Speakers and Fireplaces

Posted by: P on 14 February 2002

Anyone out there got their speakers either side of a fireplace?

This is a big no-no in the purists book I know but out of necessity my SBLs have been either side of the fireplace in my lounge for quite some time now. Some things are just unavoidable (like a divorce if I bought the system I really wanted). They do sound pretty damn good there but I always knew that something wasn’t quite right with the, dare I say it, imaging. Like a hole was there and the centralised core of the sound was being lost? (forgive me I‘m not a HiFi reviewer). Even with an old screen guarding the fire opening the sound was coming from the left and right but nothing much was really happening in the middle. Just didn’t grab and grip as a whole as much as I’d like.

Now this had really been getting to me recently and I felt something needed to be done, so, to finally get to the crux of the biscuit, here’s what I did.

After a little experimentation with some hardboard (sounded OK but looked cat) I had a piece of bronzed 6mm glass cut to size that fills the opening of the fire (we never use the thing). It fits really snug, seals the void completely and you can still see the fire behind. Looks real nice. But it sounds Like Wow! Nailed. I've been smirking along with the music ever since.

Seriously, if you have wall proximity speakers either side of a fireplace I strongly recommend trying this. Best £12 I’ve spent this year.

Hey Ho

Posted on: 14 February 2002 by bdnyc

This seems like a good solution, assuming as I do, that your approach looks nice. When I suggested to my local dealer that I was setting up my speakers on either side of the fireplace, which I never use, he suggested I brick it off. As that seemed, and still seems, a mite permanent, I followed his suggestion half way. A fellow customer of this excellent small Naim dealer, Accent On Music, Mt. Kisco New York was a carpenter, and he took my measurements one day, and the next time I saw him he gave me some sort of insulated board with a silver foil front over something about the depth of sheetrock. This has sealed my fireplace ever since. The bass was helped enormously, as well as the image solidity. Still looks like the audio police rule in my room, but then again...

Posted on: 15 February 2002 by P

Hey There BDNYC (or should that be NYAudioPD?)

Glad somebody agrees that something needs to be done with those great gaping holes we have to suffer in our walls.

Here's a before and after

Before

and after

It really makes a difference

Cheers

Posted on: 15 February 2002 by garyi

I may be blind but what if anything is different in them photos?

Some time ago on this forum there was mention of pulling the SBLs out from the recesses to improve things.

Against all current thinking it would seem I have mine out from the wall as well, stopped the bass boom I was getting, could be worth a try.

Posted on: 15 February 2002 by P

Unfortunately the 30kb limit means the effect is a little lost but if you look closely there is actually a 6mm thick sheet of glass over the hole in the second picture. Honest!

Posted on: 16 February 2002 by Rico

Great idea, P - really something new.

Still,

quote:
I had a piece of bronzed 6mm glass cut to size that fills the opening of the fire

if that had been "smoked glass" it would all have been a bit Mana, eh?

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 17 February 2002 by P

Actually Rico I DID ask for smoked glass when I first spoke to the guy on the phone regarding my requirements but he said "Blimey! haven't heard that one since the Seventies mate. Do you want Bronzed or Grey?"

True!

Posted on: 17 February 2002 by Rico

quote:
"Blimey! haven't heard that one since the Seventies mate...."

I should add at this juncture, that my Mana has clear glass.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 17 February 2002 by bdnyc

P-

That is an outstanding looking system setup. It actually seems to perfectly embody the ideal Julian and company created of making great hifi that could be a part of your everyday life. Aside from the pangs of jealosy about your handsome room that is actually decorated and looks liveable, which is an ongoing and unfinished project in my life, I wonder what your experiences are with the TV on the right hand side of the picture. Do you have it as an input on your Naim pre-amp?

I have a similar set up, with my TV in one corner, and my speakers centered on the wall. I run my TV into my 82 and really enjoy it for movies, but don't bother much on regular programming. Not surround sound, but a nice synergy nonetheless. DVD's in particular are great through the Naim system.

Posted on: 18 February 2002 by P

Thanks for the compliment BD. Lovely sentiment. Thank you.

To answer your question. The TV isn't plugged into the 52 though I did experiment. Unfortunately the sound seemed a bit disjointed and confusing in relation to what was happening on the screen?

Luckily it's a Metz Artos TV and has a really nice on board sound system of its own - 3 internal speakers, subwoofer and 80 watts of amplification(sic). A Cyrus DVD7 lurks in the cabinet below the TV connected with Chord silver SVideo c/w Chameleon on the the audio. Again I tried the DVD player into the main system but found I prefer the sound through the TV (it has a pseudo surround mode that works really well with Dolby soundtracks).

I'm curious to know what an AV2 might do in the main system but I really can't justify the Home Cinema route(again?) just yet.

I really love my system as it stands, it's one hell of a CD player. But. I really need a good turntable. To be purchased soon.

Cheers

Pete

BTW. Well spotted Lobo. Those curtains happened quite some time afterwards.

And Rico. I took your advice when we bought the new seating. Did I get some funny looks when I stood in the store shouting at the sofa! Sounds pretty good though. Weighs a ton.

TTFN