Below-ear-level standing of speakers decreases sound quality?

[AwArEnEsS]

If speakers are standing below-ear-level,does it affect sound quality?

[PewterTA]

Ideally they tell you that the listening level should be between the tweeter and the mid range driver... this is the "vertical" sweet spot as I've always been told. Now I have to agree that as long as you are right around the level of the tweeter you'll get your most "accurate" and "detailed" sound.

Course everyone is different and finding the best spot for your might be different.

[AwArEnEsS]

Thanks for your answer

[madmac]

I Agree with Pewter on the whole. However and at the end of the day, the speakers should be put where it sounds the best to your ears. Moving speakers even a few inches here or there can make a HUGE difference in sound!!. Experimentation is best!!. :T

One other note.....any speaker will produce more bass the closer to the floor it gets and less the farther from the floor it gets. Same goes for walls too.

[AwArEnEsS]

Thanks for your answer madmac.

[madmac]

Thanks for your answer madmac.

Or shall I say, any speaker moved closer to a wall or floor will produce more Bass 'coloration' !!! Ideally, a good speaker should not need any 'coloration' or attenuation to sound good!!......except for subs but thats a whole different ball game and discussion!!. :W

[madmac]

My center channel speaker is lower than my mains so I have it toed up so that it's still firing at my head. Center's are challenging that way because typically there's a monitor in the way!!!!. So normally it's either above or below the monitor. I believe below works best in most cases.

[stuofsci02]

If a speaker has a vertical driver arrangement you want the tweeter/mid to be at approximately ear level. If it is not you will begin to get lobing/comb filtering. This will be more severe the bigger the difference you ears are out of level.

This is the same effect that you will get from horizontal mount center channel with horizontal driver arrangement when you sit off center. That is why most high end centers at least use a vertical arrangement between the tweeter and the mid.

Now placing a horizontal center at a different level then your ears is not as big a deal, although it is still nice to tilt towards the listener.

[JonMarsh]

Here's an easy trick. Reciprocity.

Put one of the speakers where you normally put yourself to listen. Then go and place yourself where the speakers usually go, and move your head position around. The point where your head is when the speaker sitting where you normally sit sounds best is where you should put your speaker. If your room isn't symmetrical, repeat for both the left and right speaker.