locating speakers on shelves...problem ? advice/options requested pls !!

[admin_exported]

Hi-i have a small-ish listening room with recessed shelves. floorstanding or stand-mounted speakers would be problematical.

 My budget for speakers is around £300-£450. Aere there big problems with shelf-mounting ? Can anyone provide any help ?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

 Martin 

 

[d_a_n1979]

The main problem with shelf mounting is bass resonance and bass boom (as the speakers would be very close to a wall or walls, im assuming)

In that case you'd be best of with speakers that are either a fully enclosed unit OR with forward firing bass ports.

What would be handy to know is what music do you listen to and what separates will you be using? Also; is there no chance of the speakers being placed on speaker stands on the floor?

With regards to speaker recommendations; the 1st ones that spring to mind are M/A BR2's, B&W 685's, Dali Lektor 1 and Dali Lektor 2 speakers.

All can be reviewed on here and other folks will be along soon to give their opinions as well 🙂

 

[chebby]

The new Rega RS1 speakers (£390) would be good choices for shelves or brackets. Rega quote...

"The RS1 has an unusually even bass response for a small loudspeaker. It allows
them to be mounted directly onto the wall, or alternatively to be placed on shelves
or stands. This allows the user greater flexibility in positioning than is normal."

http://www.rega.co.uk/html/RS1.htm

Alternatively AVI Neutron V speakers (£399) are pictured on their website as being shelf mountable...

http://www.avihifi.co.uk/Neutron/Neutron%20IV.html

 

[John Duncan]

There can be, in that you're putting them on a big wobble-board that'll vibrate in sympathy. Make sure the shelves are as sturdy as possible (heavy stuff on them will help), use BluTak to anchor the speakers to the shelves, and be careful with their design - front-ported or sealed-box enclosure are probably best, rear ported to be avoided.

Dali Lektors look good for less than that money, both bookshelf models are front ported and the 1 is cutesy - might even benefit from being in that recess. Worth pressing for home demo here whatever you choose, to see how they sound in your particular situation.

 

[John Duncan]

JohnDuncan:chebby:Alternatively AVI Neutron V speakers (£399) are pictured on their website as being shelf mountable...
http://www.avihifi.co.uk/Neutron/Neutron%20IV.html

Neutrons are rear-ported so care required - but again, the bass boost from being in a recess might actually work. Hey, maybe I'll put them on my shelves tonight and see!

(jinx to dan, word for word

)

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:chebby:Alternatively AVI Neutron V speakers (£399) are pictured on their website as being shelf mountable...
http://www.avihifi.co.uk/Neutron/Neutron%20IV.html

Neutrons are rear-ported so care required - but again, the bass boost from being in a recess might actually work. Hey, maybe I'll put them on my shelves tonight and see!

Just taking my cue from the manufacturers own claim (same as with Rega).

Rega R1 and the new RS1 are also both rear-ported but many people have said in the past how unfussy the R1's are about postioning whether against a wall or pulled out.

 

[John Duncan]

chebby:Just taking my cue from the manufacturer's own claim

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:chebby:Just taking my cue from the manufacturer's own claim

Actually no (despite what we may feel - or suspect - about Roy Gandy of Rega and Ashley of AVI I am sure their claims are not driven by vast amounts of 'party powder'!)

This was more like what I meant....

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:JohnDuncan:chebby:Alternatively AVI Neutron V speakers (£399) are pictured on their website as being shelf mountable...

http://www.avihifi.co.uk/Neutron/Neutron%20IV.html

Neutrons are rear-ported so care required - but again, the bass boost from being in a recess might actually work. Hey, maybe I'll put them on my shelves tonight and see! (jinx to dan, word for word

)

The current Neutron Vs are rear-ported, but the ealier Neutron IIIs are a sealed design, see if any are going s/h on the interwebs.