It could be argued that it pretty much eliminates the traditional floor bounce, although that was not my reason.
Keeping them close to the listeners on axis ear height was my general belief?
Reflections from boundaries are indeed acoustics 101. The spatial integration over a room reveals variations in power output over a range of frequencies - Figures 13.6 and 13.10 in the 4th edition. Roy Allison put this interpretation into the popular audio literature, but as he notes, it was known in physical acoustics literature. Acoustic Research, where he worked, at the time was focusing on radiated sound power as a key metric of loudspeaker performance, and they measured 22 locations in typical listening rooms.
.Reflections from boundaries are indeed acoustics 101. The spatial integration over a room reveals variations in power output over a range of frequencies - Figures 13.6 and 13.10 in the 4th edition. Roy Allison put this interpretation into the popular audio literature, but as he notes, it was known in physical acoustics literature. Acoustic Research, where he worked, at the time was focusing on radiated sound power as a key metric of loudspeaker performance, and they measured 22 locations in typical listening rooms.
In practice room modes are the dominant problems, and as soon as the appropriate measurements and equalization are involved the situation is usually resolved (Section 13.3.2 in the 4th edition).
Have loudspeaker designs recognized this effect? Yes and no. In the stereo HiFi domain, free-standing loudspeakers have proven to be more marketable than those requiring wall placement, but numerous floor standing loudspeakers place woofers at the bottom, close to the floor boundary. Setting up a satisfactory "stereo triangle" is a factor that reduces options.
Home theater changed the paradigm, first by requiring surround speakers around the room. These are frequently deliberate on-wall or in-wall designs, incorporating the wall boundaries (Figure 13.12). The advantage is significant (Figure 13.9). Nowadays, it is increasingly common for the front L, C and R loudspeakers to also be on- or in-wall designs. The prejudice against these boundary-friendly designs is finally passing.
So, it does actually seem that for one reason or another, many loudspeaker designs recognize advantages of employing at least one adjacent boundary into the concept. Corner placement is still not a selling point
The relative positioning of woofer/midrange and tweeters can be (or probably should be) determined by the orientation of the principal forward-firing lobe in the crossover frequency range. Ideally the listener should be close to the centre, so that some amount of stand/sit, slouching, etc. is tolerated. Large symmetrical vertical arrays, as in certain stunningly expensive designs, force sustained good posture - no reclining allowed.
I had not noted Julian's comment. My interpretation now would be that it is the superior sense of envelopment he experienced (assuming a competent recording), and the accompanying timbral enrichment that comes from multiple reflections - as in concert halls. More resonances are audible in a reflection-enriched situation - timbre is based on resonances. It is explained in the 4th.
Am I right in assuming that the Lyngdorf fr2 then makes sence as an acoustical concept? In Europe our living rooms are typically not that large, so I thought of it more as a space saving design. I always thought that free-standing speakers offered better imaging.Reflections from boundaries are indeed acoustics 101. The spatial integration over a room reveals variations in power output over a range of frequencies - Figures 13.6 and 13.10 in the 4th edition. Roy Allison put this interpretation into the popular audio literature, but as he notes, it was known in physical acoustics literature. Acoustic Research, where he worked, at the time was focusing on radiated sound power as a key metric of loudspeaker performance, and they measured 22 locations in typical listening rooms.
In practice room modes are the dominant problems, and as soon as the appropriate measurements and equalization are involved the situation is usually resolved (Section 13.3.2 in the 4th edition).
Have loudspeaker designs recognized this effect? Yes and no. In the stereo HiFi domain, free-standing loudspeakers have proven to be more marketable than those requiring wall placement, but numerous floor standing loudspeakers place woofers at the bottom, close to the floor boundary. Setting up a satisfactory "stereo triangle" is a factor that reduces options.
Home theater changed the paradigm, first by requiring surround speakers around the room. These are frequently deliberate on-wall or in-wall designs, incorporating the wall boundaries (Figure 13.12). The advantage is significant (Figure 13.9). Nowadays, it is increasingly common for the front L, C and R loudspeakers to also be on- or in-wall designs. The prejudice against these boundary-friendly designs is finally passing.
So, it does actually seem that for one reason or another, many loudspeaker designs recognize advantages of employing at least one adjacent boundary into the concept. Corner placement is still not a selling point
As a method of eliminating one boundary effect the Lyngdorf makes absolute sense. As for stereo imaging, this depends on a variety of factors independent of wall mounting. The horizontal directivity of the loudspeaker design and the proximity and acoustical performance of side walls are the key factors in that respect. Those factors exist for free-standing loudspeakers as well. Some people like a dominant direct sound which means sitting closer to the loudspeakers. Very directional loudspeakers (physically large) or acoustically "dead" rooms (ugh!) are the other options. I say it is worth a try, but I have not seen a spinorama on the product.
Just to be clear, the centre you refer to here is the centre of the tweeter, or the centre of the driver array?
Thank you. I have no intention of buying these, but I thought that the concept was, a bit, intriguing. Specially, because Lyngdorf seems to understand acoustics. I might check them out if I have the opportunity.
