Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

Return to Speaker Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Near-field listening gone amuck

184.61.127.46
Posted on June 26, 2022 at 06:54:48
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3415
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2012



I happened to come across this photo on the Mono and Stereo website. It's the recent installation of a complete system in this gentleman's home. Obviously this is not a great room despite the acoustic panels that were installed on the walls. It is extremely narrow and he is forced to sit just a few feet from the speakers. And the narrowness precludes setting the speakers on the short wall as well. I don't know- maybe he gets great sound but you'd think that with the money spent on this uber-expensive system, he could have chosen a better room or enlarged it by extending the back wall. Just my take.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Near-field listening gone amuck, posted on August 1, 2022 at 18:18:55
LtMandella
 It's like the Ferrari buyer who lives on a small island. 90% of the buy is for bragging rights...

 

The only way this "nearfield" setup might work would be if..., posted on July 23, 2022 at 09:02:43
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 2236
Joined: February 19, 2021
 ... the front and back walls both absorbed all or most of the sounds that hit them. And somehow I doubt that is the case in this room, with such speakers.

Maybe such a thing is somehow possible ? I doubt it.

 

Maybe invest in a light?, posted on July 7, 2022 at 20:15:06
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 and maybe a side table to put your drink on?

 

The salesmen at his dealer must laugh their asses off when he shows up.*, posted on July 5, 2022 at 08:57:06
Mali
Audiophile

Posts: 2220
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 *

 

Even funnier, they are the ones who installed that system. (nt, posted on July 5, 2022 at 12:44:10
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 2236
Joined: February 19, 2021
 .

 

RE: The salesmen at his dealer must laugh their asses off when he shows up.*, posted on July 5, 2022 at 09:38:11
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3415
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2012
 I'm sure they're laughing...-..all the way to the bank!

 

I heard them in a show room., posted on June 28, 2022 at 14:16:38
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 When the store got the first demos they had them set up in the middle of a decent sized room, with space and distancing.

The next time I went back to hear them, they had moved them back in line with all the other speakers.

BIG DIFFERENCE!

 

RE: I heard them in a show room., posted on June 28, 2022 at 15:10:34
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3364
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 Heard them years ago at a show. Maybe RMAF but I can't remember for sure. They were pulled out well into the room with probably a full 6' or more to the front wall. Created an immense three dimensional sound stage the likes of which I had never heard before or since for that matter. Unfortunately, the set up in that pic is not going to allow for a fraction of the potential that system has to offer.

 

Final listening session before ..., posted on June 28, 2022 at 06:15:12
reelsmith.
Audiophile

Posts: 13131
Location: CT
Joined: June 7, 2005
Contributor
  Since: January 19, 2010
 ...publishing his review.

Dean.






reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.


 

I'm thinking..., posted on June 27, 2022 at 22:36:13
jimbill
Audiophile

Posts: 3048
Location: Texas
Joined: May 31, 2004
 The system came in before his dedicated music room was finished.
He couldn't wait to hear it.

 

Omnidirectionals are SO wrong for that room, posted on June 27, 2022 at 14:43:00
Brian H P
Audiophile

Posts: 1291
Location: Oregon
Joined: December 18, 2012
 He'd be better off with some nice horn speakers that beam like lasers, toed in to reduce wall reflections.

 

Just not large multi-way types, posted on June 27, 2022 at 14:51:50
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37604
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 that need lots of distance to listener for driver blending.

Naturally, full range electrostats don't share that challenge. :)

 

"Nearfield" = direct sound dominating reflected sound... So that's not "nearfield"., posted on June 27, 2022 at 10:03:47
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 2236
Joined: February 19, 2021
 It's a dingleberry delight but this guy ain't hearing "nearfield" sound.

Regardless of how close to the speakers you sit, ample physical space all around the speakers (or full-range acoustic absorption) is a necessary ingredient. Otherwise, reflected sound from the frontwall and/or backwall, sidewalls, ceiling, and floor will destroy the "nearfield" effect.

 

RE: "Nearfield" = direct sound dominating reflected sound... So that's not "nearfield"., posted on June 28, 2022 at 07:12:31
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3415
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2012
 So what would you call it?

 

It's nearweird. , posted on June 28, 2022 at 09:29:51
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 2236
Joined: February 19, 2021
 It's bad high-fi, times 7.

"Nearfield" means more than simply sitting very close to your speakers. Even a small computer desktop system may not truly be a nearfield one if it's improperly set up.

 

RE: Near-field listening gone amuck, posted on June 26, 2022 at 20:18:53
audioasylumman
Audiophile

Posts: 425
Location: Canada
Joined: August 28, 2007
 Maybe he married into that money and the Lady of the House needed the rest of his listening room to store her clothes and shoes?

 

RE: Near-field listening gone amuck, posted on June 26, 2022 at 19:39:33
The Dill
Audiophile

Posts: 2197
Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: July 1, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 3, 2016
 The front & rear walls are covered in acoustic panels, so there is space behind them. I'm thinking that the way the photo was taken, gives the illusion of a narrow room but is actually wider than it looks.

 

Look at the doors...., posted on June 26, 2022 at 20:17:17
Rod M
Web Geek

Posts: 16242
Location: So. California
Joined: March 1, 1999
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 1999
 It look like a 6' double door, maybe 12' or so for the whole wall.

Not much room to breathe.

How does a guy with a million dollar system not have a room to put it in?

-Rod

 

RE: Look at the doors...., posted on June 26, 2022 at 23:00:02
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 The room appears to be about 2+ 'body' lenghts wide.
If they guy is 6feet tall, that's gonna be 15 feet......But it doesn't look even THAT wide....
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Near-field listening gone amuck, posted on June 26, 2022 at 19:24:33
aclearspot
Audiophile

Posts: 204
Location: norcal
Joined: May 9, 2003
 whats hanging down from the ceiling ????

 

Maybe part of some DSP system?..., posted on June 26, 2022 at 21:39:38
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31874
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 Let's face it, he's going to need all the help he can get in that space.

Should have gone the headphone route.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

You know that's al MBL audio $$$$, posted on June 26, 2022 at 17:32:02
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 There's well over a million in audio gear sitting there. That's MBL Audio gear. Notorious for being $$$ big league expensive.

 

he must love music an awful lot, posted on June 26, 2022 at 16:33:01
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10431
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 and I say more power to him. There's got to be something he could do though, besides a wrecking ball



 

The next door apartment should be right in the sweet spot. nt, posted on June 26, 2022 at 14:41:32
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 7503
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 nt

 

Ridiculous..., posted on June 26, 2022 at 13:34:51
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31874
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 and he looks miserable.

Maybe there are bragging rights involved?

Have to be WOM, doesn't look like he can have friends over.

Well, maybe tiny ones...


"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

It takes all types!, posted on June 26, 2022 at 23:41:17
JDK
Audiophile

Posts: 19655
Location: Sydney
Joined: June 26, 2000
 A few years back a friend into audio went to a house warming party - after a megabuck renovation.
In the rumpus room was a brand new full Krell system.
My mate asked how it sounded, and the owners exact words were "I dunno, but the kids like it"...............


Trying to hide from entropy
John K

 

In the "more money than brains" category, posted on June 26, 2022 at 11:54:41
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9858
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
If some fraction on what he spent on the MBL system where spend to improve his premises, he'd be 'way better off.

This looks more like that sort of room where that system belongs, (from the MBL site) ...






Dmitri Shostakovich

 

So where's the best listening position in that MBL room??, posted on June 28, 2022 at 04:29:11
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9858
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004



...




Dmitri Shostakovich

 

Even in the MBL room sound would be much improved ..., posted on June 30, 2022 at 10:57:08
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9858
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 ... By moving the omnidirectional drives forward to the edge of the raised area in front of the windows, (4-5 feet). There the soundstage would be enhanced and the window reflections less prominent.

I had Ohm F speakers for a number of years; they had a broad soundstage and listening position wasn't critical.



Dmitri Shostakovich

 

It's probably staged. I don't see any cables., posted on June 29, 2022 at 10:09:47
Dave_K
 The lounge was probably placed there per the photographer's wishes, just to fill the frame. You see a lot of impractical room setup and furniture placement in staged homes.

 

RE: It's probably staged. I don't see any cables., posted on June 29, 2022 at 13:52:59
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3415
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2012
 I see cables towards the back of the top shelf. Why would anyone stage this, particularly in THIS room?

 

RE: It's probably staged. I don't see any cables., posted on June 30, 2022 at 04:39:07
Dave_K
 Most manufacturers produce staged "lifestyle" images with their products in fake settings.

I suppose the cables could be concealed by that fake wall. Except for the right hand woofer cabinet, which has nothing but window behind it. But if you had that house, built for its water view, would you block the view with a fake wall to put the TV on? And if you did, wouldn't you have a better TV? If you were going to buy a top of the line MBL system, wouldn't you have a dedicated room for it? The sweet spot in this room is compromised; it's too low and too distant. The lounge chair is nonsensically placed. There's just too many fishy things about this picture.

 

Echo City. nt, posted on June 27, 2022 at 12:20:44
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10581
Joined: April 12, 2002
 /

 

I wouldn't want to play any speakers in a room with that much hard surface. nt, posted on June 26, 2022 at 14:49:05
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17296
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 .
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

RE: I wouldn't want to play any speakers in a room with that much hard surface. nt, posted on June 27, 2022 at 06:11:39
gadio4533
Audiophile

Posts: 460
Location: FL
Joined: May 28, 2007
 If you've ever heard them you might change you're mind. They are stunning. Get them in the house and worry about the rest later :)

 

But bear in mind that omnidirectional speakers are "about' reflections, posted on June 29, 2022 at 08:08:40
Feanor
Audiophile

Posts: 9858
Location: London, Ontario
Joined: June 17, 2003
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2004
 Although there can be too much of a good thing.


Dmitri Shostakovich

 

They may sound "stunning" even in that room . . ., posted on June 28, 2022 at 14:00:04
Brian H P
Audiophile

Posts: 1291
Location: Oregon
Joined: December 18, 2012
 . . . but think how much better they could sound there with absorbtive panels on the walls, heavy drapes over all that glass, some overstuffed fabric-upholstered chairs and couches, and a big thick shaggy carpet on the floor! And maybe some futons behind and to the side of the speakers.

 

RE: They may sound "stunning" even in that room . . ., posted on June 28, 2022 at 16:18:36
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3415
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2012
 Those are acoustic panels on the walls. And it sure looks like a thick carpet.

 

+1. nt, posted on June 29, 2022 at 09:56:57
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 7503
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 nt

 

Yup! nt, posted on June 28, 2022 at 14:03:57
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17296
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 .
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

RE: In the "more money than brains" category, posted on June 26, 2022 at 14:38:17
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2378
Joined: September 27, 2004
 But less costly than that system would be to hire bands or orchestras to perform live!

 

RE: Near-field listening gone amuck, posted on June 26, 2022 at 07:32:30
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1989
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003
 Looks like a divorcee in his 1 bedroom apartment.

She got the Land Rover and the Lake House.

 

RE: Near-field listening gone amuck, posted on June 26, 2022 at 08:17:19
ecl876
Audiophile

Posts: 3415
Location: Bend, Oregon
Joined: January 14, 2007
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2012
 With that investment in gear, you'd think he could have done better than a one bedroom apartment!!

 

Maybe he did, until she filed for divorce..., posted on June 26, 2022 at 08:28:42
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 after he spent all their money on that system!


First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

Page processed in 0.066 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]