jocr wrote:Speaking pipes in back?
No, not really altho the bottom "ends" of those "pipes" are open into the speaker cabinets so the back sides of the speakers do sound thru those "pipes". They do make a difference.
The uprights at the front edges of the platform (normally used on a stair case) are actually there so no one trips on the platform which is the same colour as the wood floor.
We previously had carpeting in this room. Made quite a difference acoustically when we installed the hardwood floor.
Rgds,
Ed