Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo 3ti's in a bookcase

I have a question regarding the 3 ti’s. I need a pair of speakers to use in an actual bookshelf situation in my office. I know these are called bookshelf speakers but the fact that they are rear ported has me concerned. I have heard some of you say that they are better suited to speaker stands. I could use stands but for room esthetics and to prevent clutter I would prefer to sit them on the shelf with books and other brik a brac. The bookshelf is solid wood and has a back. Will the rear port create too much boom and sound cavernous? What do you guys think? Anybody using them this way?
Thanks
oz

I think people generally recommend not doing this. I agree with you; it would be asthetically pleasing. How far forward would you be able to put them on the shelf? How much space behind them would there be?

As long as you have a few inches behind the speakers and a way for the bass to "get out" (ie space between the top of the speaker and the next shelf, or beside the speakers etc...) the rear porting shouldn't be an issue.

The big issue with putting bookshelf speakers on a real bookshelf is the "boxy" sound you can get, basically an emphasis at a frequency determined by the space between shelves, across the shelf, between back of speaker and back wall of shelves, etc. All of these frequencies are much higher than anything that comes out of the port, eg. 550 Hz if you have 12" between shelves. Sort of an "awww" resonance.

I always had good results with speakers on shelves myself. I put the speakers on high shelves so there wasn't much stuff piled around them, turned the speakers upside down to keep the tweeter close to ear level, and used shelves with open sides and back wherever possible. Also made sure that the front of the speaker was at least 1/2" in front of the shelf; more if I could get away with it.

If you put the speakers in a shelving arrangement that is essentially a box, they're probably gonna sound boxy

Hmmm... I was afraid that might be the case. I'll have to take some measurements. I wonder if going with a non ported would be better. Something like the Epos3 or the Mission? Actually I'm sure if either of those are ported or not?
oz

Yeah, but like Bridgeman says, it's not the porting that's the problem, it's the cabinet in a cabinet effect.

Oz, I agree with John B's comments; as long as at least a few inches of "breathing" room are left for the port, that in itself wouldn't be a problem, but the placement in a bookcase would raise other problems regardless of whether the speakers were back ported, front ported or sealed.

Beat me to it Ken; great minds....can't remember the rest.

I should mention that it's possible to worry too much about this. WIll speakers in the bookshelf you are describing sound as good as they would on stands ? Nope. Will they still sound "mighty fine" ? Probably...

I don't suppose you could post a picture of the actual bookshelf ? That makes a lot of difference...

In reply to:

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Beat me to it Ken; great minds....can't remember the rest.

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I think it's "great minds...................root for Ohio State," or something like that.

great minds link athike?

We used hut, Peter.