Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Speakers near air conditioner?...

He everybody,

Could anybody tell me if there is any danger of placing the speakers in close proximity to air conditioner
(which is - 2 feet from it right in the way of airflow )? Unfortunately I don’t have too many options of speaker placement, so if anybody tells me “it’s bad” (which I suspect it is) I guess I’ll have to opt for bookshelf-sized speakers mounted on the wall.

Thanks a lot,
Dmitry.

I'll say it can't be good - at the very least for the veneer. I assume you mean a window type AC unit?

Bren R.

It's in-wall mounted, but I guess it the same as a window-type...

Yeah, the apartment special...

Off hand, the actual air movement might play havoc with the air movement in the cabinet (ie: if the airflow is pushing directly into the gorilla port), the cold air won't do the veneer glue any favours and probably the biggest issue I'd have, if you cool the speakers on a humid day, water vapour will condense on and in them - unfortunately speakers don't grow when you water them.

Bren R.

i really dont have any expertise knowledge, but i would have to agree with bren. the air blowing directly from the vents can be anywhere from 45F to 55F degrees, and would make for extreme temp changes up and down the tower. now, i dont think that will effect the speakers themselves, but it could have adverse effects on the structure of the box and the veneer. the possibilities of it warping and pulling greatly increase.

this is all speculation on my part.. i would write an email or call the 1-800# for axion, and get their opinion.

bigjohn

as dozens of M22 owners pour water into their speakers' gorilla ports, hoping that in the morning they'll have M80s...

Thanks for ruining my day guys, I appreciate it :-) .
Condensation was my first concern too… Well – bookshelf ones then, right?

As long as they don't fertilize, Ken!

... or fertilize Ken

... it's all about the comma

Bren R.

Well, as you can see, I take the chance. Somtimes there just ain't no option. However, I must say that the AC is run a total of about 48 hours in an entire summer. I'm in Cleveland.

they probably forgot the miracle grow

is that your set up, or a picture from S&V mag?

Oh sure! No, that's my setup. the only thing different today is that the plant is now hanging from the ceiling in the left hand corner over my hidden-behind-the-couch STF-2, and I have a new, very similar, clock.

Is that one of the creative wireless hoobajoobs I see to the far right under the lamp (the silver one)? If so, do you like it?

jr

Now there's a highly technical term you don't hear often; hoobajoobs. LOL! If I have the correct "hoobjoob" picked out, It is, indeed, a wireless transmitter for the wireless headphones resting on the cable box. Specifically it's a Sony MDR-IF5100 with "virtual" Dolby Digital surround, and DTS "virtual" 5.1, both of which are VIRTUALLY useless. When you use them in the alleged surround modes, at first, it kinda sounds like you fell into a metal garbage can. After an hour or two, that begins to sounds fairly decent, but by that time the movie is VIRTUALLY over. They cost an arm, a leg, and my first born (though I didn't pay anywhere near what they want for them on the Sony web site), and they aren't the REALLY expensive Sony MDR-DS8000 model.
That's the down side.

The upside is they sound very good, and, being wireless, they allow some reasonable movement as long as you are in line of sight of the infrared transmitter. I've had to deal with wires all my life, and have come to loathe them. They drive me nuts, so wireless is always attractive to me.

I would recommend wireless headphones (but be selective, not all of them are good), but don't waste the money on the virtual surround stuff.

Two things - intuitvely, condenstaion can't provide positive benefits to electronics / speakers. Perhqaps some type of cove for protection?

Ajax - what a terrific looking re-design!!! You have now experienced a quantum improvement to your system. I REALLY hope you are enjoying it.

conditioned air is dry and shouldnt be a problem for condensation,as for the cold temps ,the speakers are made in canada,im sure they can handle a little a/c--just kidding-you should ask axiom-also cant you adjust your vents so they dont blow directly on the speaker?....ron

In reply to:

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conditioned air is dry and shouldnt be a problem for condensation

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Sorry RCVECC - I didn't mean that the conditioned air was moist, but when you turn OFF the AC and the humid air in the house hits the cold speaker, it'll condense. Exactly the same reason cooling coils in furnaces have a drain tube (but I'm not telling you anything you don't know). I guess I wasn't too clear.

Bren R.

Well, here is a response from Brent :

"Hi Dmitry,

You will have no worries, the speakers are subjected to great variances of temperature and humidity without problems. The cabinets are very dense while the drivers due to there composition resist the elements, Ian
actually leaves his outside year round within a sheltered boathouse.Do keep the M60Ti on your scope, you will be glad you did."

Much "rejoicing in the land" is to follow .

Regards,
Dmitry.

Well, I can now breathe easier (and cooler). Whew! For those who are unaware (the regulars know this already) Brent is an employee at Axiom who should know these things, and Ian is the founder, and owner, of Axiom Audio.

Thanks, Dmitry, for asking the folks at Axiom.

Brent is the employee at Axiom. I have a vision of him chained to his desk with the sales and service phone taped to his ear. I ordered my HT in pairs and he answered the phone each time, also each time I had a problem with orders. Very helpful, cheerful and all around great guy.

Bren R.

Oddly enough i don't think i met Brent on the tour. I certainly do not recall seeing chains and padlocks in the office area but then again, they may have hidden him away in one of those soundproofed rooms.

Maybe Brent has one of the jobs Axiom out-sourced to Bangladesh.

Ian keeps a pair outside at his boathouse. Hmmm. I am thinking a annual party at the boathouse would be a splendid idea. Everyone bring a case from their local favorite brewery, sample music, and your speedo.

i am up for the party and beer, but i dont think you wanna see me and ray in a speedo. i have had nightmares about those type things

bigjohn

I just installed a wall a/c unit that blows on my vinyl M80 at about 2 feet away.

Is Brent's answer still conventional wisdom or has the last decade swayed opinion?

That would partly depend on the cfm @ 2' and it's fluctuations in both flow rate and temperature. Besides, I know where your speakers are, so the speakers aren't near the a/c, the a/c is near the speakers, right?

Build a deflector.