks may report their dipoles are closer than 5 feet out and they sound fine. The question is would they sound better if out further? The 10 ms minimal delay comes from acoustic studies for clarity (a lack of sonic smearing) so there is a scientific basis for following this.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho


Edits: 04/03/16
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