When speaker stands aren’t an option

[bartlett23]

What do you do? I’d ideally like some PMC Prodigy 5s but my living room just won’t accommodate them, even though it’s pretty big at 14 x 14 feet. If bookshelves are the only realistic option, what’s the best way to optimise sound quality? Would PMC Prodigy 1s be totally wasted?

 

[Messiah]

To clarify, you are saying you cannot accommodate floor standers and therefore could not accommodate stands for bookshelf speakers either (as per the title)?

What would they be put on?

 

[bartlett23]

To clarify, you are saying you cannot accommodate floor standers and therefore could not accommodate stands for bookshelf speakers either (as per the title)?

What would they be put on?

Bookshelves! Can’t do floorstanders or speaker stands.

 

[nopiano]

Bookshelves! Can’t do floorstanders or speaker stands.

As you’ve doubtless gathered, ‘bookshelf’ speakers usually sound pretty naff on bookshelves! But the possibility of success depends on quite a lot of factors, including:

What the shelves are made of.
What is nearby, such as a corner, actual books, rattling ornaments etc.
Whether the shelves are at the optimum height.
If you can run the cables there.
Can you wall mount instead?
Can you choose isolators or platforms to keep the speaker off the shelf.

Maybe a picture of your proposed siting might help. Have you heard the Prodigy models?

 

[Lubosh]

And what if you lowered the speakers from the ceiling to the desired height? I know. Cable problem. But maybe it could be solved somehow. For example - recording studios. They usually have speakers attached to the ceiling on special brackets.

 

[Cork]

The Prodigy 1's are front ported, so it shouldn't be a problem putting them on a shelf. I'd use isolation pads (inexpensive), and try to have the front edge of the speaker out past the bookshelf edge by an inch or two.

 

[nopiano]

And what if you lowered the speakers from the ceiling to the desired height? I know. Cable problem. But maybe it could be solved somehow. For example - recording studios. They usually have speakers attached to the ceiling on special brackets.

All true, but recording studios are designed for the purpose, and the original post is about bookshelf mounting not ceiling suspension!

 

[Fandango Andy]

What do you do? I’d ideally like some PMC Prodigy 5s but my living room just won’t accommodate them, even though it’s pretty big at 14 x 14 feet. If bookshelves are the only realistic option, what’s the best way to optimise sound quality? Would PMC Prodigy 1s be totally wasted?

I have no experience of these speakers, but by reputation they are quite forgiving in their placement unlike something like KEF LS50 that are notoriously unforgiving. The front port and internal dampening probably helps.

If you are going to put speakers on a shelf or a desktop, make sure its a sturdy one and if you have space invest in some isolation stands.

 

[landco]

Would PMC Prodigy 1s be totally wasted?

These are small bookshelf drivers that offer little compared to their high price - they are 5" speakers. This is not enough for full-range sound. You will have to buy an additional subwoofer.
Polk Audio ES15 + HTS 10 Subwoofer is a good choice, a set for 30% of the cost of your option.

 

[12th Monkey]

You will have to buy an additional subwoofer.

There's no 'have to' in hifi.

 

[Fandango Andy]

There's no 'have to' in hifi.

Well said. There seems to be a growing trend of opinions being stated as facts.

 

[bartlett23]

As you’ve doubtless gathered, ‘bookshelf’ speakers usually sound pretty naff on bookshelves! But the possibility of success depends on quite a lot of factors, including:

What the shelves are made of.
What is nearby, such as a corner, actual books, rattling ornaments etc.
Whether the shelves are at the optimum height.
If you can run the cables there.
Can you wall mount instead?
Can you choose isolators or platforms to keep the speaker off the shelf.

Maybe a picture of your proposed siting might help. Have you heard the Prodigy models?

To be honest, this is all hypothetical. I’m moving soon, and probably to a Victorian property, which can be spacious but awkward when it comes to hifi (why didn’t the Victorians factor that in?!) Who knows, floorstanders might be possible! The PMCs look good, as they’re front ported. My current AE 301s are great for this reason, but I’d like something with greater scale etc. If floorstanders aren’t possible, fitting specially designed bookshelves is a good shout. Or even wall brackets? It always surprises me how many people find space for speaker stands!

 

[twinkletoes]

These are small bookshelf drivers that offer little compared to their high price - they are 5" speakers. This is not enough for full-range sound. You will have to buy an additional subwoofer.
Polk Audio ES15 + HTS 10 Subwoofer is a good choice, a set for 30% of the cost of your option.

50hz at -3 down seem pretty good to me! you're probably looking at 40z in room response.

However if the OP is look to place these on a shelf I think id be looking at a less excitable sealed designs like that of ATC for instance to help with bloom and bloat.

its a hard one, when you are forced to a use a shelf there will be alot of compromises

 

[landco]

There's no 'have to' in hifi.

Brilliant! Mr. Expert, how long have you been expressing your expert opinion regarding the uselessness of the trifonic in a setup with small bookshelf speakers?

 

[landco]

However if the OP is look to place these on a shelf I think id be looking at a less excitable sealed designs like that of ATC for instance to help with bloom and bloat.

These Polk Audio bookshelf speakers have a special bass reflex design, which allows them to be placed close to the wall. In addition, for a good result, in any case, you need to use a parametric equalizer to correct the shortcomings of the room, and it perfectly corrects the shortcoming of the “close wall”

The "sealed box" type of acoustic design does not work well for small acoustics, so I am skeptical about such models. Therefore, proposals on the audio equipment market in 99% of cases offer solutions with a bass reflex.

 

[12th Monkey]

Brilliant! Mr. Expert, how long have you been expressing your expert opinion regarding the uselessness of the trifonic in a setup with small bookshelf speakers?

I'm not the one stating an opinion as a fact. Repeatedly, it seems. Stay on topic please, this thread isn't about you or me.

 

[bartlett23]

a shot of my set up for context. not ideal in terms of speaker placement. the shelves are wooden and pretty solid, but hollow. ideally i'd have a speaker either side of the fireplace, but cabling is an issue.

 

[nopiano]

To be honest, this is all hypothetical. I’m moving soon, and probably to a Victorian property, which can be spacious but awkward when it comes to hifi (why didn’t the Victorians factor that in?!) Who knows, floorstanders might be possible! The PMCs look good, as they’re front ported. My current AE 301s are great for this reason, but I’d like something with greater scale etc. If floorstanders aren’t possible, fitting specially designed bookshelves is a good shout. Or even wall brackets? It always surprises me how many people find space for speaker stands!

The great thing is you may have reasonably high ceilings. The snag if floorstanders do fit, is you’ll doubtless have a sprung floor which can cause their own issues. All perfectly solvable though!

Good luck with your house hunting.

 

[nopiano]

a shot of my set up for context. not ideal in terms of speaker placement. the shelves are wooden and pretty solid, but hollow. ideally i'd have a speaker either side of the fireplace, but cabling is an issue.

Yes, that’s more like a desktop setup, and not easy to improve without a rethink. Looks very neat and contemporary though.

 

[Gray]

Well said. There seems to be a growing trend of opinions being stated as facts.

....and mostly from the same source 🤨

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

No ability to "get creative" with some conduit in order to put floorstanders either side of the fireplace? i.e. through the cupboard below the equipment? But I feel your pain - I hate the sight of cables.

 

[bartlett23]

No ability to "get creative" with some conduit in order to put floorstanders either side of the fireplace? i.e. through the cupboard below the equipment? But I feel your pain - I hate the sight of cables.

if i was staying here, i think the only option would be cables under the floorboards and installing some solid shelves either side of the fireplace. i reckon my next place will have a similar layout, but at least i can start from scratch!

 

[bartlett23]

Yes, that’s more like a desktop setup, and not easy to improve without a rethink. Looks very neat and contemporary though.

it's certainly not the end of the world, but it's not really doing any of the kit justice.

 

[bartlett23]

The great thing is you may have reasonably high ceilings. The snag if floorstanders do fit, is you’ll doubtless have a sprung floor which can cause their own issues. All perfectly solvable though!

Good luck with your house hunting.

thank you! with the next house, at least i can reconfigure the whole set up from scratch. i'll just have to wait and see if that involves floortsanders or not!

 

[Fandango Andy]

To be honest, this is all hypothetical. I’m moving soon, and probably to a Victorian property, which can be spacious but awkward when it comes to hifi (why didn’t the Victorians factor that in?!) Who knows, floorstanders might be possible! The PMCs look good, as they’re front ported. My current AE 301s are great for this reason, but I’d like something with greater scale etc. If floorstanders aren’t possible, fitting specially designed bookshelves is a good shout. Or even wall brackets? It always surprises me how many people find space for speaker stands!

The Victoria's have a lot to answer for. The rooms are far too square for ideal positioning. And they gave no thought for parking cars! 🤣

Have you ever watched any A British Audiophile videos?

https://youtube.com/@abritishaudiophile7314?si=w8YshiIQvoS0rXfm

He seems to make a victorian room work with a speaker either side of the chimney. He has said it isn't ideal but it works.