[anm]

Hi,
I went through the gr research site and kind of decided for a pair of N3 and N3S for center.
After that, there have been some changes to my room and I have setup the surround speakers. The wiring is now inside the wall plaster. Surrounds (klipsch, psb alpha) are in place.
I am now thinking of freeing up some floor space, and wondering if we can mount the N3 or N3S on wall and still have great sound.

Is it a big no no in terms of SQ? I know it will be better if placed on floor and about a foot away from the front wall.

What is a good way to mount them on the wall, as a certain amount of tilt down would also be needed? These are going to be heavy, so which wall mount can hold them back?

[HT cOz]

Hello and welcome,

Placing a speaker on the wall that is not designed to be on the wall does present problems because the speaker has baffle step compensation designed into the crossover. That means the response will be way off if you put it on the wall.

I would consider an AV1-RS for on wall mounting.

Danny has hinted at ideas for onwalls in the past but nothing has materialized yet.

[Danny Richie]

What he said...

The real end result from mounting any of these speakers to a wall is heavy bass response.

The A/V-1RS takes all of this into account and will create a great sound field that will appear to extend to space beyond the limitations of the room size. They can be used as left and right mains in many applications too.

[mlbrand]

So even the N3S is not good against a wall? That surprises me as I thought the sealed design was meant for close wall placement.

[Danny Richie]

So even the N3S is not good against a wall? That surprises me as I thought the sealed design was meant for close wall placement.

You can place it close to a wall, but if you butt it up against a wall it will have a little heavier bottom end. Some people really don't mind that too much for movie watching. It might blend better with the subs that are twice as loud or more than level. 

[anm]

thanks. AV1-RS - is there a picture to assist in understanding how would they be set up as fronts? Since my room is 20x30ft, will it be able to match N3 or N3S in output, given single 5.25" woofer?

[HT cOz]

thanks. AV1-RS - is there a picture to assist in understanding how would they be set up as fronts? Since my room is 20x30ft, will it be able to match N3 or N3S in output, given single 5.25" woofer?

The AV1-RS is 90db and N3 is 90.5db efficient. That is pretty close.  The reason they are so close is that the N3 needs two woofers to cover the loss in output of having the baffle step in the crossover network.  The AV1-RS does not have to overcome playing on a small baffle.  The N3 may play with less distortion with two drivers, Danny can answer that. 

To set up an ideal L,C,R with AV1-RS you would mount them 16" from the ceiling and no closer than 16" from the side walls.  I think you can vary from this formula, but it is no longer ideal.

Hope this helps,
Robert 

[anm]

I meant, in front channel application, would they face the ceiling or the listener? Any pics in action would be highly appreciated.

[WC]

Front Channel application would have them mounted to the front wall and facing the ceiling or mounted to the ceiling and facing the front wall. They weren't designed to face the listener.

[Danny Richie]

Front Channel application would have them mounted to the front wall and facing the ceiling or mounted to the ceiling and facing the front wall. They weren't designed to face the listener.

Exactly.

[anm]

The AV1-RS is 90db and N3 is 90.5db efficient. That is pretty close. 

If efficiency a sufficient parameter? Amount of air 2 drivers can move vs 1 driver - single driver would max out much earlier than 2. Also, if pushed to same spls, the frequency response may not remain the same as it would be at lower volumes.

Sorry for the noob questions 
regards

[Danny Richie]

If efficiency a sufficient parameter? Amount of air 2 drivers can move vs 1 driver - single driver would max out much earlier than 2. Also, if pushed to same spls, the frequency response may not remain the same as it would be at lower volumes.

Sorry for the noob questions 
regards

With most of the processors and receivers out available there is the option or flexibility to limit low frequency extension. So air moving capabilities are not too relevant.

Also, frequency response does not vary with volume levels. It will remain the same right up to the point to where you start bottoming out the woofers. And in cases like this (A/V-1RS with limited low frequency signal) you are at extreme SPL levels if woofers are being worked hard.

[mlbrand]

I would go with the N3S speaker for your front three, LCR. To me the better dynamics and detail of the N3S outweigh the extra bass you would get in the low end, as that is easily fixed. As Danny said in another post, the extra bass output could be blended into a sub-woofer with the right crossover setting, and might even be preferable for HT use. Also, most receivers and processors today can equalize out excessive bass relatively easily. The N3S also seems like a better match for your surrounds, as they are both of the direct radiating design.