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

[MattHooper]

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.

My brain has finally switched over to Celsius after many years. At least for outdoor temperatures. Though I still have to double check Celsius against Fahrenheit when it comes to fevers.

 

[Robin L]

About three feet away from each speaker. Let's call it a "desktop" system even though the speakers are tower speakers.

 

[jeffaegrim]

2.80m between speakers and around 3m from each speaker to the main listening position in the middle of the couch. Creates an angle of approximately 60°. I recently discovered that I enjoy the (higher DI) sound of my speakers when they are further apart more, so I’m trying to go for wide stage stereo. Speakers themselves are very wide, too - giant baffles with a 15“. I also have three subs and mostly listen to the system at 65 to 90 db, sometimes cranking it up even louder for very short periods of time. My desktop speakers are ~1m away from the head for the most part.

I’m biased towards the metric system myself and prefer Celsius, but not necessarily averse to imperial units, as I had to get familiar with them converting weights in the gym back and forth over the years

 

[J.M. Noble]

Just over 3m to the speakers and about 4.5m to the sub in a 2.1 system.

Max SPL in the 90dB range with 12W/channel (plus sub). Typical listening volume is more like low to mid 70dB range with peaks in the low 80s. (Data from measurements)

 

[dualazmak]

Ref. here;

 

[MattHooper]

Ref. here;
View attachment 397247

Nobody does this sh*t like dualazmak !

 

[EJ3]

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.

Based on your suggestion, that's what I did.

 

[Axo1989]

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.

Haha, when people use feet my brain kind of discards the numbers. Don't get me started on fractions of an inch ...

I didn't realise you were Canadian. Explains your unusual tolerance and grace.

 

[dualazmak]

Nobody does this sh*t like dualazmak !

English is not my mother language; I just Googled by keyword "sh*t" to lean how I may frankly use "sh*t"!

 

[boxerfan88]

English is not my mother language; I just Googled by keyword "sh*t" to lean how I may frankly use "sh*t"!

Don't take it literally

 

[boxerfan88]

My stereo rig is setup as 2.1 channel with digital crossover inside foobar.
Neumann KH310 mains with Orisun 12" subwoofer driven by Topping DM7.

MLP is approximately 2.3M from the mains.
Neumanns at ~1.4m height, angled down to ear level, for "taller/bigger" soundstage.

Normal listening levels average around 70-75dBSPL, critical listening pushed up to ~80dBSPL avg. (Phone app estimation at MLP)

 

[EJ3]

2.80m between speakers and around 3m from each speaker to the main listening position in the middle of the couch. Creates an angle of approximately 60°. I recently discovered that I enjoy the (higher DI) sound of my speakers when they are further apart more, so I’m trying to go for wide stage stereo. Speakers themselves are very wide, too - giant baffles with a 15“. I also have three subs and mostly listen to the system at 65 to 90 db, sometimes cranking it up even louder for very short periods of time. My desktop speakers are ~1m away from the head for the most part.

I’m biased towards the metric system myself and prefer Celsius, but not necessarily averse to imperial units, as I had to get familiar with them converting weights in the gym back and forth over the years

I am biased the other way about temp. Also invented by a European 18 years before Celsius: The Fahrenheit scale (/ˈfærənhaɪt, ˈfɑːr-/) is a temperature scale based on one proposed in 1724 by the European physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736). It uses the degree Fahrenheit (symbol: °F) as the unit. Several accounts of how he originally defined his scale exist, but the original paper suggests the lower defining point, 0 °F, was established as the freezing temperature of a solution of brine made from a mixture of water, ice, and ammonium chloride (a salt). The other limit established was his best estimate of the average human body temperature, originally set at 90 °F, then 96 °F (about 2.6 °F less than the modern value due to a later redefinition of the scale). (It would not matter to me if the Air Conditioning & heat were in .2 increments of either Fahrenheit &/or Celsius).
My my wife & I have to deal with both in the place that we live. I can handle 74F (74 °F = 23.3333 °C) without sweating only if I am relaxing on a couch or something like that, basically not moving. But my wife wants it at 24° = 75 °F at which point I am sweating profusely (while not moving) and she is still putting on a sweater.
What I like about the Fahrenheit scale is that it's resolution is more fine-grained.

 

[Axo1989]

I listed 2-3 metres, I don't have speakers on the desktop (which would be sad) just headphones for that (computer speakers of course, but they aren't really for music).

 

[GXAlan]

Just bumping this up for November and will do the same, once, in December. Surely there are more than 130 active members willing to vote.

 

[Descartes]

Near field is best!

 

[GXAlan]

Near field is best!

But it’s hard to replicate the sensation of soundstage width and imaging is more sensitive to movement such as slouching or leaning back? How near is nearfield to you?

 

[izeek]

i listen at about 60dbs average. loud days, i might hit 75-80. i have neighbors.
i have a sorta hybrid system.
the main one is 2.1 with dual subs, pre/pro, vertically biamped.
the ht switches in with an easy cable change and is 7.2.
i sit 7ft 2in from the speakers when im in the sweet spot.

 

[snakedctr]

Distance between tweeters: 260 cm
Distance to my ears: 250 cm

 

[GXAlan]

Happy Black Friday/Day After Thanksgiving.

Bumping this thread again for December and will do it one last time in January.

 

[ViperDom]

Please clarify which is considered "listening distance" for this particular poll:

A. Listening position to Main(L/R) speakers.
or
B. Listening position to center image, center speaker, or TV


A can be considerably longer than B as the mains are positioned further apart...