Had the fun idea of flipping my desktop speakers on their backs and it somehow made them sound better (bigger soundstage maybe)??? I'm assuming this is a result of the port facing downwards as opposed to them shooting backwards and therefore adding more to the low end. Anyone else have experience with up firing speakers? I listen to orchestral music so it might be amplifying the effect.
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Flipping my 2-way desktop speakers vertical makes them sound way better??
- Thread starter Borteese
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- firing soundstage
Keith_W
Major Contributor
It will certainly make them sound different. Flipping speakers on the back will block the port and reduce the LF response. It will also remove "table bounce" (i.e. early reflections from the table) and change the frequency response. You will also be listening off axis which will again change the freq response.
Whether the sum of all these things makes them sound better - I don't know, but I highly doubt they would perform better by objective criteria. Obviously, performing better according to taste is a different question, perhaps you prefer that kind of sound. There are certainly speakers which have been designed from the ground up to radiate sound that way (do a search for "omnidirectional speakers" on ASR).
Whether the sum of all these things makes them sound better - I don't know, but I highly doubt they would perform better by objective criteria. Obviously, performing better according to taste is a different question, perhaps you prefer that kind of sound. There are certainly speakers which have been designed from the ground up to radiate sound that way (do a search for "omnidirectional speakers" on ASR).
gaz
Member
I have a pair of Monitor Audio Monitor 50 upfiring as surround speakers in a small room - advice from Ask Audyssey. Ports blocked. They are excellent for this, and since they are cubes, do not look odd. LF response is strong because they are in corners.
I have wondered what the sound would be like with a stereo signal...
I have wondered what the sound would be like with a stereo signal...
yeah and perhaps a dip around xo, depending on "toe-in" 
Baffle edge diffraction related secondary sound source is also very different now. Also high frequency sound gets better to your ceiling and wall behind speakers, a lot of things change.
Simplified, roomy sound gets brighter and direct sound duller, this would make more spacious perceptually I woul imagine, especially for nearfield setup, which is usually quite direct due to short listening distance. I could imagine its bigger soundstage, but also more hazy/ less accurate, which might be something that sounds better.
Baffle edge diffraction related secondary sound source is also very different now. Also high frequency sound gets better to your ceiling and wall behind speakers, a lot of things change. Simplified, roomy sound gets brighter and direct sound duller, this would make more spacious perceptually I woul imagine, especially for nearfield setup, which is usually quite direct due to short listening distance. I could imagine its bigger soundstage, but also more hazy/ less accurate, which might be something that sounds better.
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