Speakers that work well close to a wall?

[6and8]

I've moved my hifi set up into the back bedroom, which I also use as a study. It's roughly 4x3 sq m. Because of the space limitations I'm looking for a pair of speakers that will work well when placed close to, or backed up against, the wall. My amp is an Arcam FMJ A19. I don't drive it too hard, sometimes I crank it up to about halfway, other times I listen at low levels. Anybody out there had a similar dilemma and solved it?

 

[chebby]

I've moved my hifi set up into the back bedroom, which I also use as a study. It's roughly 4x3 sq m. Because of the space limitations I'm looking for a pair of speakers that will work well when placed close to, or backed up against, the wall. My amp is an Arcam FMJ A19. I don't drive it too hard, sometimes I crank it up to about halfway, other times I listen at low levels. Anybody out there had a similar dilemma and solved it?

My Audio Note AX-Twos work really well very close to the wall (and in corners).

 

[6and8]

Thanks, Chebby. I'll put them on my list of speakers to check out. Just did a quick 'Google' - they look really good, and the one review I've read so far said they sound really good, too.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

Put some pmc speakers on your list also, the db1i's and twenty 21's both work well close to walls but the arcam might struggle to cope with the twenty 21's love of current.....maybe?

 

[hg]

I've moved my hifi set up into the back bedroom, which I also use as a study. It's roughly 4x3 sq m. Because of the space limitations I'm looking for a pair of speakers that will work well when placed close to, or backed up against, the wall. [...]. Anybody out there had a similar dilemma and solved it?

Don't know about dilemma but I have a current project to investigate if a speaker system can be made to work well in such a room (the one I am using is a tad smaller but near enough to be equivalent). Conventional wisdom for rooms of this size is "please find another room" but significant numbers of people want to listen to music in rooms of this size. One option might be to accept a modest sound quality but another might be to look for something unconventional.

Speakers against walls need to be designed for the location and very few are. The largest problem that is normally neglected is sound reflecting off the front wall and arriving at the ear half a wavelength after the direct sound and thus largely cancelling it. Equalisation cannot fix this although it can help with a fair number of other room issues. There are a number of solutions such as wide and thin cabinets to approach flush mounting (e.g. various consumer on wall speakers), cardioid radiation patterns (e.g. MEGs, Kii 3) and placing the woofers on the top, bottom or sides with the midrange on the front (e.g. Allison speakers, AR9).

 

[plastic penguin]

I've moved my hifi set up into the back bedroom, which I also use as a study. It's roughly 4x3 sq m. Because of the space limitations I'm looking for a pair of speakers that will work well when placed close to, or backed up against, the wall. My amp is an Arcam FMJ A19. I don't drive it too hard, sometimes I crank it up to about halfway, other times I listen at low levels. Anybody out there had a similar dilemma and solved it?

These will work a treat. They are designed to be placed against or near to a wall. Should sound the dogs with your Arcam.

 

[rainsoothe]

I've moved my hifi set up into the back bedroom, which I also use as a study. It's roughly 4x3 sq m. Because of the space limitations I'm looking for a pair of speakers that will work well when placed close to, or backed up against, the wall. My amp is an Arcam FMJ A19. I don't drive it too hard, sometimes I crank it up to about halfway, other times I listen at low levels. Anybody out there had a similar dilemma and solved it?

These will work a treat. They are designed to be placed against or near to a wall. Should sound the dogs with your Arcam.

Hi. +1 to the Neat Iotas. Near-wall usage is what they've been designed for. And their price range is similar to the Arcams, so they should be very natural partners (not that it's the most important aspect).

Also, I don't think that PMC db1i (or Gold, same speaker) works well backed into a wall. It might be less fussy, but imo it can very easily boom. Don't know abou their Twenty series.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

Hi rainsoothe.is that some new naim gear you're sporting there.....?how's that 172 sounding (sorry for the slight thread derail btw).oh and I wouldn't back any of the pmc's into the wall...they at least need the space for the plugs between speaker and wall...my twenty 21's are around 15 cm's out from the wall in case anyone's interested.lol.

 

[Al ears]

I've moved my hifi set up into the back bedroom, which I also use as a study. It's roughly 4x3 sq m. Because of the space limitations I'm looking for a pair of speakers that will work well when placed close to, or backed up against, the wall. My amp is an Arcam FMJ A19. I don't drive it too hard, sometimes I crank it up to about halfway, other times I listen at low levels. Anybody out there had a similar dilemma and solved it?

As usual plenty of good suggestions but I notice nobody has asked what your budget is for these.

 

[thewinelake.]

Probably of little use to you (but I note that you're not actually asking for suggestions) I was pleasantly surprised at how well my new DM5s sound about 2cm from the wall. I had to buy some special right-angle connectors for RCA and mains power, and it was all in the interests of making it look nice, but the sound doesn't appear to be compromised too badly - maybe the bass is a bit too fat, but otherwise fine.

 

[rainsoothe]

Hi rainsoothe.is that some new naim gear you're sporting there.....?how's that 172 sounding (sorry for the slight thread derail btw).oh and I wouldn't back any of the pmc's into the wall...they at least need the space for the plugs between speaker and wall...my twenty 21's are around 15 cm's out from the wall in case anyone's interested.lol.

Hey there
I, for one, love it. It was enough of an improvement for me to warrant trading my UQ2 in for the 172. Unfortunately, curiosity got the best of me, and I also borrowed a nap 155xs. It was better in some respects then the Nap100, but I still prefered the latter in my room. Now why the "unfortunately"? Because when I took the 155xs back, the Boss was in the shop and suggested I gave the nap200 a try (which I previously hadn't liked with the UQ2 as a preamp). This matching, though, is great. You should try the stuff yourself, though.

 

[Al ears]

Going along with the Neat Iota idea there's always the new Neat Iota Alpha mini-floorstanders, but at a lot higher price.

Neat Iota's on steroids with a lot more oomph owing to the utilisation of a downward firing 13.4mm woofer. Got to be good!

 

[6and8]

Thanks for the suggestions, I shall go and audition.

As for moving to another room, the room I'm using may not be ideal but it's mine. I've decamped from the living room (where we now have a mid-range streaming set up) so I can enjoy my music for hours on end without getting in the way of EastEnders or Poldark.

Al, I purposely didn't set a budget in order to see what suggestions came back. By mentioning the amp I use I was banking on posters suggesting speakers that would be appropriate for my set up.

 

[plastic penguin]

I've moved my hifi set up into the back bedroom, which I also use as a study. It's roughly 4x3 sq m. Because of the space limitations I'm looking for a pair of speakers that will work well when placed close to, or backed up against, the wall. My amp is an Arcam FMJ A19. I don't drive it too hard, sometimes I crank it up to about halfway, other times I listen at low levels. Anybody out there had a similar dilemma and solved it?

As usual plenty of good suggestions but I notice nobody has asked what your budget is for these.

Given the OP has the A19 and the window for specialist speakers (one's that play close or against the wall) are limited, unless you're spending mega bucks on PMC wafers (ones that look like a picture frames, and probably an overkill for the entry-level Arcam) they really fall into budget/lower midrange price bracket: ATCs, Iotas the ones Chebby mentioned...

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

Hold the bus....ditch the amp as some pmc db1 actives have just came up on eBay....they will be just the ticket for that room.lol.

 

[Al ears]

Hold the bus....ditch the amp as some pmc db1 actives have just came up on eBay....they will be just the ticket for that room.lol.

Possibly, but considering how much they are likely to go for (DB1s-Actives with asking price of £1194 on there as well) and the need then do buy a good quality preamp it could end up becoming very expensive, making even the Iota Alpha option (arround £1300) seem cheap.

 

[chebby]

Possibly, but considering how much they are likely to go for (DB1s-Actives with asking price of £1194 on there as well) and the need then do buy a good quality preamp ...

The OP already has a good quality pre-amp in the shape of his Arcam A19. (It has the necessary 'pre-out' connections.)

 

[Al ears]

Possibly, but considering how much they are likely to go for (DB1s-Actives with asking price of £1194 on there as well) and the need then do buy a good quality preamp ...

The OP already has a good quality pre-amp in the shape of his Arcam A19. (It has the necessary 'pre-out' connections.)

I was aware of that chebby, it was just that Mark Rose Smith said 'ditch the amp', presumably in order to get enough funds to switch to .... the A-word. ;-)

You are correct in that he wouldn't actually need to do that.

 

[chebby]

I was aware of that chebby, it was just that Mark Rose Smith said 'ditch the amp', presumably in order to get enough funds to switch to .... the A-word. ;-)

Oh they are obligatory recommendations for every situation now. (Even for a replacement TV.)

In fact I think it's illegal not to.

 

[plastic penguin]

Yup. I'm thinking about buying 'A's to boost the engine on the car.

 

[Al ears]

Yup. I'm thinking about buying 'A's to boost the engine on the car.

Crikey, they can do that as well??

 

[plastic penguin]

Yup. I'm thinking about buying 'A's to boost the engine on the car.

Crikey, they can do that as well??

Well, they'll certainly make it sing better. *biggrin* Who needs a turbo when you can have an 'A'?

 

[hg]

As for moving to another room, the room I'm using may not be ideal but it's mine. I've decamped from the living room (where we now have a mid-range streaming set up) so I can enjoy my music for hours on end without getting in the way of EastEnders or Poldark.

I wasn't suggesting moving to another room but making the point that with a conventional approach you will not get high quality sound in a small room. Double that if you also opt for speakers of the kind being suggested that lack the design features required to be used next to walls whatever the marketing may say. Anyway, I look forward to your reasoning about the short list and what you plump for in the end. Please keep us informed and good luck with the challenge rather than dilemma.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

Yeah Al your probably right..those db's will eventually go for a fair bit of cash but just thought I'd put it out there.lol.oh and having previously owned a a85 I totally forgot about the pre outs.doh!

 

[Al ears]

Yeah Al your probably right..those db's will eventually go for a fair bit of cash but just thought I'd put it out there.lol.oh and having previously owned a a85 I totally forgot about the pre outs.doh!

They should indeed fetch a fair price ......... just hope its not higher than my bid