Tilting Speakers

[BobJ]

We have a small theater (holds about 100) with a 35' wide by about 12' high stage and want to mount Peavey speakers either side of the stage - in line with the proscenium. We would like to know how far down we should tilt them? We can't find any real authoritive article on the subject which we would prefer because we have several groups arguing about the (such a silly) topic. Can anyone point us to a manufactures site, book or article we can use to tilt our speakers and support the angle we chose.

[Whiskers]

We have a small theater (holds about 100) with a 35' wide by about 12' high stage and want to mount Peavey speakers either side of the stage - in line with the proscenium. We would like to know how far down we should tilt them? We can't find any real authoritive article on the subject which we would prefer because we have several groups arguing about the (such a silly) topic. Can anyone point us to a manufactures site, book or article we can use to tilt our speakers and support the angle we chose.

 

Try

 

https://www.astralsound.com/vertical-pattern.htm

 

 

[ojc123]

Our stage is about the same size as yours. Our auditorium is 15m square with a flat seating area. It's 5m high. We have Hk Audio Linear L5 112 F speakers.

 

We've gone with pretty much the last arrangement shown on Whiskers' link and the results are as they say.

[Dave m]

I can read that as a 12 foot HIGH stage? Presumably it's a metre or so. Are the audience seated or stnding?

What sort of speakers?

[sclg]

Is your seating flat or raked?

[Alec]

We would like to know how far down we should tilt them? We can't find any real authoritive article on the subject which we would prefer because we have several groups arguing about the (such a silly) topic.

Given that it sounds like you have dissent, then you might want to demo various options, assuming the mounting hardware allows for that, without repeated re fixing. Actually hearing the effect of different positions and angles can be way more eloquent to the uneducated/wrong.

But, as has already been pointed out, if your target is even, intelligable coverage, then the best results are likely to be speakers high, with a good downward tilt, typically aimed around the centre of the audience area.

Your area sounds like it's not huge, and may not be an acoustic nightmare, so it's not a particularly huge challenge.

What you haven't mentioned is what speakers you have. Their dispersion pattern will dictate how well they will be able to cover the appropriate area, without dropping off at the edges, or spraying the sound too widely to increase undesirable reflections.

[TonyMitchell]

want to mount Peavey speakers

 

 

even, intelligable coverage

 

[timsabre]

want to mount Peavey speakers

 

 

even, intelligable coverage

 

 

Must admit I thought the same. Peavey speakers not well known for their controlled dispersion patterns.

[MarkBarl]

Not sure if you are asking about hardware as well, if so, these can be useful. Tilting speakers is usually about the dispertion of the HF. The specs for the cabinets should say what the horizontal and vertical dispertion of the HF drivers are. This will put you in the ball park. Then use your ears and wal around the auditorium to listen to how even the distribution is. You will probably want to also look at something for front fill, as you will probably not get very good HF at the front. Some little 6" or 8" boxes would probably fill nicely.

[Stuart91]

Not sure if you are asking about hardware as well, if so, these can be useful.

 

The K&M tilts are certainly useful. It's worth bearing in mind that they shift the centre of gravity, so it helps to be using tripod stands that have a decent footprint.

 

I vaguely remember someone on ProSoundWeb who built a tilt that kept the centre of gravity directly over the pole. It was a very impressive piece of engineering but quite expensive.

[MarkPAman]

I suspect for a theatre install, tripods may not be used?

So something like this may be useful

Link

Edited April 9, 2019 by MarkPAman

[Shez]

I vaguely remember someone on ProSoundWeb who built a tilt that kept the centre of gravity directly over the pole. It was a very impressive piece of engineering but quite expensive.

Something like this?

[Stuart91]

Something like this?

 

That's the very one. We quite seriously considered them when we were doing a lot of speaker-on-stick gigs with Meyer UPAs.

[Doug Siddons]

An alternative to tilting the stand/bracket http://www.bluearan.co.uk/index.php?id=ADHSM707

[sandall]

An alternative to tilting the stand/bracket http://www.bluearan....php?id=ADHSM707

That's really neat, but does involve surgery on the speakers - not always possible, or desirable :(