Speaker Asylum: Re: Speaker placement by el34eh@yahoo.com

Hi StylinLp and again Twisty -

First off I must apologise for misspelling so many words as I'd
mentioned I was @ this since yesterday evening and still to this
moment haven't had much rest at all.

StylinLP in your case there are several options depending upon what's
in your room itself? as more often then not according to the method to which I used more often then most was that of Michael Green of RoomTune Fame. Looking @ where your components and/or rack resides and how each any every component is Isolated has a very profound effect on the sonics of ones system overall. As each piece of hardware is known to have its own reasonance behavior issues which must be addressed prior to attempting to achieve the ultimate goal of better sound reproduction within any given space as a whole.

First take a moment to view just where is it that you'll be sitting? is it centered? how close is your seating arrangement from the wall behind it? what resides in the path of your speakers as a the main and most important focus? is there a Coffee table there? which is known to assist soundstaging properties from being formed to begin with as this reflects the sound much as a mirror reflects ones face.

As recommended by many various methods of obtaining the proper balance between soundstaging and bass within ones room! view what's in front of as well as beside said speakers. As some will know that there are also moments where one tends to over-damped their rooms which does nothing more then cause a speaker to suffer as it isn't able to function due to variations in volume levels being to off the mark, either to extreme or at levels where the sound becomes rather dead sounding overall with no emotional attachment to what should be coming through it as a pointsource if you will.

I tend to view a slightly livier room as not being a bad thing at all, as this offers more insight into the acoustics of said space more so then a room which is already overstuffed or damped! Placement of said speakers close to sidewall is something which has always been more common then with Box Speakers Per Se, and we are often prone to believe what we read then make an attempt to be different for the sake of going against traditional views or teachings.

Attempt the method which I spoke of doesn't require another person, simply a good ear to detail. Place both speaker at same points from rearwall say @ a starting point of 15" from said walls as a bare minimum and slowly move them inwards towards your listening position until the bass sounds balanced without losing its sense of weight. Then mark your spot on the floor using masking tape as this has also been mentioned when using the Wilson Audio Voicing technique. Be certain to mark the space where bass again sound more fuller sounding without sounding boomy. After marking your spot for bass enhancement it's time to find the proper location to achieve a truer sense of soundstaging without losing focus of vocalist which you should always consider to be the best source to locate just where she's standing [ And , yes it's always a she.] I used to use Sade ~ Stronger Then Pride LP as a means to fine tune the speed on my Oracle Delphi Mk.3 once upon a time and was the only one whom had ever noticed when the speed started to drift for the worst.

Next ask yourself, is it easier to hear the group as a whole? or are they coming from either far left or right? if so? then your speakers are to far apart and you should be moving them closer together until everything sounds as if you can locate any member of the band/group with your eyes shut. Yet at the same time be able to follow each shift of say a weird percussionist doing their thing as with most of Cassandra Wilson's CD ~ Using New Moon Daughter as a reference here. As she alone with Patricia Barber have some of the tightest bands out there and for this fact if little else? is the reason that their CDs/LPS sell so well. Because each Artist knows how many of us Audiophiles love the Hi Fi Show.

[ Ya Know the ones in which I speak of: All bells, whistles, train sounds and the likes.]

This is another reason for that soundtracks like Gladiator or Flying Tiger,Hidden Dragon or House of the flying Draggers are being used so often, as it's all about the effects of soundstage preception more then anything else. We tend to love soundstage more then any other area produced by our speakers. I say it's the midrange which cost most. As with designs like Audio Physic ~ Marten Design ~ Avalon Acoustics - these Companies are more about a truer midrange more then most, as they like myself believe that it's the mids which cost most and not the bass. All to often I Hear system which sound like just that all bass and nothing else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. this is what I consider to be the Boom Box/ Kicker affect that so many urban kidz tend to think of as Music. I find nothing more unpleasant then hearing BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM, BbbbOOOOOOOOOOmmmmmmmMmmmmmm going down the streets when I go into the city to work. Using these method of placements you are more likely to find a balance between purity of sound and beauty of a spiritual awakening. If you've any questions regarding this theory? just try them and contact me later.

[ Again start @ 18" from sidewalls to outside edges of speakers and anywhere between 24 - 37" from rearwall to back most edges of speakers. moving them side to side and forwards and backwards while toeing them @ a 45 degree point which is located about 3' infront of your actual listening seat. please don't overlook not overshooting the 45 degree angle no matter what. ]

And all thanks must go to Twisty for doing the in-depht review. I merely wanted to share in his joy of discovering something which few others have the time to learn! Proper LS Placement. Hence the reason there are so many Audio Pyhsic's for sale. Because their owners just don't take the time to fine tune them into their space. Their lost someone else's gain. Just listen w. an open mind to understand the truth behind this design.

If by chance I've still mis-spelled anything? please find it in your heart to forgive me for I'm still a tad bit out of it at the moment.

Regards,
- EL34EH