Speaker Height - improved bass response.


I recently replaced integrated amps and ended up disastisfied with the results. Whether this is because I expected more or was just used to the sound I don't know. However, I was prepared to replace equipment again to get the sound I was looking for. I tried a variety of speaker cables, and a few interconnects although I don't have a bunch on hand. I don't really buy into expensive power cords but I did wire a dedictated circuit with Cooper Isolated ground recepticles (I think these rival some "audiophile" expensive outlets, really well made, copper, really exceptional contact with plug, $12 per)

Then, came the economic meltdown creating some pressure on me not to just throw money at the situation but to look at some alternative, lower-cost solutions. I started investigating tweaks and wanted to share one that has really improved my listening experience.

Speaker height - although I have spent time and energy measuring distance from walls and creating an appropriate listening triangle, I did not spend as much energy adjusting the height of my speakers. This is partly because my stands are good quality, metal and made to be about 22 or 24 inches high. Even though I have had good advice from Roy Johnson of Green Mountain about floor reflections impacting bass. I just didn't make the connection. At the current height, my ear level was at about the middle of the speaker between the woofer and tweeter. A number of articles I have researched indicate ear level should be at tweeter height and typically speakers are mounted too high. I looked online at stands and was hard pressed to find stands with height options.

So, in my frustration at not being able to buy new stuff, I went out and got a metal saw blade for my chop saw, took my stands apart and cut six inches off of them. This put my ear right at tweeter level or slightly above. After painting them and putting them back together, I set up my system and was amazed to find that not only was the soundstage improved, more defined and clear but my bass response had improved dramatically. I actually had to turn my subwoofer level down quite a bit and adjust the crossover frequency as the low ranges of bass in the speakers was brought out (50 to 100 hz) where there had been kind of a suck-out before.

So my experience indicates that there is standing wave interaction with speakers depending on height and that adjusting height, not just for ear level but for bass response is a low-cost and useful exercise.

I am wondering if anyone has more technical insight into this or has had similar experiences.

thanks.
drewh1
Shadorne,

First I will say that correct speaker height is essential.

Now I will add that I think you unknowingly resolved an issue with your stands. I suspect that they were not mass loaded and your reducing their height by 6" provided for a stiffer connection to the floor, one that sucked up less of your sound. If you can, try adding sand or BBs to your speaker stands and see if what results.

Do you use blu-tac under your speakers to secure them to your stands?
Mwii,

I have always had the stands filled with sand. I also, according to the suggestion of Roy Johnson of GMA, use blue-tak to secure the speakers to the stands.

I had assumed that it had to do with wave cancellation but you're right, s.hortening the stands would cause them to be stiffer. GMA's are made of epoxy-concrete and are pretty impervious to cabinet resonance.
The late Peter Garland Snell has patents from the early 70's on the shape and design of baffles and their relationship to loading to room surfaces. Some may look to the United States Patent Office for guidance, number 3,964,571 issued June 22nd 1976 for these always contemporary disclosures. Mr Snell's designs also lend themselves to the acoustical design and enhancement of one's listening room. This is only possible if your mind is not filled with convoluted foam. Tom