Front Wall Back Wall

John Casler · « **on:** 22 Apr 2006, 09:20 pm »

Has anyone noticed that so many people call the Front Wall (the wall in front of you when seated in your listening chair) the Back Wall?

What's up with that?

Do they stand behind their speakers to listen?

or how do they get disoriented?

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Apr 2006, 09:22 pm »

Quote from: John Casler

Has anyone noticed that so many people call the Front Wall (the wall in front of you when seated in your listening chair) the Back Wall?

What's up with that?

Do they stand behind their speakers to listen? or how do they get disoriented?

Well the wall is behind the speakers so I guess it depends on your reference point.

Personally, I use myself as the reference point (big shock) and go from there.

George

John Casler · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Apr 2006, 09:30 pm »

Quote from: zybar

Quote from: John Casler
Has anyone noticed that so many people call the Front Wall (the wall in front of you when seated in your listening chair) the Back Wall?

What's up with that?

Do they stand behind their speakers to listen? or how do they get disoriented?

Well the wall is behind the speakers so I guess it depends on your reference point.

Personally, I use myself as the reference point (big shock) and go from there.

George

Hi George,

Yes, me too.

But still, if they call the wall in front of them the "Back Wall" then what is the wall behind them???

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Apr 2006, 09:33 pm »

Quote from: John Casler

Hi George,

Yes, me too.

But still, if they call the wall in front of them the "Back Wall" then what is the wall behind them???
_________________
John Casler

The front wall of course!

Screwy isn't it?

George

ted_b · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Apr 2006, 10:12 pm »

The "other" back wall.

And the walls on either side of you....the back walls, of course. The ceiling is known as the upper back wall, the floor...you guessed it, the lbw (lower back wall).

Seriously, I agree that some folks call the speaker wall in front of you the back wall cuz the wall is in back of the speaker. It's nutz, tho. I've even heard acoustics guys call it that.....and then to justify it they call the wall behind you "the wall behind you"......

We have enough acronyms and weirdisms in this hobby already, let's just call it what it is.......the north wall...wait, it's actually west....oh sh%t...

_scotty_ · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Apr 2006, 10:33 pm »

It might be easier to think of these directions like a clock face with Twelve o'clock being in front of you and Six o"clock being behind you.
Of course common sense has always been a scarce commodity among audiophiles.
Scotty

ted_b · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Apr 2006, 10:41 pm »

Quote from: _scotty_

It might be easier to think of these directions like a clock face with Twelve o'clock being in front of you and Six o"clock being behind you.
Of course common sense has always been a scarce commodity among audiophiles.
Scotty

If this was aimed at my comments, they were tongue-in-cheek....I was just joking. The front and back wall seem to be just fine descriptors.

_scotty_ · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Apr 2006, 11:18 pm »

I am afraid my humor is like my martini's, very dry.
Scotty

ted_b · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Apr 2006, 12:50 am »

Yeah, the internet is a great thing, but dry humor, inflection, sarcasm, etc get lost cuz they're mainly timing and delivery. Oh well......I thought it was funny, after rereading with a Steven Wright kind of thing.

Ethan Winer · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Apr 2006, 02:31 pm »

John,

> What's up with that? <

Indeed. I hear this all the time and it makes no sense to me either. Folks, repeat after me: The wall in front of you is the front wall. It's at the front of the room.

--Ethan

gold · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Apr 2006, 03:06 pm »

Are we still treating the front wall heavily and keeping the back wall somewhat alive or has that changed?

ted_b · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Apr 2006, 03:21 pm »

Live End, Dead End (LEDE) is a concept that many, including Brian Cheney, VMPS founder/designer, have supported for many years. There are other acoustic ideas out there, including a more diffusion-rather-than-absorption idea that I like with my VMPS's. That means keeping the front (yes, front) soundstage lively yet diffuse by using diffuser drapes or diffuser objects that break up high frequency beaming, use bass traps to tame the low end, and use first reflection absorption, not front wall absorption.

To each his own.....and with all the different types of speaker architectures, I'd have a long talk with the speaker mfg'er about your particular room acoustics, your tastes and your speaker positioning. That will guide you toward a consistent room acoustics plan. That's the advantage of buying from mfg'ers who are accessible via phone, email or the net.