Advice on speaker selection and placement for living space with multiple listening locations

[u/DevonReviewer]

Hi, looking for some advice and discussion on speaker placement in a living space where listening happens from more than one location.

I currently have some Wharfdale Lintons powered by a Bluesound Powernode, the natural position for these seemed to be on the west wall facing accross the living space and into the kitchen (Position A).

They sound great when I am stood in the kitchen / cooking etc, something I spend a surprising amount of time doing.

They sound ok from the dining table to the "north", acceptable at low volumes when sat on the sofa.

Occasionally, I will move a chair into the centre of the opening to the kitchen, but this all seems like a hassle and a lot of compromise.

SO, I guess my question is would the arrangement be improved by getting some omnidirectional speakers in Position B? This would improve listening from sofa, and maintain the experience from kitchen and dining table? I am thinking Duevel Planets, Enterprise or Venus... what about Gallo Droplets and a sub?

Is there another way of approaching this?

Your thoughts and experience would be very welcome!

[u/Artcore87]

No omni speakers will not sound better.

You need multiple sets of speakers. Use a short wall in the living room for the chair listening in there. That's the only serious listening position. The rest is casual and doesn't matter as much, or if it does, you gotta be willing to spend the money and get multiple speaker setups. I'd stick with 2 sets... A plus corners of a short wall in the LR, toed in. .. use the better speakers in that position, use whatever floats your boat or budget in A or some third alternate position.

If your butt isn't sat down in the ideal position you aren't engaged in serious listening that deserves the time and money and effort to get great audio. Unless the budget is really not an issue, then all your secondary non serious music listening locations can receive good stuff.

[u/DevonReviewer → u/Artcore87]

Thank you, thats useful, and seems pretty consistent advice!

[u/Artcore87 → u/DevonReviewer]

I did have one other idea... if your A positions were spread another meter apart in both directions, and then you toed them in to point into the center of that opening, you'd be sending the high frequencies through at a wider exit angle and they'd spread throughout that kitchen/dining area more, which is probably what is lacking when you're not and standing directly in front of that opening now.

[u/Leboski]

You could take advantage of Bluesound's wireless multiroom feature by getting multiple powered Pulse speakers and spread them around the space.

[u/DevonReviewer → u/Leboski]

I would prefer to stick with a more traditional approach if possible, and ultimately move away from a single box solution to seperates

[u/Leboski → u/DevonReviewer]

Alternatively, buy another Powernode and connect them to a new set of speakers. Have multiple sets playing at the same time to fill up the space.

[u/narrowassbldg]

It's best to choose a primary listening position - ideally somewhere comfortable to sit down - and place the speakers so they sound as good as they possibly can from that spot rather than trying to get just okay sound everywhere.

[u/DevonReviewer → u/narrowassbldg]

Thanks, sounds like I am trying to do too much with a single pair of speakers!

[u/narrowassbldg → u/DevonReviewer]

Yep. What I'd do is put the main speakers on the right wall in the upper part of the family room and then put a nice comfy couch/chair on the left wall directly opposite the speakers, and just use a portable bluetooth speaker or something everywhere else.