Well, IF the AN3 will be equipped with ONLY one woofer, then I agree, it should be front firing. But the AN2 and AN1 should have side firing to allow MORE woofers…
I would agree with perhaps a different approach for the AN1 and AN2 from the AN3 as long as sonic quality isn’t compromised for each of the systems. I have no idea if more woofers is better or not. I’m not that savvy with the technical stuff but I can’t wait to see what evolves!
I’m concerned a bit about placement in room with side firing woofers. There maybe great sounding side firing woofer speakers out there, but I haven’t heard any that sound amazing. Looks like I may have to reconsider the Martin Logan ESL 15A again…
Check out the Vivid Giyas. Phenomenal side firing woofers.
Sure if you got 65K or more. How about speaker under 25K???
Hi Paul,
My current listening room is 15’ X13’ X9’ , due to room configuration, the speakers can only be placed along the long wall. At the current design, will any PS Audio speaker ever be suitable for my room? Thanks.
I also hope that we get frontside subwoofers. Compensating sidefiring ones by phase can only be done by making assumptions about the room. That is impossible. My speakers are at one left half of a long side of a big room. So not symmetrical for side reflections. I like my sound directed straight to me!
I hope Paul decides to what sounds best. He already mentioned he wasn’t making these speakers for everyone. The everyone speakers were to come out later maybe as stellar series. So what is so bad about a pair of 10" in front and a pair of 10’s in the rear. Or the same in 12’s. If you don’t have space in the room for a 14" or maybe 15" wide speaker, then you don’t have the space really for a killer system anyway. IMO. Speakers of this caliber need space.
I’d like to see a woofer in front and maybe in the back if needed. Use the phase shift for the rear woofer (s ).
Just my 2 cents. All in all, I just hope sound trumps the wife factor 10 fold here. Just saying.
I’m not sure that you would notice sonically which way the woofers were pointed if there was no visual cue. With 12” and up at least, (given where they would typically be crossed over), they’re going to interact with the room fairly similarly whatever direction they are pointed. That will be more a function of speaker placement with respect to the walls than which direction they are firing.
Sounds counter intuitive, but I’m thinking of my experiences with moving 12” subs around with Jim Smith’s instructions, part of which involves rotating them to find the best angle for a given position without touching the phase knob/switch.
The more critical bit with towers is that the woofers cannot be moved from their position beneath the rest of the speaker. So unless you place the speakers based on the best bass (which typically would result in bad imaging/stereo, etc.) I’m guessing it will be less of an issue than one might think whether they are front or side firing.
One argument for side firing is that you can have them face in or out (assuming the speakers are not specifically Left and Right), so you at least have that option, whereas with front-firing, that’s it.
I’m not saying that forward-facing doesn’t have other potential benefits, such as aesthetics, acceptance and possibly phase alignment.
My two cents. : )
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Nailed it, Mr. Beef.
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Vivid’s Kaya45s were reviewed in HiFi+ recently. They seem to fit the bill for great sub $25k speakers that use side firing woofer. Personally I’m not a fan of the aesthetics, though.
Well Paul, I just watched todays “Ask Paul” about the IRS Killers where you say your design will have front firing woofers. Was this recorded some time ago before your consideration of side firing or have you now decided? Inquiring minds want to know 
Acoustic Zen Crescendo Mark II’s. Under $25,000.00
Have you looked at the new Genesis Maestro? List is slightly over your budget but you may be able to do better than that. There is a dealer in New England area. Also a mint pair of 5.3’s in your area for about a third of retail.
Wow, those are some bad looking loudspeakers. 
Each of us are biased a bit differently on the scale of sound vs. aesthetic… Those could be the best sounding speakers on the market, and I still wouldn’t have them in my house.
Those Genesis are absolutely hideous.
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If you are talking about the Maestro’s then yes the choice of veneer for the photo is bad but in Piano Black they would look different and are based on Arnie’s design. Similar concept as the Vandersteen 5A CT. Also Martin Logan like Maggie’s are not a designer choice either. Another option though larger is the Legacy Aries.
The Vivids are not appealing, but if they sound fabulous I could learn to accept their looks. The Maetro’s do not look bad. Like the vast majority of loudspeakers their appearance is utilitarian.
Eh - utilitarian isn’t necessarily bad to me - blends in so as not to be a distraction visually. As opposed to walking into the room and being frightened by giant mutant cochleae.
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@Paul Is the amp in these speakers similar to the Stella?