Nearfield Listening: Bring Music into Focus
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ส.ค. 2019
- Discover nearfield hi-fi listening. A special method that will cut out your environment and boost the details of your recordings. Listen to your system, not your room! Ready for a whole new listening experience?
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Music: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - เพลง
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I've been doing this for years, but i've never heard of nearfield listening before. Matter of fact, I live in an apartment building (so I'm not allowed to crank the volume) and my living room isn't that big. So I did the best thing that I imagine: set the speakers pointed at me in a space long enough that the sound could breath but close enough to get all the details that I can without turning up the volume . Glad to know that my istincts were right.
Agreed my friend. This is the New Age name for what most of us have been doing our whole lives. When I was a kid 60 years ago I used to take the portable speakers that swung from our record player and lay down with them teepeed over my head. Can't get any more "near field" than that!
I started near-field listening a few months ago, and I'll never go back in my current listening room. Speakers are 6 feet apart, and I sit in the center of them 4 feet back. Totally takes my problematic room out of the equation. The sound stage may have narrowed some, but the depth, definition, and musicians placement have improved dramatically. I highly recommend this to anyone struggling with the traditional equilateral triangle seating placement. A little room treatment helps immensely as well. I bought 2 GIK tri-trap corner bass traps, and two GIK 244 absorbers for the 1st reflection points. Worth every nickel.
Nice!!👍🏻
NFL is excellent for me as I live in an apartment. I also run 2 x elevated 8 inch subs which gives me an amazing listening experience 🤩
I know you did this video 3 years ago but, it was exactly what I wanted to hear. And I agree 100%. I recently discovered near-field listening while tuning a subwoofer in a hotel room. I recently took a job in another city and stayed in the hotel temporarily until I could find a permanent place. Bought a modest low-powered stereo system and thoroughly enjoyed it. Listening was about 6 to 7 ft away. Now I'm listening near-field with a pair of Magnepan speakers and a pair of Rel subwoofers. Absolutely enjoying myself. Especially the vinyl.
Cool, good job!!
I've always assumed this was the way to listen, going right back to the mid-60s. I remember positioning my parents' speakers to suit and placing one of their armchairs in the centre of the living room when they were out the house, then having to put it all back when they came home!
🤣
Love near field, it’s “almost always” easier to achieve an accurate/pleasant soundstage compared to big spaces filled with reflections.
Like stated it is a different experience.
My favorite is my car, nothing is more immersive. Parked of course.
Cool! Do you have some hi-fi gear in your car or just the system that came with it?
@@anadialog All aftermarket.
Been doing this with my Magnepan planar speakers for a long time. It's a totally immersive experience. One of the best listening experiences of my life in fact and I've heard a lot of high end systems having been a hobbyist who has also worked in the field of audio for many years.
Thanks for sharing that Daryl!
I've always turned my speakers "inward" since I was a kid! I kept experimenting with the positions and came to that! And it WORKS!
Yes, I am a nearfield listener. My wife has headaches so I tried NFL in a small room. I've got KEF LS50 Meta's, Rotel A14, Hi Res Lossness files, NAD CD, good cables all around and a REL 8in sub.
Wow! It's amazing! It is my preferred way to listen unless I have guests. I've also tried other bookshelf speakers. Sounds great with Bowers and Wilkins 686 (front port) and Martin Logan 35i.
If you have never tried this and have a small room you are going to be surprised. Happy listening!
It's my default method for years. Not discovvered throygh science but trial and error. I have learnt that a fraction of toe on a speaker can result in huge changes to sound. As an anorak to hifi sound I enjoy experimenting with the basics. I guess most casual listeners would not be prepared to invest the time. Great common sense video. 😉
Forced to do near field (6ft) because of my room, but I really enjoy it to be honest. I have efficient speakers that image well, so after tuning everything in the music sounds so right. It's absolutely essential to have positioning of the speakers accurate as possible though, as half an inch of movement changes the sweet spot dramatically.
Very very true!
I was just redirected here from "How to listen...", thanks. Lots of great information. I listen near-field at my desktop, and really experienced stereo then. I don't think many people understand stereo - especially consumer audio sales people - they never ask you to stand exactly between the speakers and experience the stereo.
It's amazing that we debate so long with topics like if vinyl is better than cd, if cables matter and so many things while the room and equipment positioning a lot of times matters even more! Anyway I think that when you change positioning you should wait a little for your mind to "burn in" for the new positions. In my opinion it's normal that at first you don't like it, as your mind is used to the issues of the room and corrects for it. It's like what happens when you use a bad chair at the office for 8 hours per day, when you change to a better one you need to get accustomed to. Another thing to note is that if you find that it sounds similar to a pair of headphones you may want to do the opposite: this way you'll have a system that is the contrary compared to headphones, and you may want to use those ones to hear the sound in a truly different way when you have that mood.
I agree 100% Marco!
Hi and many thank's for your nice video!👍
I Do this with my old "JBL Control Pro III" without a sub and I'm happy with the sound. The triangle it's around 4 feet. Keep on rocking✌👍
This is just the information I need to learn, great work. Thanks
I've been having a lot of fun lately with an old Telefunken Concertino 5834w stereo tabletop tube radio. It has aux jacks (with din adapter) for other line sources. 2 way system with quality speakers. I've been listening near field (about 4ft) and this sounds amazing. Lots of depth, transparency and detail. I live in a smallish place and am never more than about 7ft from main speakers. The Telefunken obviously has speakers close together, tweets are side firing, so near field is kinda a must anyway.
I've unknowingly been listening this way for the last 20 years
Mainly because of how my hifi is set up and because I like the detail listening this way offers especially for vinyl
I think in the end a lot of people are your situation!
NFL, for me, is wonderful. 2m speaker placement, focused a bit behind my head. It yields immersive, engaging, defined imagery and soundscape which has prompted me to try, and ultimately find, enjoyment in new genres and artists.
Seems you found your spot...good job!
I have been doing this for a couple of years and it works, especially with jazz. Linn Axis turntable with Nagaoka MP-110, Cambridge Soundworks Topaz SR 20, ELAC Debut 6.2. Concrete walls (in basement), wicker chair and low lights. Prog rock also blows me away. And I listen at a lower volume, so my wife is happier.
Good arrangement!
My pair of Elac Uni-Fi F5 slim are set 8ft apart and towed in in such a way that the imaginary line from them meet 1 foot behind my ears. My listening chair is positioned to form an equilateral triangle. The image I get is deep and well focused. Ocasionally I hear instruments beyond the left and the right speakers. I don't know if this can be considered near-field listening.
I use to do this exclusively and will do it again once I get my space in order. Much more detail in doing this.
True!
Very interesting video! I have just discovered that I have been using this listening technique without knowing that is not the "standard" way to listen to music, altough I started to do it because my speakers are not really good ones.
Interesting!
Next step towards perfection? Headphones. Im using LaScalas in a “near field” setup in an 8’ triangle. The setup combined with horns creates an incredible soundstage!
How cool!!
I have a slightly rectangular "listening room", with plenty of absorption and defraction, with my speakers on the long end and my sofa near the center of the room. The speakers are slightly closer together than the distance to my listening position. It all sounds ok, but just sitting a little closer and more upright improves the way my ears hear the music substantially. I wish I had a dedicated listening room where I could set up a proper near field system, but many of us have to live with what we have. Also, you're right, turning the light down or off really does allow ones brain to focus more on the music.
You seem to have a good set up making the best with what you have...congrats!
very true, exactly what I am doing in my study room
Semi-nearfield is a compromise 😂
I am listening 6.5’ away, speakers just about 6’ apart, but toe-in is only 30 degrees. I still get a good soundstage. Too close and as you say, it’s almost like headphones. The vocals is in your face. A 1’ adjustment can make a lot of difference in getting more depth for the soundstage.
Great video. subbed.
fact; it's possible to see the fly at the beginning of Hi Hopes moving ( up and down, left an right) in front of you with The nearfield listening, that's amazing!
Cool!!
Yep........He Is Absolutely Correct About Near Field Music Listing Position Because I Tested " Long Throw & The Near Field " So I Can Say Near Field Musics Are More Details ( Even Micro Details Of Music ) You Can Be Benefited But You Need A Phase Accurate Good Quality Hi~Fi Speakers For It
A six foot triangle is exactly the way I listen. I had been considering a bigger listening room, but dismissed the idea because of nagging doubts about volume/distortion, the need for increased amplification and so on. Put in a primitive way, it seems likely to me that the further away you are, the less accurate (or more expensive) it gets. I toe in the speakers slightly, and prefer the lights off. You chose a very good topic.
Thanks john!
I switched to nearfield a few years back because my listening room had sonic peaks and valleys that were so bad that at one point in the lower midrange it was totally silent on the frequency sweep! I also had speakers that were notoriously inefficient and required powerful and expensive amps.
When it came time to replace speakers, I changed from regular size (read:LARGE) to Mini magnepans, and kept my equipment that drove the larger ones. Both the room problems and the amp power issue were solved.. And I didn't have to go through the headache and expense of bass traps, absorption panels, etc. The frequency response at the listening position is quite flat now, and the amp is more than enough as nearfield cuts the power requirement.
The advantage and disadvantage of nearfield is the lack of reflections, as you stated.. With the bipolar Maggies that is alleviated somewhat,, as the rear wall provides some reflection. There is a lack still from sidewalls however. It also took a bit of work to properly intergrate the subwoofer compared to full room, although this may not be the case for everyone.
It's not for everybody, but nearfield works for me. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages in my setup and listening habits.
I might add that my listening room was bad with several brands of box speakers as well. The big Maggie panels were not the issue. In fact I found them a bit better paradoxically. Thought I would clear that up.
Thanks for sharing your experience. You made a brave choice there, good job! In the end it paid off.
Just perfect. Most people have small rooms. Without near field listening I couldn't do a pair of Klipsch Forte 3's in a small room with a McIntosh MA 7000. the speakers are 3 feet from the front wall. the couch ids 4 feet from the back wall. Now I think I still have to work with some reflexes on the side walls. I tried some quilts in front of the speakers. And I got to know what is happening in my room. Cheapest tweak ever. But I am not fished. I am getting two 3 cm thick damping-boards to place above and in front of the speakers in the ceiling. Moving very close to overdamping now. But having fun... And I have practiced pitch black listening for years. I still see my glowing blue VU meters though. So there is still some light in the room. But I prefer listening than watching the sound-boxes.
I do almost near field (7-8 feet), feels best in my room
Thanks for the video. Interesting discussion and I've been doing nearfield listening for quite some time. Definitely agree on the increased level of detail and somewhat 'headphone' sound. You do lose that 'air' or letting the music breathe. But its a give and take because the room starts to play a part in the sound. Though, just my personal opinion, not all speakers do nearfield well. Some brands are fatiguing and they rely on the room space to mellow them down. I've been using speakers that are more intimate/romantic sounding, like from the Italian brands!! =) They are the best.
Indeed!
Near field recording your speakers for a demo on TH-cam is way better than a full room recording.
I agree nearfield is a way to go. I only think that distortion is not better - there is a problem that common hifi amps have more distortion at low volumes (try to look at some measurements). Hifi is made to sound best at relatively too high volume (for common rooms). Best sounding hifi setup for low volume listening is what I'm looking for, but I didn't found solution yet ...
Hello
I'm gonna do this expérience
Thank you
Thank you Anthony!
Im going to try this 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪
Give us some feedback after!
Agree with u on this issue
Dang everything your saying is on track (true) lol You know every amplifier has well what i call magic volume and its normally low volume i can pick it up quickly on any system my beast reference system with very heavy dual mono amplifier sounds best at .5 watt i have big VU meters, even though my amp is 330 watts class A/B i can even hear the crossover point from class A to class AB my reference system is nearfield but i move my speakers around alot until i get the best center imaging at my sitting postion I tell ya in 31 years of being an audiophile the KEF Q-100 are amazing !! Front ported make for very easy placement exspecially compared to the picky KEF LS 50 thats rear ported , really enjoy this channel , i have a review on my channel of the Q-100 their truely a Gem speaker Z-reviews agreed with me
KEF is always a good choice!
Cool!
A lot of the time for me I’m always near field listening. My room is very small and my listening spot is no more than 1.5 to 2 meters away from the speakers.
I discovered near field listening by accident. I was building a class a amplifier in my electronics workshop that is cluttered from the ground to the ceiling on all four corners filled with test equipment training manuals and reference manuals dangling wires everywhere. The room is only 10‘ x 12‘ with 18 inches on every wall robbed by the space of the shelves. I hand built my own custom full range BK20 folded back loaded horn speaker Fostex FE206En drivers, I sat them on my workbench they weighed 80 pounds apiece a hair over 3 foot tall and I hooked up my Nelson Pass class A amplifier I just finished constructing.
And I was blown away at the crisp detail the soundstage and the clarity with just one watt of power being pumped into them. Those speakers now stay permanently mounted on top of my workbench picking up lots of real estate looking ridiculously big but they’re excellent to listen to and great for testing new amplifier builds.
Great video. Congrats! Now, I think you should consider doing one about the ideal room to listen to music. Is there an ideal one?
Thanks! Ideal? Mmmh...I think music is too subjective...in any case there are some Universal tricks that would help.. maybe in the future...
i like near field listening at night when my ears need a more quiet sound, and I agree about it being dark too.
I love near field listening too. And also late at night.
What speakers do you use?
I listen nearfield for over 10years now and only one time in a well treated room in a friends place i have heard good sound on a bigger distance in a room. Apart from that bigger distances always killed details and made the bass sound like mush.
The Force is strong with this Nerd.
Indeed! NerdPower!
I listen in near Field also, IT is great way of listening. I dont need much power ( below 1 Watt , sometimes im the events by is below 0.5 W) so distortion is indeed very very low ( my Amp is 0.003% thd). In near Field you also can savour greatest stereo, sometimes on good CD you can get really holographic soundstage
Distortion of amps at low power is bigger than on higher (if not too much of course). I'm looking for amp playing clean at low volumes, but it's a problem. Even class A is not clean in area of mWatts)
Great
Interesting 🙂
Great that my tv room isn't so big so I can't go too much away from speakers. Though my problem is that my tv room isn't symmetrical. And I have some junk on floor.
And other room is just too big and wide. And on that room I am usually changing my place. Would be interesting to see how hifi-dudes would do in that kind of room (when living room, kitchen and vestibule is one open room).
With near field the room is less influent...just get bcloser!
I've been doing this in my system for years. My B&A speakers never sounded better!
Great topic. Most of my listening is at my desk. I am seeking to maximize sound quality at my desk with new desktop speakers. I have MartinLogan LX16, but I think they are too big for my desktop, which is close to front wall and a side wall. I can't get the muddiness out of the LF. I've been looking at "active monitors." Like Yamaha HS Series (5, 6, 7). And Tannoy Gold series 5, 7, 8. They are small. They seem reasonably priced. They allow you to tune high and low frequencies, which seems good to help adapt to any individual setup. What do you think? Any recommendations ? Any experience from other posters?
I too considered the Tannoy Gold range, as their concentric drivers are ideal in the near field. However, I struggled to find a decent pre-amp with XLR outputs in my budget. In the end, I went for a HiFi integrated amp, with HiFi speakers. I'm very happy with the results and love the near field sound.
Nearfield is better than midfield in almost every way! Only reason to NOT listen nearfield IMO is if youre not the only listener. And because virtually none of my friends care about audio this is never the case ! lol
Get headphones. Done.
So with 2 active monitoring speakers, and a preamp or dac with XLR out, the room in which I sit doesn't matter ? The sound would be fantastic ?
It has less impact on your listening experience
I have a huge dilemma I bought a ton of bookshelf speakers for my desk. Just don't have space. What to do?
My listening room isn't big enough to do anything else than near field listening haha
I feel that car audio has been, im a way, about near field listening... it's a space where the position of ears relative to speakers and reflecting surfaces vary less...
True but you are decentrated and that creates problems with the stereo effect...obviously the sound is compensated but it's not enough
I am considering purchase of a subwoofer to complement my (recent) near-field speaker setup (Elac Uni-fi UB5 speakers, S.M.S.L. DA-9 amp, S.M.S.L. M500 DAC). I am wondering whether those of you more experienced with near-field think this idea warrants the cost. The subs I am considering go down to 28 hz. Your thoughts?
Hi folks,
Up to what distance would you classify near field, two meters ?
Even closer...
funny enough, i experienced this - purely by accident - and yes, i agree. also, try listening with your back facing them, you'll be surprised :)
I am stuck with a 10x10 room to play with. Would the near field setup work in it?
Sure!
...... god more away distance further far you go. Also, 1 thing about amplification if you even have a decent amplifier will not distort. I mean nobody will listen to volumes that hurt or damage their ears. Please don't start with sound treatment and speakers are made for nearfield. So normal speakers are not actually made for nearfield. Anyways bringing this topic up is good. The powered nearfield active speakers are getting very good and are mostly tuned super flat and with BI amping that matches the speakers needs.
I like to old audio tape cassette recorder
what woofer diameter are best for near field ? 3", 4" 5" 6"
Not sure, but you can use smaller stuff and help the driver velocity that way...I wouldn't go too small though...
@@anadialog that was precisely my question : what is the smallest woofer size you'd recommend for near field ? 4" ?
Pon subtítulos en español por favor
Try MEMON ! (Diapason d'or !)
It completely change your music experience ! It doesn't change the music but the way you're perceving the music.
Interesting...but very very expensive!
At least you can still try this for the music and also for well-being...
It's not expensive and renowed :
Schumann wave generators are widely used in the field of music for audiophiles and recognized for these qualities :
www.electroculturevandoorne.com/store/p12/Harmoniseur_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rateur_d%27ondes_Schumann.html
This one is a good product much less expensive than another I know !
I thought I was the only person who did this. Ha go figure.
At least 1500 cubic feet or 42 cubic meters are needed to listen to music with two stereo channels. The room would have many acoustic problems but they would be treatable. Starting at 3000 cubic feet (84 cubic meters) the room is treatable with less economic expense and better acoustic results. Ideally a room with more than 4500 cubic feet (127 cubic meters) If the room is less than 1500 cubic feet the best is a good set of headphones. This is what physics says then we each do what we can.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing that!
The more videos I see from you, the more I like you! (I am not gay, don`t bother lol) Maybe it`s because you look a little bit like a little Brother of mine... The Hair, the Beard, the Glasses... its kindof crazy lol... The blue eyes also... and my Grandmom was Italian too...She lived in San Benedetto del Tronto (de la Marche).
Why thank you Bernhard!
@@anadialog Mio gusto signore. A man has to do, what a man has to do (and say ;-). But more than all that said, the Content of your Videos is always informative, educational and interesting. Due to your Recommendation, I added "Round` about midnight" from miles Davis to my playlist on Amazon, and will buy the Vinyl Version the next time. Without your recommendation "my Favorite 10 Jazzrecords" video I still would be stuck to my "kind of blue" as the one and only Miles Davis Record. Bytheway - did you ever make a Video about Music streaming as an Instrument to preselect the vinyl you have to buy? I do so! I search and stream in Amazon Music unlimited first, and if I like the Sound and the Music, I go to buy my physical Piece of the music. Streaming on Amazon unlimited or sometimes Spotify is MY best used Katalog for buying Vinyl... This is the great Part of the beginning 21st century... The Invasion from the South ;-) is a less welcome Aspect of our present time... Long Word short term, I appreciate people like you, who are desired to do the Work of learning, informing themselves, try out stuff, in order to share their experience with an audience here on TH-cam. For me its better than watching TV
@@bernhardmichaelfux308 thanks again! Your words and very inspiring for me...yes of course I use streaming and Qobuz to explore...it is a great way to explore!
@@anadialog Well said! I think the world would be a better place if more were focussed to inspire other people, and not to impress them. And You are inspiring! You're standing in Line with John Darko, Paul Mcgowan and Michael Fremer (with no order of whose name I wrote first...) Bytheway: Its Sunday Morning! Why don`t you sleep lol...
@@bernhardmichaelfux308 No, no. They are pros, I am not. I think this is important to underline. I am awake and currently away from Italy working. In fact there will be no video next week :-(
The movie industry has solved the problem of the jumping sound even before it became a problem. The hi-fi industry has ignored it for decades. While the movie industry, with its 5-channel sound system, is conquering the living room, the hi-fi industry pretended that the problem of jumping sound was not there. You could have solved the problem long ago, because since the 5-channel sound system, you could also use a 5-channel Hi-Fi system but there is no interest. How should this enforce the near field listing, if not even this small thing is solved
Et cetera not "excetera"
I know, you're right, its my Italian surfacing. I did correct this in my latest videos.