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Speaker height, how critical.

912 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  hhcibtpaun, 
H
OK, my speakers are coming tomorrow and I am without stands. I am trying to figure out the best height, but i will need to make a slight compromise one way or the other.


From reading my speaker manual, it says the tweeter should be at ear level, so in my case (NHT M5) the tweeter in 9" up from the bottom of the speaker. Now if I measure my ear level sitting erect, I get somewhere around 42", lounging in the chair, maybe 36" and laying on the couch 34" or so.


The options I have with the stands I like (Sanus) are 24", 30" and 36". I am leaning toward the 24" stands. NHT offers a 25" stand, it s just a little pricey. If I go with the 24" stand I come in at 33" and if I go with the 30" I get 39". Is it better to be a little lower or am I totally overanalyzing this???


Any help would be appreciated. Maybe I can get some stands ordered tonight.


Thanks....Mike
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M
Go for the height based on your relaxed seated position; after all relaxing is what it's all about. :)


Most speakers measure best with the tweeter at or slightly above ear level.
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I'd go with the 30" stands; slightly higher gives a better chance for a bigger soundstage. This also would give you the option of turning your speakers upside down in case they sound better that way; also would lower your tweeters.
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H
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Time
I'd go with the 30" stands; slightly higher gives a better chance for a bigger soundstage. This also would give you the option of turning your speakers upside down in case they sound better that way; also would lower your tweeters.
The tweeters are dead center....so right side up or upside down is the same.


Thanks...Mike
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H
Once I decide on the height, I assume I get the same stand for the fronts and rears...correct?


Thanks...Mike
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S
It is more critical that your left/right tweeters, are as close to possible, to the height of your center tweeters, and form an arc from the listener at the same distance. Most decent speakers have a good off-axis pattern, so if you can't get them exactly ear height, don't sweat it.
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H
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirquack
It is more critical that your left/right tweeters, are as close to possible, to the height of your center tweeters, and form an arc from the listener at the same distance. Most decent speakers have a good off-axis pattern, so if you can't get them exactly ear height, don't sweat it.
I keep measuring everything....I may have to flip a coin...I was leaning toward the 24", now I am considering the 30".


Thanks...Mike
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D
I bought 17" stands, then thought they might not be high enough. So, I contacted the manufacturer and purchased the vertical parts for their 23" stands and swapped them on my stands. I discovered the 23" was better for me and my room. Anyway, maybe you can try the same thing w/ Sanus.


Doug
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H
Well, I went with the 30" stands, and I must say from a quality standpoint, they are quite nice. There is one minor issue. On the 24" stands the top plate is 7.5" square, on the 30" it is 6" square.


The speakers I an using are 7.75" x 8.5", and weigh about 21lbs. Will the 6" square plate work OK, or should I try to get a bigger plate? It seems like it should be ok....


thanks...Mike
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6" square will be fine. My plates are about that size, and my speaker bases are much larger (about 9" x 15")

My stands place my tweeters about 2" above ear level, and the imaging is excellent.

(By the way, 21lb is heavy for speakers that size. They must be very solid/well-braced.)
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>The speakers I an using are 7.75" x 8.5", and weigh about 21lbs. Will the 6" square plate work OK, or should I try to get a bigger plate? It seems like it should be ok....
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H
Quote:
Originally Posted by PULLIAMM
6" square will be fine. My plates are about that size, and my speaker bases are much larger (about 9" x 15")

My stands place my tweeters about 2" above ear level, and the imaging is excellent.

(By the way, 21lb is heavy for speakers that size. They must be very solid/well-braced.)
Cool. I figured they would be alright. I just wanted to check. The speakers are quite dense. They are only 18" tall....


Thanks...Mike
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