Is it a big no-no to put bookshelves on the floor?
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The footprint of a tower and bookshelf are essentially the same. But maybe you have some height restrictions.
It is not ideal, but if you need to place the bookshelf speakers near the floor, try and elevate them as much as you can, if that is at all possible. Every inch will help. And you will need to tilt them upwards toward the plane of your ears.
Some people actually recommend placing bookshelf speakers near the floor, although this is pretty controversial.
http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/aud...eakers_hub.php
The footprint of a tower and bookshelf are essentially the same. But maybe you have some height restrictions.
It is not ideal, but if you need to place the bookshelf speakers near the floor, try and elevate them as much as you can, if that is at all possible. Every inch will help. And you will need to tilt them upwards toward the plane of your ears.
Some people actually recommend placing bookshelf speakers near the floor, although this is pretty controversial.
http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/aud...eakers_hub.php
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At the very least use some foam isolation pads to angle them upwards (you'll have to orient the speakers backwards from these stock photos):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Isolation.html
The problem is that the floor will act like a resonator if you don't decouple the speakers from the floor itself, which is what will make your bass sound potentially boomy. Also anything like carpet may dampen the sound quite a bit with the tweet that close to the floor. A wood/concrete or other hard surface may make the speaker sound like it has an echo. So there are numerous disadvantages to doing this, but the foam isolation pads may make it work.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Isolation.html
The problem is that the floor will act like a resonator if you don't decouple the speakers from the floor itself, which is what will make your bass sound potentially boomy. Also anything like carpet may dampen the sound quite a bit with the tweet that close to the floor. A wood/concrete or other hard surface may make the speaker sound like it has an echo. So there are numerous disadvantages to doing this, but the foam isolation pads may make it work.
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The bass is boomy because the speaker is coupling with the floor. Treble is weak because it's off axis. Then you have floor reflections. Put the speakers on stands or buy towers.
The bass is boomy because the speaker is coupling with the floor. Treble is weak because it's off axis. Then you have floor reflections. Put the speakers on stands or buy towers.
Thanks for the info guys.
I can put the speakers on stands, but I'll only be lifting them up off the floor about 12" I'll have to custon make some 12" stands. Would 12" inches be enough?
As an FYI the problem I am facing is once I get above 24" the speakers will start blocking the sides of the TV. The Paradigm towers I am looking at tonight will work...but I just wanted a few options in case I don't care for thier sound.
I can put the speakers on stands, but I'll only be lifting them up off the floor about 12" I'll have to custon make some 12" stands. Would 12" inches be enough?
As an FYI the problem I am facing is once I get above 24" the speakers will start blocking the sides of the TV. The Paradigm towers I am looking at tonight will work...but I just wanted a few options in case I don't care for thier sound.
Tweeter at ear level is the golden rule. The further you get away from that the worst off it'll be. If you raise the speaker 24" off the ground, and the tweeter is another 10"? above that, giving you a tweeter height into the mid 30's, you should be at an "acceptable" level. Of course everyone has their own level of analness. Some probably have their tweeters 6" or more off ear height and think it sounds perfect and would never even consider that they needed to be moved while some will probably tell you that if the tweeter is off by more than an 1-2" they get a migraine in 45 seconds. As always, listen to it yourself and see how the sound changes and determine for yourself what is and what isn't acceptable.
Tweeter at ear level is the golden rule. The further you get away from that the worst off it'll be. If you raise the speaker 24" off the ground, and the tweeter is another 10"? above that, giving you a tweeter height into the mid 30's, you should be at an "acceptable" level. Of course everyone has their own level of analness. Some probably have their tweeters 6" or more off ear height and think it sounds perfect and would never even consider that they needed to be moved while some will probably tell you that if the tweeter is off by more than an 1-2" they get a migraine in 45 seconds. As always, listen to it yourself and see how the sound changes and determine for yourself what is and what isn't acceptable.
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