Compact speakers - tweeter level too low?

[mister_d]

Since my planned replacement projection screen will leave no room for speakers at the sides, I am looking into low-profile speaker options, either compact bookshelves on 60cm stands or 90cm floorstanders (or at a push another 10cm on either, but the lower the better). My setup would then appear as in this post by russ.will.

However, this will leave the tweeters at around 80cm above the ground, well below my ear level of around 105cm with my current seating, and although I could mount the screen higher to allow clearance for larger speakers I would rather not as it would make my viewing more uncomfortable. Likewise, lowering my seating to get my ears closer to the ground would achieve nothing overall as I would still be looking upwards.

How important is it to ensure that the tweeters are as close as possible to ear level, and does anyone have first-hand experience of any speakers meeting my criteria? I can't find much discussion of this subject other than the standard regurgitation of the ear/tweeter law - although my seating is perhaps more elevated than the usual sofa this is likely to be offset in almost all cases by my lack of height, so I would imagine most users of compact bookshelves/floorstanders would be in roughly the same position as me. This suggests that either a lot of people are seriously comprimising their listening enjoyment or it doesn't make too great a difference overall except in aesthetics.

Best I've managed so far is this, suggesting that imaging is not really affected by varying speaker height between 90 and 110cm (40/60cm stands with 50cm speakers, so tweeters probably around 80-100cm). Any further input would be very much appreciated.

[Nimby]

Domed tweeters don't usually "beam" like cone speakers can. You don't see very many vertical dispersion graphs, do you? That doesn't mean the vertical dispersion is perfect because of the changing interaction between the tweeters and the midrange drivers as you rise above tweeter level.

It might well be an advantage to be above tweeter level if it reduces unwanted "brightness". It's a case of try it and see, I think.

Lots of shop chains make you stand up to demo their speakers. That's a far worse scenario than a few inches difference in ear height above the tweeter.

I sit on an antique smoker's bow chair which would normally make my tweeters far too low. Fortunately there is a 10" difference in height between the floor level where I sit and the speakers sitting on their landing "stage" opposite.

Would wall brackets help?

[mister_d]

That's encouraging to hear. I think. I'm not sure a reduction in brightness is a beneficial side effect for me - while I wouldn't say I'm after a "bright" sound as such, since it usually has negative connotations in hi-fi circles, I want something forward and am keen to get away from the overly "polite" sound of my B&Ws. So I'm after some impolite speakers I suppose, but if any reduction in perceived forwardness isn't too drastic then it may still be a worthwhile compromise as my only means of getting a larger screen.

Demoing is of course always the sensible route to go, I won't be buying new though as second-hand pricing is too persuasive so I'm not sure whether I'd manage it anywhere.

Wall mounting won't really work as the door is also a factor, and the gap is already quite narrow, I can barely get my B&W 601s in with my current screen.

Think I'll probably go ahead and take the risk with the new screen, as I'm not really seeing any evidence that it's going to be a decision I'll seriously regret - would welcome any other contributions though...