Proper distances for SDA 2's

[nadams]

Trying to get the most out of the small space I have available for my new SDA 2's.

The speakers sit 9" away from the back wall. That's pretty much as far out as I can get them. The cabinets, from inside edge to inside edge, are 36" apart. Again, as far apart as I can get them. From outside edge of the right speaker to the wall is 6", and my seating distance is 5'.

What can I do to improve this, if anything? Thanks,

Noah

[Dennis Gardner]

Unless you have another wall that has the room to move them apart, your stuck with a less than optimal SDA setup. SDAs for the most part hate sidewalls that close to them. You might try treating the sidewall reflections with pillows or other absorbent materials.

[nadams]

Unfortunately, this is the only place I have to put these beasts for now. My bedroom is the largest of the three (not counting the master), but I have a computer desk, dresser, bed, and closet door all in the mix. Thanks for the suggestions on wall treatments.

[danger boy]

Noah, if that's the only place that will work in your room.. the SDA's are pretty forgiving.. i thinkg 6 ft apart it what's optimal.. with at least 3 feet on each side of the left and right speaker as clearnace.. well, not many of us have a room that large.

My right SDA is about two feet from the right wall. and the left speaker is about 1ft from the left wall. with about 6 inches from the rear wall. these aren't ideal of course, but it's the best i can do, since they are FREAKIN huge. ha ha ha. Moving them is a PITA.

So get your SDA grove on and don't fret small things like placement ruin your enjoyment of your new SDA's. :D

[Dennis Gardner]

The nice thing is that you won't have to buy new speakers when you get out on your own. You're ahead of the curve already.

SDAs close together just require you to sit closer, and you've already figured that out. This is when I would choose to listen in a darkened room.

Good on ya for getting the SDAs.

[nadams]

I've been listening w/ my eyes closed. 5ft is as far back as I can sit... so I really didn't have much of a choice :)

[WilliamM2]

My SDA1C's are exactly 6 feet apart, and 31.5 inches from each sidewall, it's the best I can do with a 14 ft. wide wall. I can't place them any closer together, as they start to affect the picture on the TV.

It would take a 14 foot 9 inch wide wall for optimal placement. Unless you are willing to build a dedicated listening room, to exact specifications, everything is a compromise.

[Dennis Gardner]

In my 11' wide room, I actually slide my SDAs together to under 6 feet apart for 2 channel listening even though it covers part of my 80 inch screen. I move them to the edge of the screen for movies, since the SDA effect is secondary to balanced surround.

Good sound usually has some type of compromise unless you build your room to specifically house your system.

[BobMcG]

I know you can't change the size of the room and are forced to have a speaker tight to a wall.... but, your equipment rack which you do have control over is adversely affecting the sound too. The closed sides of the rack are giving you two more unneccessary reflective surfaces very close to both speakers.

What would be a bit better? An open sided style rack.

What would be much better? A much shorter, open sided stye rack. With say just the RCVR and CDP on it. (Running the extra components from another location.)

At any rate, you have a fine pair of SDAs that will be there to fill bigger spaces with sound as you move into them. Enjoy them!

[Philpfeif]

Hi Noah
I think the diagram that Polk uses shows an equilateral triangle with the speakers at two corners and the listener at the third corner. That means that you could sit even closer than 5 feet if you can keep the volume down a little.
Phil

[Frank Z]

Push 'em back against the wall. You'll notice a difference in the bass.

[nadams]

I will try moving them back a little tonight. Phil- I don't think I could bear to keep the volume down, so I'll sit back a little farther :). I like to feel my music as well as hear it... I really am loving the SDAs, and my replacement midranges should be in today. I've noticed that on some tracks and CDs, the effect is much more pronounced than others, but there's always MORE sound than w/ the Monitor 10's. Thanks to the two extra midranges and larger PR, I guess.

[izafar]

a related question: how is distance between speakers measured, is this between inner edges or from mid point of Tweetors?

[nadams]

The two inside edges, I believe.

[Philpfeif]

Hi Noah
I think you will find that the effect is more pronounced on some recordings and not distinguishable at all on others. I hardly notice it on most of my classical recordings but it is more noticeable on vocals and small groups. If you are noticing the effect at all the surround speakers must be working. The surrounds don't put out much energy.On my 2.3 tls at a fairly high volume I can feel the surround moving but I can't see any movement. By the way I found out why the right channel dropped put occasionally. I had two speaker cable hooked end to end on that side and on of the wires had pulled out of the banana plug. It must have been just lying on the plug to make contact. When I reconnected the RT16s the right speaker didn’t make a sound. I am glad you are enjoying them.
Phil

[nadams]

Phil,

I am enjoying the SDA2's very much. The two SDA drivers (outside drivers) were definately locked up, which is not how they should have been. No big deal, I ordered two replacement drivers on Monday, they showed up today, and are already installed. I suspected that when I picked the speakers up, so it's not a problem on your end :). FYI- in the SDA 2's, all three drivers are the same (MW6501, from the factory). Polk is now replacing the 6501's with 6503's, so that's what's in the SDA spot now... no distinguishable difference whatsoever. The four remaining 6501's appear to be in great shape, and the speakers really sound good...

I was listening to Yes - "Fragile" tonight and it just blew me away. Then I popped in Traffic - "Welcome to the Canteen", and though the sound was great, it really didn't have the SDA effect.

I really am looking forward to hanging on to these speakers until I have the room to give them the space they deserve. I bet they'd really sound sweet then :).

I can't really move them back any more, because then they'd be behind the front edge of my equipment rack, and I can't move the rack back at all, either because of cables.

Anyway, that's it for now!