In article , MrBitsy
wrote:
I am planning on moving in the next couple of years, so the wife and I
have been discussing houses. Of course I want a room dedicated to music
- just what is the ideal size room?

In the context of domestic dwellings the simplest answer is probably, "as
large as possible". :-) Ideally, also with suitable materials on surfaces,
and with dimensions that aren't too similar.

My speaker manual suggests I need the speakers X cm from the rear and
side walls, but what about space around the listener? Should there be
the same amount of space behind the listening position, as between the
listener and speakers - more/less?

It will depend on the details of the speakers, room, etc, etc. However I
certainly find that I get better results if the listening position is well
away from any walls. In the room where I have the main hifi the listeing
postion puts my head at least 3 feet from the closest walls, and the
speakers are over 4 feet from the walls behind, and 3 feet from those
beside them.

The difficulty is that the results also depend on the materials from which
the house is made, the wall/floor coverings, and the details of the
speakers and any furniture. So it is a very complicated set of variables.
What works best in one situation may not in another.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html