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Dipole Asymmetry

I am considering purchase of a pair of Martin Logan Summit X speakers. In my room, I am somewhat constrained for speaker placement. I could place the speakers about 3-4 feet off the front wall. My main concern is my audio rack would be placed directly behind the left speaker, while there would be nothing placed behind the right speaker. How detrimental would this asymmetry be on sound quality?
imgoodwithtools
cleeds
2,065 posts
 
sbank
...  you need absorption behind the dipoles, even more so if less than 5' distance.
Would you please explain why you'd put absorption behind a dipole speaker, when part of the dipole concept includes reflection off the wall behind the speaker?
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
@cleeds time.

You need about 15 ms between the direct signal and first strong reflections so your brain builds up the image and tonal characteristics of the music without significant blurring and smearing.  At about 1ft per millisecod, 5ft x 2 = 10. Too short a difference.
cleeds
2,065 posts
 

@erik_squires
you need about 15 ms between the direct signal and first strong reflections ...
I get your point about that. I still don't see how absorption behind dipoles would help, unless the reflection was excessive.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
Tell us more about your room and your amplification.  It doesn't sound like you have the option of placing the Summits optimally, but more info will help.
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
@cleeds Sorry my friend, i may be a little brain fogged right now.

If the speakers are less than 8' or so from the rear walls, the reflections would occur before 15 mSeconds.  The idea is to reduce as much as possible all reflections within the first 15 mseconds. Panels behind the speakers will do this, to some extent. It won't be perfect, but reduced.

If I'm still being unclear I'm sorry.
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