Moving gear to front of the room? Pro's? Con's?

[Mike]

I am considering moving my gear to the front of my room. The 11 meter XLR run becomes quite an investment as I look into moving to Siltech cabling. My thought is to have Timbernation build me some low profile racks (27.5 inches tall max). The racks would sit BEHIND the speakers by 4-6 inches. The 27.5 inches would match the height of the stacked XS150's. The 27.5 inches is even with the top woofer of the Strads and yet remains below the midrange and tweeter. I could fit two 39 inch wide (27.5 inch tall) racks (with three shelves at 7.25 inches), giving me a total of 12 "slots" for gear. My Turntable and POSSIBLY R2R could go on top. I think I may just keep the R2R off to the side if it will affect diffusion in a negative way (but I will try it to see).

My question is will this affect sound diffusion in a negative way or should I be ok so long as the rack remains low profile?

Thoughts?

 

[Steve]

If the speakers are forward, the effects should be negligible, IMO, otherwise imaging and focus can be compromised.

I've experimented a little with such placement given space limitations and high racks. My speakers are forward (contrary to older pics on my system thread which show forward faces from rack line only, which was still OK for Dali performance).

However, Dali's are not towed in per their recommended placement. This attribute probably contributes to their versatility of placement. Other loudspeakers could be more critical. YMMV.

 

[CPP]

I am considering moving my gear to the front of my room. The 11 meter XLR run becomes quite an investment as I look into moving to Siltech cabling. My thought is to have Timbernation build me some low profile racks (27.5 inches tall max). The racks would sit BEHIND the speakers by 4-6 inches. The 27.5 inches would match the height of the stacked XS150's. The 27.5 inches is even with the top woofer of the Strads and yet remains below the midrange and tweeter. I could fit two 39 inch wide (27.5 inch tall) racks (with three shelves at 7.25 inches), giving me a total of 12 "slots" for gear. My Turntable and POSSIBLY R2R could go on top. I think I may just keep the R2R off to the side if it will affect diffusion in a negative way (but I will try it to see).

My question is will this affect sound diffusion in a negative way or should I be ok so long as the rack remains low profile?

Thoughts?

I agree with Steve "the effects should be negligible",. Mike is this the main room upstairs ?

PS: Chris at Timbernation does great work Mike. :tup:

 

[Mike]

I agree with Steve "the effects should be negligible",. Mike is this the main room upstairs ?

PS: Chris at Timbernation does great work Mike. :tup:

Yes, the upstairs room. Thanks! I have all my racks from Chris! No audio BS voodoo - just straight up solid racks. Custom made!


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[CPP]

Yes, the upstairs room. Thanks! I have all my racks from Chris! No audio BS voodoo - just straight up solid racks. Custom made!


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Mike did you ever get that room acoustically like you wanted ? I remember you were changing speakers , repositioning speakers a while back. Also just wondering about the new proposed distance from the back and side walls. I had a room like that and a little movement impacts a lot due to the room design but those Stradivari's might enjoy a little more forward air. But should be fun.

 

[Mike]

Mike did you ever get that room acoustically like you wanted ? I remember you were changing speakers , repositioning speakers a while back. Also just wondering about the new proposed distance from the back and side walls. I had a room like that and a little movement impacts a lot due to the room design but those Stradivari's might enjoy a little more forward air. But should be fun.

Chris - I did get things sorted out. I really want to try some panels from Resolution Acoustics (who will be at Axpona with two VERY unique rooms - one treated, one not - same systems in both - COOL!). Right now I would say my room is a pinch too damp. I could remove a few absorbing panels and that should do the trick.

I went back to STRADS because they sound amazing and they just work in my room. They have soul! And I love the sound of wood! [emoji3]

I'm tempted to try some Scala V2's or Stella's since I love my Scala's so much downstairs - but I best not mess with it I figure.

Since the STRADS are wide (and therefore the drivers further away from the side wall), the edge of the speaker can be a pinch closer to the side walls. I have them out a little more than 4 feet. I followed the Sumiko setup procedure to determine this. I have ZERO bass issues or high frequency issues. I have a glorious midrange. Man, I better not mess with trying some other speaker. And the XS150's just bring everything to life! Thunderous!


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[the professor]

My guess is that the "negative" effects of moving the equipment between the speakers will be offset by not needing such a long run of interconnects. Thus the total effect will be a good one.

 

[still-one]

I prefer to have as little gear as possible between the speakers. I do have my amps sitting between my X2's but even on their stands they stand less than a foot off the floor.

 

[Zero]

You shouldn't have too many issues re: Diffusion. If anything, I think the pros and cons will balance everything out.

The upside is that you will be dealing with shorter cable lengths. This should pay dividends. On the downside, by putting the rack directly behind the speakers, you're basically throwing it into your loudspeakers 'firing range'. There's going to be a lot of energy hitting that rack - which will more than likely generate a lot of resonance. Whether or not this will be audible however - I can't say.

 

[BlueFox]

As long as the rack is open on the sides, rear, and front, with adequate space between the top of gear and the bottom of the next shelf, and placed behind the edge of the baffle then there should be minimal issue. If anything it will help mitigate reflections off the wall behind the speakers.

 

[Mike]

If the speakers are forward, the effects should be negligible, IMO, otherwise imaging and focus can be compromised.

I've experimented a little with such placement given space limitations and high racks. My speakers are forward (contrary to older pics on my system thread which show forward faces from rack line only, which was still OK for Dali performance).

However, Dali's are not towed in per their recommended placement. This attribute probably contributes to their versatility of placement. Other loudspeakers could be more critical. YMMV.

Thanks Steve. I've always admired your setup. Visual stunner!

 

[Mike]

As long as the rack is open on the sides, rear, and front, with adequate space between the top of gear and the bottom of the next shelf, and placed behind the edge of the baffle then there should be minimal issue. If anything it will help mitigate reflections off the wall behind the speakers.

Thanks Bud. I would have enough room for the gear, but likely not enough to add stillpoints or nordost sort fut cones under the taller pieces. Hopefully will be ok. Thoughts?

 

[Mike]

You shouldn't have too many issues re: Diffusion. If anything, I think the pros and cons will balance everything out.

The upside is that you will be dealing with shorter cable lengths. This should pay dividends. On the downside, by putting the rack directly behind the speakers, you're basically throwing it into your loudspeakers 'firing range'. There's going to be a lot of energy hitting that rack - which will more than likely generate a lot of resonance. Whether or not this will be audible however - I can't say.

Hmm...excellent point. Maybe I should only do two taller shelves instead of three shorter ones. Less space for gear though, but more room to raise gear up with stillpoints or similar products. Hmm...what to do...what to do...

 

[Don C]

On the downside, by putting the rack directly behind the speakers, you're basically throwing it into your loudspeakers 'firing range'. There's going to be a lot of energy hitting that rack - which will more than likely generate a lot of resonance. Whether or not this will be audible however - I can't say.

I was thinking this, too.

Hmm...excellent point. Maybe I should only do two taller shelves instead of three shorter ones. Less space for gear though, but more room to raise gear up with stillpoints or similar products. Hmm...what to do...what to do...

That might be a good compromise.

 

[Steve]

You shouldn't have too many issues re: Diffusion. If anything, I think the pros and cons will balance everything out.

The upside is that you will be dealing with shorter cable lengths. This should pay dividends. On the downside, by putting the rack directly behind the speakers, you're basically throwing it into your loudspeakers 'firing range'. There's going to be a lot of energy hitting that rack - which will more than likely generate a lot of resonance. Whether or not this will be audible however - I can't say.

Sure, rack performance counts. This is where the design and material elements of the Quadraspire racks excel! I have a turntable on a HRS platform sitting on a tall Quadraspire rack close to a loudspeaker on timber floors. Zero problems with resonance, vibration and feedback. The racks are spiked and decoupled on isolators.

I think of the rack's performance working in harmony like an orchestral stage or pit. The Quadraspire racks are open with vented and fluted shelves. They sway with the energy of the music.

 

[KeithR]

I think it makes a difference and doing this for high end cabling seems excessive as room effects trump cables in my experience. i switched positions in my old room and it was clear as day. fwiw, Rives (when they were around) would only allow an amp in between the speakers for their room setups.

you might try both positions with the cables you have, first, before ordering a very expensive XLR. that would isolate the room component at minimum?

 

[Mike]

Sure, rack performance counts. This is where the design and material elements of the Quadraspire racks excel! I have a turntable on a HRS platform sitting on a tall Quadraspire rack close to a loudspeaker on timber floors. Zero problems with resonance, vibration and feedback. The racks are spiked and decoupled on isolators.

I think of the rack's performance working in harmony like an orchestral stage or pit. The Quadraspire racks are open with vented and fluted shelves. They sway with the energy of the music.

Steve - Quadraspire is the other rack I'm looking at. I have a couple of their amp stands really like them.

 

[Mike]

I think it makes a difference and doing this for high end cabling seems excessive as room effects trump cables in my experience. i switched positions in my old room and it was clear as day. fwiw, Rives (when they were around) would only allow an amp in between the speakers for their room setups.

you might try both positions with the cables you have, first, before ordering a very expensive XLR. that would isolate the room component at minimum?

You have a point. I think if I keep it low enough, it should be ok. But yes, experimentation is the only way to know for sure.

 

[atmasphere]

The place to have your front end of your system is where there are bass nadirs in the room where your gear will see the least amount of vibration. There is no guarantee that will be in the middle of the speakers!

Since the balanced line system exists to eliminate cable artifact, I used it to allow me to place the front end in the most effective spot in the room, which proved to be just a few feet from my listening chair. It should not cost a lot of money to run long interconnect cables if your gear supports the balanced line standard. If not- then you will have to get more expensive cables.... I use Mogami Neglex, about 30 feet of it. I've yet to hear any cable sound better, or for that matter, different. They all sound the same, but my setup supports the balanced line standard so that is predictable.

I have LP storage between my speakers. They behave as fairly effective diffusers. It seems as the system improved in every way by placing them there. I have the front end placed on a custom built Sound Anchors stand, which has custom platforms for the turntable and preamp. I can play any volume I want and the system is impervious- it stays relaxed and does not sound loud at all even when the sound level pressure meter says it is. That makes long listening sessions a lot easier

 

[Zero]

Mike,

You've clearly poured a boat load of time and money into your system - so why purposefully compromise the effort just so you can accommodate more stuffs? Go for the quality solution.