What's your listening preference -Nearfield or Farfield?

[Ki Choi]

In recent weeks, I visited Mike L and Gary K and heard their wonderful systems. They are both great but significantly different in fundamental style of listening to me.

It got me to think that what Mike has set up is a grand scaled nearfield listening similar to how a studio would have nearfield monitors setup on top of the mixing board and listening from the chair positioned relatively close the speakers. The sound I heard was very similar to music heard through a good pair of headphones with the room impacting very little in the listening equation or getting out of the way of the music coming to me. Bruce B's studio is similar in listening environment as I recall.

The common theme in these rooms is that the speakers disappear -as they say- and the music floats in between two speakers. This is my preference as well.

OTOH, Gary's setup is closer to "wall of sound" that one would hear from a live concert where there's no 3D imaging to speak of and in most cases mono material played through various PA speakers (other than live un-mic'ed performances), I would guess. Gary's listening chair is far away from the speakers and certainly doesn't follow the equilateral triangle setup with no toe-in for the speakers at all - I would call it farfield listening.

In both cases, having full range of high fidelity is common requirement especially no boomy bass.

So what's your preference?

[Rob]

With my current speaker I'm near field, come to think of it I was mostly near field even with large planar's I've owned in different homes I've lived in. I've been blessed with a dedicated room of some sort all my audiophile life and use the rule of thirds to divide up my space with the speakers way out into the room. My seating positing is a function of many things but invariably i'm closer to the speakers than the other way around. If I owned horns I'd most likely be far field.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Hey Myles, remember the Chair? nearfield? Speakers were maybe 2.5 to 3 feet away. I want to duplicate that setup (but with my own chair and gear) someday,

[MylesBAstor]

Hey Myles, remember the Chair? nearfield? Speakers were maybe 2.5 to 3 feet away. I want to duplicate that setup (but with my own chair and gear) someday,[ATTACH=CONFIG]n10838[/ATTACH]

How can I forget? I was trying to leave the room and you roped me into listening!

[Steve Lefkowicz]

How can I forget? I was trying to leave the room and you roped me into listening!

And with the little PSB speakers at the chair I tried it sounded really nice. These are those $100 a pair Pioneers.

[MylesBAstor]

In recent weeks, I visited Mike L and Gary K and heard their wonderful systems. They are both great but significantly different in fundamental style of listening to me.

It got me to think that what Mike has set up is a grand scaled nearfield listening similar to how a studio would have nearfield monitors setup on top of the mixing board and listening from the chair positioned relatively close the speakers. The sound I heard was very similar to music heard through a good pair of headphones with the room impacting very little in the listening equation or getting out of the way of the music coming to me. Bruce B's studio is similar in listening environment as I recall.

The common theme in these rooms is that the speakers disappear -as they say- and the music floats in between two speakers. This is my preference as well.

OTOH, Gary's setup is closer to "wall of sound" that one would hear from a live concert where there's no 3D imaging to speak of and in most cases mono material played through various PA speakers (other than live un-mic'ed performances), I would guess. Gary's listening chair is far away from the speakers and certainly doesn't follow the equilateral triangle setup with no toe-in for the speakers at all - I would call it farfield listening.

In both cases, having full range of high fidelity is common requirement especially no boomy bass.

So what's your preference?

Nothing could be more nearfield aka studio monitors than when HP had the IRS Vs in Room 3. Again, speakers will have a lot to do with it as Jack pointed out in my room. The ML and Magicos work well but he had doubts if the Von Schweikerts would have the same success.

Often preference has nothing to do with it: it's dealing with the hand you are dealt. I'm not though sure that there's always a tradeoff between the two positions. I've heard for instance, SF Fenices have a huge stage and pinpoint imaging in a big room a couple of times. When that happens, it's like you died and went to heaven.

In the end, it's the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. If you have that huge soundstage, you want the imaging and vice versa. But personally, I am a soundstaging and imaging junkie. I love the feeling when you listen to tape of the musicians being in the room with me!

[MylesBAstor]

And with the little PSB speakers at the chair I tried it sounded really nice. These are those $100 a pair Pioneers. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n10853[/ATTACH]

That look was the feeling of being off my feet and not lugging that heavy bag filled with record for the first time in what seemed hours.

[allenh]

Is near or far field more a function of speaker/room interaction than preference? I actually don't think I have a preference per se, I just place my speakers/listening position where I get the most even bass response. Right now that makes them about 10.5' from the listener.

[Rob]

you have a large dedicated room. IIRC your Magicos are far out into the room, no?

[allenh]

Yup. Plane of the tweeter is about 9.5' from the front wall. Still need to finalize SP, but figure +/- a foot, if that much.

[Garth]

far field never had a near field set up

[JackD201]

Too many hours behind an editing desk and monitors. For leisure and pleasure, it's far field for me. My current listening distance is 12 ft.

[Rust]

I sit about 10 feet back from the speakers which are about 9 feet apart, which keeps them a few feet from the sidewalls. Given the size of the speakers, this is closer to nearfield than farfield. Bass is slightly unbalanced because there is an open entryway near the left speaker. I'd prefer a little bit different setup, but it's the room I have.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I prefer a midfield or farfield setup in my audio room, but not because I don't like the sound of nearfield. It's more a situation of feeling like I'm crowded into a small space with the speakers on top of me......I don't like that feeling...I find it uncomfortable and forced. Although I haven't properly measured everything, I would say I'm setup for between a midfield to farfield seating position.

[JCOConnell]

some speakers don't work well nearfield, while working fine farfield. So I would say it depends on the speaker system.

[rockitman]

My speakers are spread 8' apart and I sit back 10' with only 3' behind my head till I hit the sound trap panels on the wall behind me. I consider this somewhat nearfield. It's the only option I have in my current room.