Restoring the missing bass

[GrahamS]

I read a thread here recently about speaker alignment and the pros' and cons' of stands v floormounts v shelf standing v hanging, in which Marco (I think, forgive me if I'm wrong) suggested that tilting speakers up slightly at the front could improve things. I have been frustrated by what I can only presume has been a standing wave effect in that the bass response is much better off-axis than if I sit in the centre between the two stand-mounted Wharfdale Diamond 9.1's. So, I angled the front of the speakers slightly upwards by placing a small wooden block about 25mm high (1 inch in old money) just under the front of the cabinets. See photo.

The result is astonishing. All of the "missing" low down bass is now there. I'm still chuckling.

[Sherwood]

I read a thread here recently about speaker alignment and the pros' and cons' of stands v floormounts v shelf standing v hanging, in which Marco (I think, forgive me if I'm wrong) suggested that tilting speakers up slightly at the front could improve things. I have been frustrated by what I can only presume has been a standing wave effect in that the bass response is much better off-axis than if I sit in the centre between the two stand-mounted Wharfdale Diamond 9.1's. So, I angled the front of the speakers slightly upwards by placing a small wooden block about 25mm high (1 inch in old money) just under the front of the cabinets. See photo.

The result is astonishing. All of the "missing" low down bass is now there. I'm still chuckling.

Isn't that a bourbon biscuit?

[GrahamS]

No, it's a little wooden plinth that came with one of my Best Beloved's ceramic ornaments. Definitely not edible.....

[Sherwood]

Doesn't look very stable. Wouldn't something like one of these work better? In a pair that is!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...wxukgxtc_e_p28

Geoff

[GrahamS]

Doesn't look very stable. Wouldn't something like one of these work better? In a pair that is!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...wxukgxtc_e_p28
Geoff

Good idea Geoff. Now why didn't I think of that? Probably because I can't get down to B&Q - the car is snowed in. As soon as I can, I'll replace the wooden blocks with the widest door wedges I can find. I am using anti-slip matting between the base of the speaker and the top of the stand and the wooden block now, to prevent the speaker slipping off. But you are correct, it's not that stable.

[Sherwood]

Good idea Geoff. Now why didn't I think of that? Probably because I can't get down to B&Q - the car is snowed in. As soon as I can, I'll replace the wooden blocks with the widest door wedges I can find. I am using anti-slip matting between the base of the speaker and the top of the stand and the wooden block now, to prevent the speaker slipping off. But you are correct, it's not that stable.

I'd stay at home and try these! At £2 it's not worth the petrol costs!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...67KON35N&psc=1

Geoff

[GrahamS]

Done. Thanks Geoff.

[Puffin]

Could it be that the instability is aiding the transmission of the lower bass......Cat amongst the pigeons

[GrahamS]

Could it be that the instability is aiding the transmission of the lower bass......Cat amongst the pigeons

They are not really that unstable I guess because of the anti-slip mats and their sheer mass. They don't wobble or anything like that. I have more of an instability problem with the floor, which is a very deep pile carpet which is too thick for the spikes on the speaker stands to fully penetrate. The carpet is 20mm and the underlay is 6mm = 26mm to penetrate. I would need spikes with a much longer taper which I have not been able to find so I guess I will have to have some made.

[struth]

i use window wedges myself. depends on your layout but you can angle the stands if needed, either with similar stuff or longer feet at front. might make speaker more secure if all the base of speaker is on non slip matting and stands up at front via feet