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Speakers near fireplace

I’m moving and in the new house it seems the best speaker position would be to have them on each side of the fireplace. They’re Vandersteen 2CE Signatures. I want to put them about a foot or so to the right/left of the fireplace and about 1-1/2 feet in front of the wall with the fireplace.

There are glass doors on the fireplace but I’m thinking of replacing that with a screen.

I would plan on putting the amp, etc. further to one side of the left speaker. The only real problem I see is that there will be a cable running across the floor (in front of the fireplace) to the right speaker. That and I will have one speaker close to the amp. In the past my rig was basically in the middle of both speakers, what’s the best way to handle 12’ of cable with only 2-3 feet needed on the one side?
jetson
jetson OP
128 posts
 
I realized I could post some images in the virtual system area. If you go there you can see a model and a drawing of the plan, one thing I forgot to mention is the room has built-ins. I'm allowed to remove them - would they likely help or hurt?  It's not like I can listen, take them down, and decide to put them up again. LOL
Thanks again for your help.
https://systems.audiogon.com/users/jetson
mamboni
55 posts
 
The dry infrared heating is going to accelerate aging of the plastic and foam parts. More concerning, fire places emit enormous amounts of microparticulates, largely carbon and silica, and these will accumulate in the moving parts, especially around magnetic fields, paricularly voice coils. Low level exposure to acid gases especially sulfur dioxide will deteriorate polymers, especially surrounds and spiders. Personally, I wouldn't place my prized loudspeakers or components near a fireplace. 
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
2,164 posts
 
keep the built ins....give me a room with lots of natural odd surface diffration any day over the typical audiophile dedicated space with a forest of monoblocks on the floor right in front of the ( never used turntable)...

but......this room screams...for Vandersteen VLR and a sub, add another later....

my two cents....
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
4,637 posts
 
Gas fireplaces with no blower should not impact speakers at least 4 feet away.  My gas unit is all about the aesthetics of the fire as without a blower I cannot feel the heat until I am right up to it! Is yours gas? Blower? Take the temp at the side and back of your speakers and you will know for sure.  4ft away the temp is 75 when my room is 72.  
jetson OP
128 posts
 
It's a wood burning fireplace. I'm planning on putting a black piece of metal in the place where the speakers would be and making a shield to limit convection, then measuring that with an infrared thermometer.  Being black, metal and not having any air movement it will be a conservative measurement.  Then if that seems safe, I'll put the speakers there and also measure them directly the next time.  Otherwise, I will put the speakers there and then move them when I light a fire.
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