More On Speaker Positioning; Main Speakers; Surround Speakers - NAD VISO SPEAKERS Owner's Manual

II. MORE ON SPEAKER POSITIONING
A. Main Speakers
The three factors to adjust according to your own tastes—keeping in mind
that you are the judge and the one(s) to be satisfied-are:
1. The closer you place speakers to room surfaces, the greater the
proportion of bass in their sound, because of the "focusing" effects of
nearby surfaces on lower, longer-wavelength frequencies. Positioning the
speakers near the intersection of two surfaces (wall and wall, wall and
floor, or wall and ceiling) will produce more apparent bass than placing
them near a single surface (a wall or floor or ceiling). The greatest
apparent bass will result from placement near the intersection of three
surfaces-in a room corner, near the floor or ceiling, where there will be a
reinforcing effect which is somewhat uneven, like that of a megaphone.
2. Distances of speakers from the wall can make a great difference in
the frequency balance, sonic spaciousness, and definition in their
sound, because of changes in the number, strength, and particular
frequencies of secondary reflections from surfaces. The sound will
generally have greater spaciousness, especially depth, if they are out at
least a foot (30cm) from the nearest wall.
3. Small changes in positioning may make a big difference in sound
quality. Because of the varying relationships of the dimensions of a room
and their relation both to where you place the speakers and where you sit,
the wavelengths of sound and their interaction both with you and with the
room can vary a great deal. There can be sharp increases or decreases in
the relative loudness of different frequency bands, greatly amplifying or
almost nullifying whole ranges. Since VISO Speakers are small and easy
to position, it's easy to experiment with small, incremental changes until
you are satisfied.
Ideal speaker placement: 2.1
B. Surround Speakers
Begin with the knowledge of the above factors about main speakers. Then
modify things as needed for your convenience and the surround effect that
works best for you. If you want maximum localization and definition, you
probably will want to aim the speakers toward your seating area, both
60°
100°
Ideal speaker placement: 5.1
5
30° 30°
100°