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Coffee Table Dilemma

786 Views 13 Replies 8 Participants Last post by aprikh1, Jun 10, 2021

aprikh1

Discussion Starter · Jun 9, 2021

Hi Folks,

After doing some preliminary reading through this forum, I understand that a coffee table, especially a glass one, does not do any favors for the quality of the room acoustical profile. However, form follows function, and I need a place to set drinks, remotes, etc so a coffee table is likely in my future.

To mitigate the impact of the said coffee table, I was planning to have it sit low, about 12" off the ground. At the same time, the center channel speaker would be positioned above the coffee table at about 14". The table would be circular and 36" in diameter.

With the above in mind, am I committing a cardinal sin here? Pics of Home Theater layout and coffee table in question are as follows:

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Ratman

· #2 · Jun 9, 2021

As long as you keep snacks/drinks/candles/remotes/phones/etc. on the table... it should be fine.

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Ryan Statz

· #3 · Jun 9, 2021

aprikh1 said:
Hi Folks,

After doing some preliminary reading through this forum, I understand that a coffee table, especially a glass one, does not do any favors for the quality of the room acoustical profile. However, form follows function, and I need a place to set drinks, remotes, etc so a coffee table is likely in my future.

To mitigate the impact of the said coffee table, I was planning to have it sit low, about 12" off the ground. At the same time, the center channel speaker would be positioned above the coffee table at about 14". The table would be circular and 36" in diameter.

With the above in mind, am I committing a cardinal sin here? Pics of Home Theater layout and coffee table in question are as follows:

View attachment 3142820

View attachment 3142821

It would only be a "problem" if the coffee table was sitting right in front of your centre channel speaker. Where it is in your space, I don't see it affecting much, if anything.

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quattr0

· #4 · Jun 9, 2021

aprikh1 said:
However, form follows function, and I need a place to set drinks, remotes, etc so a coffee table is likely in my future.

If you need something smaller, this should do. Could definitely hold 2 drinks, 2-3 remotes. There's also a wood one...

Khloe Side Table White

The Khloe Side Table in White highlights modern sophistication in any living room. A rectangular stainless-steel frame with two additional beams creates a solid foundation on which a white tempered glass top sits. Due to its unique design, this side table can easily adhere to any space. You will...

www.modani.com

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Ratman

· #5 · Jun 9, 2021

Ryan Statz said:
It would only be a "problem" if the coffee table was sitting right in front of your centre channel speaker. Where it is in your space, I don't see it affecting much, if anything.

OTOH, the ceiling speaker could pose an issue for those concerned about audio perfection.

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LastButNotLeast

· #6 · Jun 9, 2021

You should drop a sub into the middle of that thing.

Michael

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aprikh1

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 9, 2021

Thanks for all the replies folks! This is giving me a warm and fuzzy that I am not committing an auditory seppuku.

Ratman, the ceiling speakers are mostly there for environmental effects, so I largely don't care about reflections from those.

LastButNotLeast, I got an SVS SB2000 sub for base down to 20hz, and Crowson transducers for everything else below that. Any more base, and the noise will become an issue for other parts of the house. Although I did briefly think about another sub lol

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Ratman

· #8 · Jun 9, 2021

Enjoy your room/table/system. If there's an annoying "problem" after a few months... adjust accordingly.

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Phil Indeblanc

· #9 · Jun 9, 2021

The only oddity is that you mentioned the center channel being 14" off the floor? I find that pretty low, to the point of sitting on the floor. Also, your sub position maybe fine, but I like to keep it away from mains and put it to rear sides if possible. But, I am not well experienced in this, just a couple room setups for myself. I find that if I keep the sub off the wall a bit but near a corner, I get a nice spread . Otherwise, as long as the glass and the metal of that table are decoupled with some good rubber material you should be A-OK. I have no expertise in the topic, just experience and sometimes common sense.

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aprikh1

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 9, 2021

Phil Indeblanc said:
The only oddity is that you mentioned the center channel being 14" off the floor? I find that pretty low, to the point of sitting on the floor. Also, your sub position maybe fine, but I like to keep it away from mains and put it to rear sides if possible. But, I am not well experienced in this, just a couple room setups for myself. I find that if I keep the sub off the wall a bit but near a corner, I get a nice spread . Otherwise, as long as the glass and the metal of that table are decoupled with some good rubber material you should be A-OK. I have no expertise in the topic, just experience and sometimes common sense.

Hi Phil,

You are spot on, an ideal position for any speaker is to have the tweeter at the ear level. Unfortunately that placement is impossible for me due to TV and projector screen dependencies. The best I can do is to elevate the speaker where it is above the coffee table, hence my plan to have as low of a coffee table as possible.

Cheers!

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Ryan Statz

· #11 · Jun 9, 2021

aprikh1 said:
Hi Phil,

You are spot on, an ideal position for any speaker is to have the tweeter at the ear level. Unfortunately that placement is impossible for me due to TV and projector screen dependencies. The best I can do is to elevate the speaker where it is above the coffee table, hence my plan to have as low of a coffee table as possible.

Cheers!

One other helpful thing to do would be to tilt the centre channel up more towards ear level if that is possible for you to do.

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Kingcarcas

· #12 · Jun 10, 2021

TC trying to show off his Boeing Coffee Table

Cover it in acoustic foam if you want.

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squared80

· #13 · Jun 10, 2021

Cool table. Replace it with an ottoman that doubles as a table.

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aprikh1

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 10, 2021

LOL the table in the pic is not mine, but I will be building one similar to that. I found a B52 compressor blade and the table was going to be based around it.

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