Our open plan basement family, listening, and A/V room has been a hive of activity. First, it’s served as Ground Zero for an ongoing series of reviews and reports, I conducted critical listening in the Listening and A/V space at the front of the room and did the brunt of writing from my office deskin a corner nook at the rear (see the lead photo). Second, it’s where my wife, Belle, and I decompress to music, dancing, and TV shows. And, third, it’s where we’ve had visiting grandchildren enjoying children’s movies with us when they recently spent the weekend.
Now when I originally setup the listening and A/V space, I placed the couch, loveseat, and overstuffed chair in a more traditional rectangular configuration along. the periphery a large rug in front of the loudspeakers and media console, and for my critical and recreational listening, I’d push the loveseat, at left, roughly two feet to the left of the rug to balance with the placement of the overstuffed chair on the right side — resulting in a wider and more open soundstage at the primary seating position at the center of the couch. However, when Belle would join me for listening and movie watching, she’d scooch the loveseat, where she loves to recline, in closer for a better audio experience. Inevitably, I’d move it back to listen the next day. And back and forth it moved.
Then, one evening, I had an epiphany: why not leave the front end of the loveseat wide and move the rear right portion (where she reclines or sits) in close to the couch at a 45 degree angle — thus maintaining a wider soundstage. Belle loved it! And then to balance out the look, I moved the overstuffed chair off the right wall and placed it next to the listening couch at the same 45 degree angle, resulting in a semi-circular seating array in front of the loudspeakers.
The result? We both noted an improvement in the soundstage an Belle really loves the appearance even better than before! What’s more, the overstuffed chair’s utility as a listening position for guests has improved dramatically (previously, it sat grossly off-axis to the right).
Photo courtesy of travelgreecetraveleurope.com
When I think about it, I shouldn’t be surprised. Ancient Greek theaters had seating radiating in a similar semi-circular fashion from the center point of the stage, as well! Go figure…