Mounting speakers horizontally?

Trifid · 3 Nov 2007 at 20:49

Would this effect the performance of the speaker in any way? It would allow the tweeters to be at ear level so I would think it would be better?

Thanks, Trif.

Edit: Speakers are B&W DM601 S3's.

Trifid · 4 Nov 2007 at 14:31

I assume this is a really stupid question.

Dr.EM · 4 Nov 2007 at 14:36

Not too big a deal, those speakers were mounted in this fashion at my college and sounded decent. It effects the soundstage though as the dispersion pattern is now larger in the vertical plane rather than in the horizontal plane; theoretically you end up with less effective stereo imaging and more frequency response anomalies caused by floor and cieling reflections.

Trifid · 4 Nov 2007 at 21:15

Imaging doesn't matter where they are situated as well as horizontal plane field. Vertical is much more important.

Corasik · 4 Nov 2007 at 22:31

I'd say quite the contrary, horizontal imagery is always more important, as you have two ears listening at 2 points on a horizontal plane.

This is converted to a 3d spacial sound by the lump of grey matter in our heads

However, if you dont care about the imagery, it wont damage the speakers or anything like that. It might sound slightly disjointed, but if you dont notice it then its not important to you.

It may look bit wierd... But assuming thats the only place you could mout the speakers, I would put them upsidedown, with the tweeter at the bottom, and the woofer at the top. Infact thats the layout my speakers have. Works very nicely for a shelf mounted speaker, as you quite rightly mention its best for the tweeter to be roughly in line with your eats at your listening position.

badbob · 4 Nov 2007 at 22:34

Yes it would, unless you have coaxial speakers.

Trifid · 5 Nov 2007 at 07:51

Corasik said:
It may look bit wierd... But assuming thats the only place you could mout the speakers, I would put them upsidedown, with the tweeter at the bottom, and the woofer at the top. Infact thats the layout my speakers have. Works very nicely for a shelf mounted speaker, as you quite rightly mention its best for the tweeter to be roughly in line with your eats at your listening position.

It would look very weird but I will try it when I take it down to paint the shelf.

a1ex2001 · 5 Nov 2007 at 14:21

Is that really the only place you can put the speakers? it's a total waste to have them that close together, in tight corners and that close to a rear wall I wouldn't be worried about the imaging the saound is going to be pretty vile anyway.

(Usual disclaimer - Sound is subjective and dependant on the users hearing if you like it stick with ot but I'd hate it)