Poll: What is your listening distance? (Fall/Winter 2024)

[GXAlan]

What’s your listening distance? If you have multiple systems, pick all that apply. (Used at least once a week)​

We have had previous polls in the past but let’s sample the membership again. Feel free to comment with typical SPL or details about your systems.

Since many of us have headphones and speakers, only include headphones if you specifically use them as frequently as your other systems. I have headphones but rarely use them, so I did not vote for that.

Do not include your car in this poll.

 

[ppataki]

Just voted; listening distance is 2.5m, normally my peak SPL is around 85-90dB
(my main system is in my signature)

 

[GXAlan]

1) Dolby Atmos setup. (~ 3.5m)
Movies, Multichannel music, vinyl LP.

2) Two channel setup (~ 7m)
Movies, streaming, CD/SACD

75-85 dB peaks. Both systems can hit full reference levels.

 

[bumblebee657]

Two channel setup (~ 7m)
Movies, streaming, CD/SACD

Holy moly! 7 meters! What's that called? Spacefield?

 

[Frank Dernie]

I sit around 3.5 m from my main 3-way speakers and 5 m from my horns. If I listen in bed (!) my old Yamaha NS1000Ms I can't bring myself to sell are about 5.5 m from my head.

 

[GXAlan]

Holy moly! 7 meters! What's that called? Spacefield?

Shared space, living room.

 

[goat76]

Just a thought...
As most users seem to have a listening distance somewhere between 2-4 meters, I think it would have been better if the poll had more options, like 2m-2.5m, 2.5m-3m, 3m-3.5m, and 3.5-4m.

 

[GXAlan]

Just a thought...
As most users seem to have a listening distance somewhere between 2-4 meters, I think it would have been better if the poll had more options, like 2m-2.5m, 2.5m-3m, 3m-3.5m, and 3.5-4m.

This is the maximum number of choices that you can have for a poll. There was a post that mentioned that “half” of ASR was nearfield, so I added more granularity for the nearfield. But with this data, future polls can refine the options.

 

[Pauper]

My room is 22 feet x 15.
Speakers are set up across the shortest. So I listen from just over 3 meters ( 11 feet ) and not from the middle of the room which isn’t ideal.
From what I read, my Revel M16’s are too small ,but I figure that even with floor standers they still wouldn’t be in the ideal position so probably not worth it.

 

[Berwhale]

My iLoud MTM tweeters are 97cm apart and 94cm from their respective ears

 

[EJ3]

What’s your listening distance? If you have multiple systems, pick all that apply. (Used at least once a week)​

We have had previous polls in the past but let’s sample the membership again. Feel free to comment with typical SPL or details about your systems.

Since many of us have headphones and speakers, only include headphones if you specifically use them as frequently as your other systems. I have headphones but rarely use them, so I did not vote for that.

Do not include your car in this poll.

It's rare that I am in one place more than a few minutes. All over the home is not an option, so...

 

[Descartes]

Movies 3m with 130” screen
Multichannel Music 2.5 m main system
Stereo 2m
AirPods Pro 2 in ear canal

 

[GXAlan]

It's rare that I am in one place more than a few minutes. All over the home is not an option, so...

I would put it at >6m then? There is always a sample size issue, but there are a lot of desktop products reviewed and there is a common thought that people recommend studio monitors and listen nearfield. At least so far, there is a healthy proportion of people listening mid and far field based upon these comments.

 

[Soniclife]

Why do the percentages not add up to 100%? It's 143.1% currently.

 

[Brian Hall]

34 inches for my office setup. 7 feet 6 inches for my main setup, both stereo and Atmos. I don't think in meters.

I sit 6 feet 5 inches from my 75 inch TV.

 

[MattHooper]

I’m a Canadian born in 1963.

CANADA officially switched over from imperial measurements to the metric system around 1975. By then, apparently it was too late. The imperial system was engrained in me. The metric system never truly took. I never immediately wrap my head around how far something is in the metric system, as I instantly understand it in the imperial system.
(and since CANADA continued somewhat with imperial measurements as well, it allowed me to continue my resistance)

All that is to say: I currently listen 7 feet from my loudspeakers.

 

[Brian Hall]

Why do the percentages not add up to 100%? It's 143.1% currently.

Multiple selections. I use headphones, have an office setup and a main system so I selected 3 options.

 

[GXAlan]

I’m a Canadian born in 1963.

CANADA officially switched over from imperial measurements to the metric system around 1975. By then, apparently it was too late. The imperial system was engrained in me. The metric system never truly took. I never immediately wrap my head around how far something is in the metric system, as I instantly understand it in the imperial system.
(and since CANADA continued some up with imperial measurements as well, it allowed me to continue my resistance)

All that is to say: I currently listen 7 feet from my loudspeakers.

As an American, I really wanted to just list distances by
1) less than two average 1 hp garbage disposals
2) about one washing machine width
3) average height of a refrigerator
4) as long as as a Ford Mustang
5) as long as a Cadillac Escalade
5) two and half Bison

But there was a poll that said more than half of ASR what from outside the U.S.

 

[Brian Hall]

As an American, I really wanted to just list distances by
1) less than two average 1 hp garbage disposals
2) about one washing machine width
3) average height of a refrigerator
4) as long as as a Ford Mustang
5) as long as a Cadillac Escalade
5) two and half Bison

But there was a poll that said more than half of ASR what from outside the U.S.

Those would all be easily understandable.

 

[Canuck57]

I’m a Canadian born in 1963.

CANADA officially switched over from imperial measurements to the metric system around 1975. By then, apparently it was too late. The imperial system was engrained in me. The metric system never truly took. I never immediately wrap my head around how far something is in the metric system, as I instantly understand it in the imperial system.
(and since CANADA continued some up with imperial measurements as well, it allowed me to continue my resistance)

All that is to say: I currently listen 7 feet from my loudspeakers.

Same here, born in 1957 and I prefer the imperial system, except for temperature, I prefer Celsius. I'm about 11 to 12 feet, 3.4 to 3.7 meters, away from my speakers.