Aligning my speakers | Stereophile.com

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Submitted By: Freako

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Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Joined: Jan 17 2010

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Aligning my speakers

Posted: June 18, 2010 - 1:06am

After having upgraded with a new power cable on my CDP and sub, I tried measuring the exact distance from the CDP (in the center of my soundstage) to the left and right speaker respectively. They didn't stand in the exact same distance, and I had wondered why my soundstage was a little skewed. Only an inch too much distance with the left speaker did all the difference! When I moved the speaker so they were both in the exact same distance (to a fraction of an centimeter) the soundstage came just right. Much easier to pinpoint every instrument, and much easier to hear the echo from the surrounding walls in the recording room! I'll be damned! Why didn't I think of that sooner?

This way the speakers don't have the same distance to the side walls, and I thought that was essential! But it isn't! Another story with the rear wall though. Distance must be the exact same. There's something to learn every day...

Submitted By: Drtrey3

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Location: SE USA

Joined: Aug 17 2008

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Re: Aligning my speakers

Posted: June 18, 2010 - 6:31am

I also liked Sam's recent coloumn in which he goofed with various speaker placements on his tour. There is more than one way to skin a cat!

Submitted By: Freako

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Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Joined: Jan 17 2010

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Re: Aligning my speakers

Posted: June 18, 2010 - 7:24am

Apparently

Submitted By: Elk

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Location: Out Standing in his Field

Joined: Dec 26 2006

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Re: Aligning my speakers

Posted: June 18, 2010 - 8:36am

Quote:
This way the speakers don't have the same distance to the side walls, and I thought that was essential! But it isn't!

My experience as well. Exactly equidistant from walls and listener is often a great place to start, but I generally find that a bit of additional tweaking makes things even better.

Our rooms, furnishings, etc. are rarely precisely symmetrical.

Submitted By: Freako

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Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Joined: Jan 17 2010

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Re: Aligning my speakers

Posted: June 25, 2010 - 12:46pm

I feel my speakers are getting closer to be burned in. They sound powerful, yet precise and very detailed, with lots of power in the basic FR.

On good recordings the instruments sounds great, very natural, and the soundstage is very nicely pictured both height-, depth- and width-wise. Voices have much air to them, and just the right feeling of throat and chest, plus a natural size.

I still feel I can play much louder than I could with the old speakers, without annoying/disturbing elements destroying my joy. Wind, horns, percussion, drums, piano, voices, strings, guitars (nylon or steel strings) like classic guitars, western guitars, dobros etc. just sound natural and very wonderful. The Hammond organ is one of my absolute favourites, as I adore the sound of this beautiful instrument.

I would never have thought a set of entry level speakers ($1.000) could be this good. Much gotta have happened with speakers during the last 10 years or so.