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Has anyone come across research or experiments detailing that the stereo sound field is reduced as a result of soffit mounting speakers? The argument that I have heard in my audiophile shop is that a speaker uses the space behind to reproduce a bigger sound field. Sounds stupid to me.
johnR Messages: 785 Registered: April 2007 Location: Kent, UK
Gold Member
Soffit mounting will reduce the diffraction caused by the sharp edges of the speaker cabinet (assuming you haven't got gaps around them). That will improve stereo imaging.
Yes I know. These guys (and some manufacturers rep from Dynaudio) state that by soffit mounting, a whole dimension of useful information is lost. I say that is crap. We are eliminating the reflections that would sum and cancel with the out of phase bass coming from the back of the free standing speaker, which would IMPROVE the stereo image.
Remember these are audiophiles selling consumer stuff. I am not even impressed by the evidence stuff. I will say, while the bass seems a bit undefined and not as extended as I would like it, the top end is nice without being harsh.
avare Messages: 31 Registered: May 2004 Location: Hamilton ON Canada
Member
Brent Handy wrote on Sun, 20 July 2008 13:13
Remember these are audiophiles selling consumer stuff. I am not even impressed by the evidence stuff. I will say, while the bass seems a bit undefined and not as extended as I would like it, the top end is nice without being harsh.
And which does soffit mounting help with? Bass or high end predominantly? You are answering your own question.
The most important thing is that the speakers and room are part of a system. Both ways can give excellent results if designed as part of a system. Proof of this is in Griffin Audio having both in-wall and and free-standing versions of the G1.
I know the benefits of soffit mounting. I don't need to know why we do it. My question again relates to any experience or documented studies on soffit mounting reducing the stereo soundstage as a result. I want to cover my butt before I go into battle.
My education tells me that this is marketing BS. I just want to make sure.
jensenmann Messages: 69 Registered: April 2007 Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
Whoo-hoo!!
Philip Newell wrote some stuff about the benefit of soffit mounting in his book Recording Studio Design. Though I don?t remember if he is referring to scientific studies in this particular case, he has a welleducated opinion in acoustics.Jens
avare Messages: 31 Registered: May 2004 Location: Hamilton ON Canada
Member
Brent Handy wrote on Sun, 20 July 2008 20:58
I know the benefits of soffit mounting. I don't need to know why we do it. My question again relates to any experience or documented studies on soffit mounting reducing the stereo soundstage as a result. I want to cover my butt before I go into battle.
My education tells me that this is marketing BS. I just want to make sure.
Your basis is wrong right off the bat. Audiophiles are interested in pleasing sound from their speakers (and unknowingly room). We are interested in accuracy. Toole even makes the case from experiments that some early reflections are conducive to pleasant sound.
As an example of the difference, Bob Katz wrote on the recording.list how a high end CD player did not reproduce errors on one of his CDs that a cheaper one did. The high end player had better error correction. It "covered" the sonic flaws on the CD. He changed to another player. One player is better for audiophiles, the other is better for critical mastering listening.
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