Minimum listening distance for Wharfdale 121’s?

[paddyb]

Since buying my Marantz MCR603, auditioning various speakers and eventually plumping for the Wharfdale 121’s, I have now acquired a set of floorstanders at a ridiculously low price. Having deliberated about trying to return the Wharfdales or sell them, what I’m now thinking is keeping them as a second set of speakers positioned either side of my desk, so I can listen in stereo whilst working, and switch to the floorstanders (which are either side of my TV at right angles to my desk) when in my listening/viewing seat.

So, before I start shifting furniture around to try this, what is the minimum distance for listening to these speakers i.e how close is it advisable to get? It’s looking like I will have them several feet to each side of me, but only about 18in in front, though I would tow them in so they would point directly at my ears.

 

[paddyb]

After a little bit of googling, I think what i'm asking here in more technical terms, is how suitable these are for near field listening?

 

[BigH]

Wharfedale generally reco. about 2m. As you have them already why not try them out. For computer I would generally go for some small active speakers (studio monitors) like Behringer or the Seiwin SN-4A.

 

[MajorFubar]

Not the same model, but I tried an earlier model of Diamonds (Active 7.1) with a computer for near-field monitoring and found they were a bit rubbish when you got too close. No bass and poor imagery were the biggest problems. Move back a few feet and the bass came back and everything snapped into focus. But that didn't help for close-up listening.

I think you'd be better off selling the Diamonds and buying a pair of active near-field monitors. I use Alesis M1 520 USBs which not only are active but they have a built-in USB DAC (and a 16/44 ADC). Highly recommend you add them to your auditions list.