Speaker placement, acoustics and PMC Twenty5

[Entrigo]

So, I have a fairly challenging set up with regards to speakers/acoustics etc and looking to change things around - and upgrade speakers. I am a total noob with room acoustics so advice would be greatly appreciated.

• Space is a "double living room" - 7m x 3m;
• The hi-fi and sofa are in one half of the room, towards the front bay window.
• The speakers are on the long wall firing across the short axis.
• Speakers are either side of chimney breast and TV, normally 2.5m+ apart.
• Listening position is in the middle of a medium/large sofa against the wall - 2.2/2.5m from the speakers.
• On one speaker's side there's a bay window with shutters - about 1.5m away; on the other speaker's side, the rest of the room - side wall about 3.5 m away.
• So odd proportions and pretty asymmetrical space.

Amp is Rega Elex-R and speakers Focal Aria 906.

I am now thinking of moving the speakers to the end of the room, along the short axis and firing along the longer one, with me sitting in an armchair in the middle of the room - about 2/2.5m away from the speakers.

Usable space is 2.9 m across, wall to record storage cabinet/chimney breast. So if I place speakers 1.8m apart, tweeter to tweeter, they'd be around 40cm from the side walls.

I would place 50mm rockwool panels at first reflection point and a carpet on the hardwood floor.

So, first question is - Would this work?

And secondly - would a pair of PMC twenty5.22 speakers be a good fit for space and system - or would the Twenty5.21 be a better fit?
I am drawn to the 22's "bigger scale" but I am conscious the space is still not great/large.

Bear in mind I am not a bass-head and much prefer taut than deep bass, so the difference in bass response between the two wouldn't bother me - and either speaker would probably be better than the Focal in that respect, as they only go to 56hz.


Ah I'd be buying used, so the chances of a demo are next to zilch.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

....so are the speakers going to be just in front of a bay window?I
I used to have a pair of original pmc twenty 21 with Naim amplification.....they didn't really work in front of my window, they faired much better firing across the shorter side of the room (placed along the longer wall)....but I will stress every room is different and it's probably a case of trial and error, I also thought I'd have much preferred the extra low end from the 22's, but apparently the speed of the 21's was preferred by some people, horses for courses I suppose.

 

[Entrigo]

....so are the speakers going to be just in front of a bay window?

Ah no, on the other end. Against the back wall (and one occasionally in front of an open door if nobody is in the house or using the kitchen 🤣).

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Ah no, on the other end. Against the back wall (and one occasionally in front of an open door if nobody is in the house or using the kitchen 🤣).

I edited my post while you were replying I was believe, so check out the edit...thanks

 

[Entrigo]

I edited my post while you were replying I was believe, so check out the edit...thanks

Thanks for that. For what I read, the Twenty and Twenty5 are slightly different in voicing but not sure the placement preferences would.... Well in any case if they don't work along the short side, can always move them back.

As well as acoustics, I'd also really like the listening position not to be on the sofa but a dedicated chair - but if it's not to be, it's not to be.

Well, will try with the Focal first anyway just for fun and see.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Hi again Entrigo...yeah try with the focals first before spending any money...but I'll say this, on looking at your system signature, if it was me, I think I'd be looking to take the amplification to the next level, not your speakers....just yet,
I'm pretty sure those focals will scale up a level...and that technics deck/At cartridge have more to give....I think a amplifier a class or two above the Elex r will unearth some hidden musicality that's currently not being utilised.....lots of folks downplay the difference a amplifier can make, but at the end of the day it's the absolute hub of a system that everything else in the system hangs on.....
if you look at my main system in my signature you'll notice my Amplifier is way more expensive than the rest of my components,....but I know I'm getting the absolute best I can from my sources fed to the amplifier and I'm in no doubt whatsoever that my Neats are under complete control from the Electrocompaniet Eci 6mkii...think about it.....

 

[Entrigo]

Hi again Entrigo...yeah try with the focals first before spending any money...but I'll say this, on looking at your system signature, if it was me, I think I'd be looking to take the amplification to the next level, not your speakers....just yet,
I'm pretty sure those focals will scale up a level...and that technics deck/At cartridge have more to give....I think a amplifier a class or two above the Elex r will unearth some hidden musicality that's currently not being utilised.....lots of folks downplay the difference a amplifier can make, but at the end of the day it's the absolute hub of a system that everything else in the system hangs on......

Ha! I have grappled long and hard about that same question. My first instinct was to move up amp-wise (Elicit MK5 or Naim Supernait 2) but on balance, more people seemed to think a speaker upgrade with the Elex-R would make a bigger difference than amp upgrade with the Focals, for the time being. Unless I win the lottery, having spent £3k+ on turntable and carts in the last few months, it'll be speakers now/this year and amp next year.

P.s. This goes back to the age old amp or speaker primacy. Having read far and wide, I have landed on the speakers being marginally more important once you have a good enough amp but obviously happy to hear views in favour of the opposite.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Ha! I have grappled long and hard about that same question. My first instinct was to move up amp-wise (Elicit MK5 or Naim Supernait 2) but on balance, more people seemed to think a speaker upgrade with the Elex-R would make a bigger difference than amp upgrade with the Focals, for the time being. Unless I win the lottery, having spent £3k+ on turntable and carts in the last few months, it'll be speakers now/this year and amp next year.

P.s. This goes back to the age old amp or speaker primacy. Having read far and wide, I have landed on the speakers being marginally more important once you have a good enough amp but obviously happy to hear views in favour of the opposite.

Yeah..everyone has a opinion I suppose.....but that turntable /cartridge and phono stage setup are writing cheques the amp canny cash..lol.....in my honest opinion...Supernait 2 is where my cash would be going..if it's used kit your going for....very reliable and Naim gear holds it's value very well.