Closely space monitors and stereo imaging issues?

[intellijel]

I am well ware of the need to keep monitors positioned so that ones listening position forms an equilateral triangle with them.

Due to certain physical constraints of my setup I can only achieve this ideal if my monitors are spaced 3ft apart.

AFAIK this is ok but ideally they should be about 4-5ft apart (which would also push back my listening position)

Is the 3ft width a real problem? Does this affect my ability to properly deal with stereo imaging?

I noticed when speakers were farther apart it was a lot easier to place elements in the stereo mix since there was such a distinct mono center. Now it feels like I need to work harder to create the separations and width.

Advice appreciated!

[moracspace]

Should be fine.you will have to adjust to get to know your monitors.

[666666]

Originally Posted by intellijel

I am well ware of the need to keep monitors positioned so that ones listening position forms an equilateral triangle with them.

In my opinion, don't worry so much about the equilateral triangle "rule"... do what works and sounds best. So if your monitors are 5 feet apart but you're only 3 feet away from them, that might very well work just fine. Do experiment though. I'm more concerned with your potential room problems though. If your space is so restricted that you cannot even place yourself more than 3 feet back from your monitors, you must have a very small room with perhaps a wall right behind you... if so and if it is not treated well, you may have major reflection issues that will wreck your stereo image no matter where you sit and cause a host of other troubles too. I'd be way more worried about that than the triangle rule.

[intellijel]

Actually my room is about 8.5 x 11. BUT there is a queen sized bed in there as well.

I recently reconfigured my room so that my mixing desk was at the end of one of the long sides of the room (speakers projecting into the 11ft. depth)
The back of my speakers are also about a foot away from the wall (should be more but this is the best I can do).
However, since the bed is behind me and my room layout has poorly placed doors/cupboards, the bed basically fences me in to a small area even though the size of the room is fine.
This is why I have placed my speakers 3ft apart so that when I move as far back as possible (and hit the bed), I am at the point of an equilateral triangle.


As for treatment, 6 ready acoustic broadband basstraps are on their way to fill the corners and first reflection zones. I also have 8 Auralex Lenrd bass traps that will probably go on the corners bewteen tops of the back wall and ceiling.


cheers,
Danjel

[intellijel]

I have drawings of my room in another thread here:
Strategy for this small room?