large baffle loudspeaker

[Monteverdi]

I was thinking about a larger bookshelf acting as a room divider. The dimensions could be around 5.5 x 11.5 feet or slightly larger. Instead of just putting my loudspeakers in front of it I was thinking one could use that structure as large baffle loudspeaker greatly reducing the diffraction (side edges could be also rounded). At least the front wall could be constructed as a smooth baffle (everything recessed) but also the back could be fairly smooth with doors/drawers for the portions not used as speaker enclosure.
I do not intend it as a open baffle speaker (will use the space behind it). So how would it work: like speakers built in wall or more like freestanding loudspeakers. Any examples of speakers like I am planning?

 

[AllenB]

Such a wide baffle will probably hold the radiation in half space low enough that the room cuts in, I might look at it as equivalent to wall mounting and so wouldn't expect much need for adjustment/compensation per se. Subs are another story.

Dealing with higher frequencies and diffraction by gently taking the baffle back might not be possible I expect because the bookshelf will have a flat back panel. I wouldn't be sure of the benefit of rounding this far out, at least at the highest frequencies I'd experiment with something absorbent over the baffle around the driver.

 

[LineSource]

Creating a realistic sound stage often requires toe-in of the speakers to beam-cross just in front of the main listeners. Some speakers have a modest weight TM top cabinet to help aim the higher freq polar lobe at the listeners. Bass wavelengths which are several feet long are less angle critical, but woofer direction control can sometimes reduce room bass modes.

You could use fixed angle position speakers set for one listening spot, or engineer in rotation capability.

 

[picowallspeaker]

.... freestanding loudspeakers. Any examples of speakers like I am planning?

Just IB subwoofers.
BTW I like the word freestanding, which implies ( if scruposly applied) the mechanical decoupling of the cabinet itself from the environment

 

[Monteverdi]

Creating a realistic sound stage often requires toe-in of the speakers to beam-cross just in front of the main listeners. Some speakers have a modest weight TM top cabinet to help aim the higher freq polar lobe at the listeners. Bass wavelengths which are several feet long are less angle critical, but woofer direction control can sometimes reduce room bass modes.

You could use fixed angle position speakers set for one listening spot, or engineer in rotation capability.

I was planning a front which is not completely flat but a surface which could be angled inward but likely not a perfect toe-in for the listening position. The mid/high bending wave drivers I am developing presently have a quite wide dispersion pattern, quite close to flat at 30º

 

[Monteverdi]

Just IB subwoofers.
BTW I like the word freestanding, which implies ( if scruposly applied) the mechanical decoupling of the cabinet itself from the environment

Actually decoupling (+/-) the mid/highs within that structure would be a great idea (semi-floating sub cabinet)!

 

[AllenB]

30º is often not a bad angle to listen from. Although toe in often goes across in front of the listener, straight down the room can be made ok for a single listener if the side walls can be treated.

 

[picowallspeaker]

Actually decoupling (+/-) the mid/highs within that structure would be a great idea (semi-floating sub cabinet)!

Actually most of the problems comes from bass

 

[Juhazi]

Coaxial speakers are good for wall-mounting. They often have rather ragged on-axis response but smooth at 15-30 degree off-axis and smooth averaged response.

5x11 feet baffle has loss only below 100Hz, where floor and room will help too, so virtually it is infinite baffle.