[jonbee]

What distance from the rear wall has worked best for RM 30 owners? In particular, please comment on the effect of distance on imaging, as well as on the reflectivity/treatments of your rear wall.
I know this is all highly variable, but I'd be interested in hearing any experiences with this.
Thanks

[RGordonpf]

I had my RM30Ms up against the front wall.  When I converted them to RM30Cs I had to move them out about two feet.  I have a very heavily treated listening room.  So imaging has never been a problem.  Thus, I placed the speakers for the flattest room frequency response.

My opinion is that if you want imaging, you have to get rid of the reflections.  Thus, treating your sidewalls and ceiling is critical.  Once the room is taken out of the equation, then placement of the speakers becomes very easy.  If you can't treat your room, then trial and error is the only way that I know to find the best compromise position.  Every room is different so each room demands different placement of the speakers.

Hope you are enjoying your RM30s as much as I enjoy mine.

[Zheeeem]

The center of the front plane of my RM30Ms are 37 inches from the front wall and 33 inches from the side walls (and 56 inches apart).  My listening position is about 6 ft away, and there's about 3 ft behind me.  They are toed in, pointing about midway between me and the speaker plane.  It seems severe, but sounds best... so far.

As far as room treatments go...  The first thing I did was damp and soundproof the hardwood floor from underneath by stuffing insulation between the joists.  There's a heavy oriental rug on the floor (bakhtiari; I collect and have about 30 persian rugs).  On the front wall directly behind the speakers I have two tribal rugs, each about 3x5 - an Afshar saddle cover, and a Bakhtiari Tasheh, and in the center a slightly smaller Kurdish saddlebag.  Behind them I have about 2 inches of upholsery padding.  On the side walls I have about 50 square feet of 2 inch acoustic foam.

The only furniture in the room is a heavy overstuffed leather loveseat, and a small table big enough to hold a lamp, and not much else.  There are a few smaller persian rugs and salt bags tossed about on the floor.  The walls, other than the foam, are chockablock with paintings.

It's all a bit eclectic, and with a little effort I could surely do better.  But it works for me.

[John Casler]

All good points and good advice.

I might point out for those who don't know the RM30 that it comes in two models the RM30C and the RM30M.

The RM30M has the side-firing 10" woofer. 

I think RGordonpf pointed out that he had to adjust his RM30M. when he went to the RM30C model.

Point being the RM30C has more flexibility to placement since one does not need to worry about the low bass paths and room interaction.

I have some clients who have their RM30C's almost touching the front walls, with excellent results.

Those with the RM30M's can also experiment with placing the side-firing woofer firing "in" and firing "out".  Generally firing out will produce a good result, but depending on side wall distances, room dimentions, and distance between the speakers, one placing may sound better than the other.

[Se7en]

Here's my setup for my 30Ms. Keep in mind that this room is our living room and not a dedicated listening space.

The room is a "potential" disaster because it has high ceilings (22') and my front wall is glass, along with hardwood floors. I have also yet to do any sound treatment but because it is a shared space I cannot go too overboard. I'm using a tact to help keep me out of trouble. I also have the option of opening the glass door behind the speakers and the stage literally extends back another 15 feet.

I have the subs facing inward but am also using a single center ML sub which is crossed over at around 80hz more or less removing the VMPS subs from the sonic picture (I was having some issues with all three subs while using a lower xo point).

Overall, I'm very happy with the sound I'm getting in this room. The stage is extremely focused, layers back very nicely and extends a couple of feet beyond the speakers with the right recording.

From the front wall (glass): 61"

From the side walls: 60"

From each other (at the closest point): 120"

From the listening position: 185"


Pics:

[mr_bill]

Nice Room!
What is that beautiful view behind you?


John or others, do the RM30 have a wide or narrow lateral dispersion or do you aim them right at you to get the desired effect (like a piar of Innersound flat planel electrostats)? 
Does it make any difference to the lateral dispersion if you use the covers with the narrow slats on them (for lack of the right term!)?

[John Casler]

Nice Room!
What is that beautiful view behind you?


John or others, do the RM30 have a wide or narrow lateral dispersion or do you aim them right at you to get the desired effect (like a piar of Innersound flat planel electrostats)? 
Does it make any difference to the lateral dispersion if you use the covers with the narrow slats on them (for lack of the right term!)?

With the CDWG (constant directivity wave guide) the RM30s have an exceptionally wide lateral dispersion of sound giving you a very large sweet spot and imaging.

The RM30s without the CDWG offer a more focused sweet spot and "precision" images and soundstage.

With the CDWG on, they still sound the best with the on axis firing angles converged slightly in from of you, but it is not as critical as with the CDWG off.

The new SDE versions are equalized for both "on and off" use, so you have two speakers in one.

[Se7en]

Nice Room!
What is that beautiful view behind you?

Thanks! That is Lake Travis, Austin TX. In reality it is the Colorado River.

-Gabe

[jonbee]

I've been experimenting in my 19w x 16.5L living room with them along the long wall. Pulling them out from the back wall by 27.5", 7 feet apart and listening about 8 feet away, gives utterly amazing soundstaging, depth and clarity, with the best overall balance. I'm very pleased with this setup; truly it is the best overall sound I've heard anywhere. Once again, these speakers just keep getting better! Unless I get a different space and buy V60s (I'm considering buying a second condo just for my system!), I think I'm set up for a very long term relationship.