I have the parts (AVS123 cabinets & driver kit) for a pair of LS6s. They've been waiting for a remodel, and I'm starting that design. Below is a drawing of the finished floorplan for the LR/HT/listening room where I plan to put the LS6s. They'll go on the 13' wall facing the couch. The room has 8' ceilings and the back wall will have heavy curtains covering ~14' of windows. Couch has a coffee table in from of it. Floor is hardwood with a large rug w/padding.
I plan on the LS6s, a pair of A/V-1RS, and my existing Velodyne FSR18 (LFE only) and no center. The room will be used for 75% HT and 25% listening. HT display/electronics will go between the LS6s. I may stick with a projector or if I have the $$$ go to a 75" LCD.
Since space is limited the LS6s cannot stick out into the room as much as would be considered optimal. I'm thinking of some treatments behind the LS6s to overcome that. Perhaps leaving the stud bays behind them open and filling them with 5" of cotton batts (http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/wall_insulation/ultratouch.htm?d=28). The wall is a 2*4 so I'd use some trim and cloth (http://www.sewbatik.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=92) to pretty it up and improve the WAF.
Does this sound reasonable? Should I consider acoustic treatments on the side walls? For the dimensions given how far apart should I place the LS6s?
Hello, I have had the LS6s for quite a while, with a room the same width as yours, but about six feet less depth wise. I have struggled for years to get them to sound good.
The first thing is, you are going to greatly compromise your sound if you put the speakers on the wall that you want.
For starters, placing the speakers too close to a wall behind them kills depth and imaging. Even if you put bass traps behind them (I tried this on the long wall), you'll fix the bass loading issues, but you'll have zero depth. Everything will sound two dimensional, compared to pulling them out from the wall.
Secondly, your head can't be that close to the wall behind it without significant bass trapping. Think GIK Monster Traps. I had my speakers this way before, with monster traps behind my head. It helps tremendously, but distancing yourself from boundaries is without equal. Distancing yourself from boundaries and placing bass traps is doubly effective.
Placing them on the wall that Playntheblues recommended is much better. The one where the stairwell is, is perfect. This way you can get the speakers and your head away from walls that will kill your sound.
You will also need significant room treatments regardless of which way you position your speakers. I currently have over 20 bass traps in my 13x18 room, and I still need a few more to really nail the clarity that these speakers can deliver. Not to mention I have some diffusion around as well. These speakers pressurize rooms pretty easily, especially with bass. You need to control it.
Skip the 73 inch TV. A TV between the speakers will cause hard reflections and destroy your sound. It will also be more expensive, needlessly, then a modest projector setup. Get an electric or manual pull screen and a projector, and be happier.
As for the center channel business, in my experience, I have not found a suitable surround sound processor or receiver that gives me the naturalness, transparency, and transient speed that my DAC, tube preamp, and tube amps provide.
I actually watch movies in two channel now, and I am much happier then ever before. Yes, I lose that discreet surround sound, but I don't miss it for a second.
When properly positioned, the LS6s with some great two channel equipment can provide a hugely immersive, three dimensional soundfield.
The drawback to this is that people sitting on the far sides, get less then ideal sound in terms of positioning and staging, but with the acoustic treatments, they are still getting a highly natural, dynamic, and transparent quality to all parts of the movie soundtrack. Since the room is narrow, being only 13 feet wide, the pull is not as drastic as you would think, and no one has minded that has been over to watch a movie or sporting event.
Im starting to babble, so I'll leave it at this. Hope any of it helped, and good luck!
