The TV Effect??

Early B. · « **on:** 17 Oct 2012, 05:13 am »

What effect does a 65" flat screen TV positioned between your speakers have on the sound? My speakers are about one foot in front and one foot to the side of the TV. There are no other practical placement options. If the TV creates a deleterious effect on the sound, how can it be mitigated? (i.e., hanging an acoustic panel on it during critical listening sessions???)

Thanks.

ZLS · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 05:19 am »

Take a bed sheet and put it over the screen during a listening session.
Determine if you hear a difference, and whether the difference is positive or negative.

low.pfile · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 05:52 am »

I have no treatments, so my little 40in LCD likely doesn't add too many more reflections. but I play around with my cushions, throws and comforters. just don't let your TV overheat by covering completely. it may be off but it's actually on standby. I think the thicker the material the better. It's easy to experiment yourself.

Austin08 · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 06:07 am »

I made a 703 2x4 acoustic panel and put it in the front of my TV for critical listening and put it in the corner when not in use.( I have to add an extra lcd screen to where I seat so I can control and play around with my play list). It does help me get rid of the midrange glare.

MaxCast · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 11:01 am »

I'll agree. Placing 2x4x3" acoustic foam in front of a TV made a noticeable improvement in my former set up.
I do think you need more than a sheet or even a blanket. As others have pointed out try big pillows or cushions and see if you like it.

Hey Austin, what kid of diffusers are those there?

Early B. · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 01:16 pm »

Quote from: MaxCast on 17 Oct 2012, 11:01 am

I'll agree. Placing 2x4x3" acoustic foam in front of a TV made a noticeable improvement in my former set up.

Thanks. I'll try this and see what happens.

Austin08 · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 08:27 pm »

Quote from: MaxCast on 17 Oct 2012, 11:01 am

Hey Austin, what kid of diffusers are those there?

It is 37 prime diffuser that Allen of SRLacoustic made for me. They work out quite well.

Early B. · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 03:14 pm »

UPDATE: I purchased a 2' x 4' x 2" acoustic panel to place in front of my flat screen TV. This single panel made a significant improvement. First, the imaging is much tighter. Second, the panel reduces midrange glare. Third, I'm hearing micro details that I hadn't heard before. Of course, the improvements are more noticeable on some songs than others.

I'd love to try more panels. However, I need to tread lightly due to WAF. Nevertheless, I'm wondering if I would benefit by two additional panels at the first reflection points. My question is -- since I have omnidirectional speakers (woofer and midrange are on top), are the first reflection points the same as conventional speakers??

PDR · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 05:08 pm »

With my Dipoles I tried absorption behind, I ended up with a QRD diffuser instead, this
made the imaging incredible. I use first reflection absorption as well and a poly diffuser
behind the listening seat....but I have a room that doesnt have to pass wife inspection.

Have you tried laying the panel horizontal across the TV?....wonder what that would do covering the sides of the tv that are exposed at ear height.

Nice looking room!......good luck.

MaxCast · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 05:13 pm »

Glad it made an improvement. I would do what PDR says and try it sideways but high to catch some of the mid range.
The sides will benefit and you can be thin there too as you are only dealing with the highs.

Early B. · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 05:36 pm »

Quote from: PDR on 20 Oct 2012, 05:08 pm

With my Dipoles I tried absorption behind, I ended up with a QRD diffuser instead, this
made the imaging incredible.

Did you place the QRD diffusor behind the speakers or behind your listening position?

PDR · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 06:39 pm »

Behind the speakers......you can see it in my avatar.

satfrat · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Oct 2012, 07:15 pm »

My Sony XBR at 40" wide isn't nearly as big as your 65" TV but the placement is nearly the same. I had an acoustic foam 4" vertical wedge sheet that I would hang from the ceiling and it did provide some improvement in the imaging of my Odyssey Lorelei's. But recently I converted to 4' x 4' AQD1 diffuser panels (two 2' x 4' panels together) from PI Audio that I have sitting on top of my center channel speaker. This not only made it much lighter & easier to move when using the TV than trying to hang that foam wall, the actual improvement was very much better than the foam and at a very affordable price. With the AQD1 in place, the imaging both got wider & deeper so to enhance the overall soundstage. For my situation, it was a win-win solution, enhanced sound stage and easier mobility of temporary room treatment. If the TV wasn't there, I'd be mounting the AQD1's on the front wall A-Stat!

As an illustration, here's a picture of how S Clark stacked 4 AQD1 panels (4' x 8') in a simular situation as yours.

Cheers,
Robin

nwboater · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Oct 2012, 11:40 pm »

I'm amazed that you would be getting that bad of stuff from the TV with the speakers so far out in front of it. To really know if the diffusers solved a problem with the TV you would need to listen first with TV and then without TV, in both cases with no diffusers.

It's possible that with NO TV a similar improvement might be noted when putting treatment in that area.

Rod

Jonathon Janusz · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 12:10 am »

Just curious to know from folks with open baffle/dipole speakers:

Regarding the effect of the TV - is it less noticeable considering theoretically the TV is sitting in the null between both speakers, or is there more to it than that?

Thanks!

satfrat · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 12:18 am »

Quote from: nwboater on 22 Oct 2012, 11:40 pm

I'm amazed that you would be getting that bad of stuff from the TV with the speakers so far out in front of it. To really know if the diffusers solved a problem with the TV you would need to listen first with TV and then without TV, in both cases with no diffusers.

It's possible that with NO TV a similar improvement might be noted when putting treatment in that area.

Rod

FWIW, I also use diffusion on my 1st reflection points on both walls & ceiling. It helps make my smallish 11' x 17' x 7' room sound much larger than it actually is. I also use 8th Nerve Adapt rectangles on ALL wall & ceiling joints. While my room sounds great w/o anything covering the TV, it definitely sounds greatest with the AWD1's covering the screen. Moving the TV is not an option!

Cheers,
Robin

Elizabeth · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 02:04 am »

My TV is on the side wall. The item behind MY Magnepan speakers is a huge window. 9 ft wide.
I do not do much about it with my dipoles.
They are spread wide, tweeters 'in' and the corners with heavy drapes pulled open, and the sides shelving 7' tall plus filled with media.
(the speaker back is basically angled right into the corner, where the drapes meet the cabinets.
Speakers 42" out from backwall.
I do have a very low open wood, leather chair between speakers, in front of amp. (it is low 30", enough the back is below the air conditioner outlet in wall under window...)
It is more to hide the amp than to be a seat, or an acoustical device.
Seems fine to me. I never close the drapes.

Wasatch · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 09:23 pm »

For a 2 channel audio system, really there should be nothing between the speakers, if there is, it should be low to the ground as possible. Also, if there is the speakers should be well out in front, by a few feet.

GrinnellFan · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Oct 2012, 01:52 am »

I would agree with what others have said. I always put an acoustic treatment in front of my 65 inch plasma and it seems to make a noticeable difference for the good. Seems to help the entire range of sound.

Don bennett · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Oct 2015, 12:22 am »

What about having wool curtains that cover the tv while listening? Just a thought?