Can I put my shelf stereo's speakers on their side without damaging anything?

Question

I just got a new shelf stereo system. It was called a "micro" systems but the speakers are over 13" high! And the sub woofer is even larger. Can I put the speakers on their sides on my shelf (so they fit) without losing any sound quality or hurting them in any way? I wasn't sure. And can the subwoofer also be put on its side or pointing toward the ceiling?

Answer 1

The speakers can be placed on their side with no measureable side effects.  If they are two way speakers, that is, they have a mid-range speaker with a smaller tweeter above it, you might notice a tiny change but it's nothing to worry about.  It won't damage the speakers if they're on their side.  If they ARE two way speakers, it's ideal for the tweeter (the smaller speaker) to be roughly at ear level.  Also, the distance between the speakers should be equal to the distance you'll be from the unit.  So, if you set this up in the living room, measure the distance between your couch and the entertainment center where you set this up.  That should be the distance between the speakers themselves.

As for the subwoofer, it can physically be placed on it's side but that is NOT recommended since it's designed to stay upright.  For best performance, place the sub in the corner of the room.  This way, sound can resonate off the walls.  If that's not possible, place it against a single wall.  It's best if the room is not carpeted since the carpet can absorb a lot of the bass frequencies coming from the sub (don't go ripping out the carpet, though!).  Pointing it towards the ceiling, placing it in the middle of the room, etc will certainly reduce the subwoofer performance so don't do it.  Please remember, the sub doesn't need to be out in the open - sub-bass is something you feel more than something you hear.

Do keep in mind that these are recommendations based on best practice. Your individual situation and taste will dictate exact speaker placement.  ENJOY!