Aligning my speakers

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...

June 18, 2010 - 6:31am

Drtrey3

Offline

Last seen: 9 years 7 months ago

Joined: Aug 17 2008 - 2:52pm

Re: Aligning my speakers

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!

June 18, 2010 - 7:24am

Freako

Offline

Last seen: 2 years 7 months ago

Joined: Jan 17 2010 - 8:29am

Re: Aligning my speakers

Apparently

June 18, 2010 - 8:36am

Elk

Offline

Last seen: 3 years 3 months ago

Joined: Dec 26 2006 - 6:32am

Re: Aligning my speakers

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.

June 25, 2010 - 12:46pm

Freako

Offline

Last seen: 2 years 7 months ago

Joined: Jan 17 2010 - 8:29am

Re: Aligning my speakers

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.

Search form

You are here