Small room with many speakers. Use speakers with wide dispersion or narrow dispersion?

[Kain]

If you have a small room (12 feet long x 10 feet wide x 9.5 feet high) with many speakers (9.1.6 setup), is better to use speakers that have a wider dispersion or a narrower dispersion? Note that this is for a single listening position.

 

[LTig]

I'd go for narrow, to reduce room influence.

 

[Kain]

I'd go for narrow, to reduce room influence.

Thanks.

Would narrow dispersion speakers sound less "spacious" or "large" than wide dispersion speakers?

 

[LTig]

Would narrow dispersion speakers sound less "spacious" or "large" than wide dispersion speakers?

Well - they rather recreate the original recording acoustic than create an artificial space. In a 9.1.6 configuration you need the former. In a 2.1 configuration it depends on personal preference.

 

[JPA]

If you have a small room (12 feet long x 10 feet wide x 9.5 feet high) with many speakers (9.1.6 setup), is better to use speakers that have a wider dispersion or a narrower dispersion? Note that this is for a single listening position.

At first I agreed with LTig that narrow would be better. However, after pondering it some more I think wider would be better. With that many speakers you're going to have A LOT of reflections, so you want those reflections to be as spectrally accurate as they can be. That means wide-dispersion speakers. Wider dispersion results in a more accurate room contribution.

 

[kemmler3D]

you want those reflections to be as spectrally accurate as they can be. That means wide-dispersion speakers. Wider dispersion results in a more accurate room contribution.

Is that necessarily so? If the dispersion is narrow but even, it should still have an accurate in-room response.

 

[JPA]

Is that necessarily so? If the dispersion is narrow but even, it should still have an accurate in-room response.

The problem is that dispersion is always wide in the bass range, so to have an even power response the speakers must also have wide midrange and treble dispersion. That is one of Toole's top priorities for speakers.

 

[kemmler3D]

The problem is that dispersion is always wide in the bass range, so to have an even power response the speakers must also have wide midrange and treble dispersion. That is one of Toole's top priorities for speakers.

True, unless you get a nice 9.1.6 setup made of D&D 8Cs

 

[JPA]

True, unless you get a nice 9.1.6 setup made of D&D 8Cs

Maybe, but I assert that even cardioid bass is wider dispersion than the typical 14cm midrange at >1.5kHz or the typical 2.8cm tweeter at >7kHz.

 

[Kain]

Just to add some context to this thread, the speakers in mind are the Genelec S360A and 8361A.

 

[Trdat]

Thanks.

Would narrow dispersion speakers sound less "spacious" or "large" than wide dispersion speakers?

This comments alludes you want the soundfield to sound spacious. If that is the case, wide dispersion almost always creates a more spacious sound.

I am not a fan of recreating the original recording, I like to recreate the ambience based on my tastes. Point is that depending on the type of music you listen to you might have a preference between wide and narrow and you should go do some listening at your local HiFi store.

At least for me the difference is big when comparing horn vs wide dispersion. However I don't know if the difference is that big between a standard bookshelf which has wide dispersion compared to something that has slightly less dispersion.

 

[Chrispy]

Seems odd to have a 9ch bed layer in a room that size. Where are they positioned?

 

[Kain]

Seems odd to have a 9ch bed layer in a room that size. Where are they positioned?

Here is an older setup picture I made awhile back. It's not 100% accurate. Ignore the four red subwoofers. I am likely to have two (one in the front and one in the back) instead of four.

 

[Kain]

This comments alludes you want the soundfield to sound spacious. If that is the case, wide dispersion almost always creates a more spacious sound.

I am not a fan of recreating the original recording, I like to recreate the ambience based on my tastes. Point is that depending on the type of music you listen to you might have a preference between wide and narrow and you should go do some listening at your local HiFi store.

At least for me the difference is big when comparing horn vs wide dispersion. However I don't know if the difference is that big between a standard bookshelf which has wide dispersion compared to something that has slightly less dispersion.

Would the 8361A and 8351B sound more "spacious" and "large" than the S360A?

 

[mcdn]

Given that layout I'd go for wide dispersion at LCR (especially C as that will carry the majority of the content), and narrow for the effects speakers.

 

[Kain]

While Genelec states you can use the S360A with a 3.8-3.9 feet listening distance with no issues (confirmed with them over email and also seen in their "monitor recommendation" docs/charts), someone who has experience with it said that at this distance the S360A would sound fatiguing and "hard" on the ears as it is primarily a mid- to far-field monitor. Any comments on this?

 

[HairyEars]

First off, forget about the S360A. At your sitting position, your L/R surround, including wall mounts, will be around 80c from your ears, which is barely when the sound starts summing up properly. (3m/2 - 0.5m for wall mounts + speaker length - 0.2 head center to ear).

The 8361 will sum property, but they're going to be HUGE is such a small space.
Besides, their SPL is disproportional for the distances in question.

If I were you, I'd use 8351B for L/R/C and either 8331A or 8341A for the surround/height speakers.

What about subwoofers? You'd need at least one 7380A or, better still, a pair. I would place them to the left and right of the sofa, or if you there's not enough space, under the TV and against the back wall

 

[Mort]

I've got a small room, 13x14 with a lot of soft spots and windows for a 5.1 system.

I went with wide dispersion Philharmonic Audio HT LCR and do not regret it, although I have found xt32 room equalization to be very helpful in centering dialog and 2ch stereo. Naturally I lose some of the sound stage width, but I think it's got great balance.

I'm changing my surrounds out to have more dispersion as well. I'll report on that next.

 

[HairyEars]

P.S.: if you wish to enjoy the good sound sound those speakers are able to deliver, you should treat your room:
sub traps at the corners, absorbers, deflectors and a cloud. Else, get much less expensive speakers because the sound quality is going to be mediocre at best.
8350 for the front and 8340/30 for surround height.

 

[Kain]

First off, forget about the S360A. At your sitting position, your L/R surround, including wall mounts, will be around 80c from your ears, which is barely when the sound starts summing up properly. (3m/2 - 0.5m for wall mounts + speaker length - 0.2 head center to ear).

The 8361 will sum property, but they're going to be HUGE is such a small space.
Besides, their SPL is disproportional for the distances in question.

If I were you, I'd use 8351B for L/R/C and either 8331A or 8341A for the surround/height speakers.

What about subwoofers? You'd need at least one 7380A or, better still, a pair. I would place them to the left and right of the sofa, or if you there's not enough space, under the TV and against the back wall

Thanks.

I actually listen at extremely loud volumes when given the chance or opportunity so I want/need speakers with high SPL capabilities. Also, I will be treating the room.

If you recommend that I go with The Ones, I was thinking 8361A for the LCR and 8351B for the surrounds/overheads. For the subwoofers, I was thinking one 7382A under the TV and one 7382A in the middle of the back wall.