How to space two pairs of big CVs?

[redondo2018]

So I recently acquired a pair of Cerwin Vega 316r's to go along with my pair of AT-15's in my main listening space. Right now I have the AT-15's 8 feet apart on the inside edges in an open layout living room (half wall into the kitchen / other wing of the living room, room where the speakers are is 15' x 12' with 10' ceilings). In between the AT-15's is currently all full up with my two main systems / some record storage.

So, assuming everything stays on that one (long) wall, what should I do with the CV 316r's? Both sets of CVs of course are huge. Should I place the 316r's on the outside of the AT-15's, meaning the 316r's will be 10'+ apart from the inside edges? Or should I break up my system shelves and put two of the speakers in the middle, meaning each set would be like 5' or apart? When I'm sitting, I sit about 10' away, but since these things can fill up a whole neighborhood with sound and I have an open space, I often am just moving around the house and can hear them everywhere. Here is what it looks like right now (I'm mixing up gear a bit, thinking of adding a 3rd system - and maybe a rack - so I can switch 2 systems between one of the sets and have the 3rd system dedicated to one set of CVs):

I know I can just experiment, but all of this gear is HEAVY and I'd rather just do it once, so opinions welcome.

P.s. How far from the wall do you all think I should place the 316r's with the rear firing tweeter? Right now I've got the AT-15's only like 5 inches off the wall...

 

[tomlinmgt]

What's your objective? What do you hope to accomplish by getting the speakers positioned "just right"? Are you concerned with image/sound stage resolution? Tonal clarity and balance? Tight, strong bass? All of the above???

 

[redondo2018]

What's your objective? What do you hope to accomplish by getting the speakers positioned "just right"? Are you concerned with image/sound stage resolution? Tonal clarity and balance? Tight, strong bass? All of the above???

I'd say soundstage is the most important to me with positioning

 

[tomlinmgt]

Ok. Then 8' minimum between speakers and try to have listening spot 8-12 feet away, speakers positioned at least a foot out from the front wall with 2-3 feet being ideal, play with toe in (but for speakers like your CV's, I've found aiming the axis so it fires at the edge of my shoulder generally yields best results) and eliminate any reflections (with a proper absorption panel) from the side walls at early reflection locations. Also, set the speakers up so they are both the same distance from each side wall...symmetry with the room boundaries is key. Only set up one set of speakers at a time if you want best sound stage (and image) resolution. All that said, CV's aren't spectacular at producing a multi dimensional sound stage, but satisfying the aforementioned parameters will help get the most they have to offer.

 

[redondo2018]

Ok. Then 8' minimum between speakers and try to have listening spot 8-12 feet away, speakers positioned at least a foot out from the front wall with 2-3 feet being ideal, play with toe in (but for speakers like your CV's, I've found aiming the axis so it fires at the edge of my shoulder generally yields best results) and eliminate any reflections (with a proper absorption panel) from the side walls at early reflection locations. Also, set the speakers up so they are both the same distance from each side wall...symmetry with the room boundaries is key. Only set up one set of speakers at a time if you want best sound stage (and image) resolution. All that said, CV's aren't spectacular at producing a multi dimensional sound stage, but satisfying the aforementioned parameters will help get the most they have to offer.

thanks. it's a very unsymmetrical room I'm afraid - can't have them equidistant from walls / corners. so maybe the best thing to do will be to go from left to right: speaker 1a, speaker 2a then 8' between, then speaker 1b, and then finally speaker 2b -- instead of 1a, 2a, 8', 2b, 1b

 

[JoeESP9]

Only set up one set of speakers at a time if you want best sound stage (and image) resolution. All that said, CV's aren't spectacular at producing a multi dimensional sound stage, but satisfying the aforementioned parameters will help get the most they have to offer.

See the above. My bold and underline.

 

[redondo2018]

See the above. My bold and underline.

Well, I'm running them through a switching box - I only run one set at a time, not both, but I guess you mean only have one set in the room?

 

[JoeESP9]

If the soundstage is important two properly positioned speakers will make you not use a second pair very often, if at all. In addition, it's hard enough getting two speakers positioned correctly. With two pairs the position of both becomes sub optimal. If so, why bother.

If you must have more than one pair of speakers in the room short the speaker terminals on the unused ones. There is an AK thread about shorting unused speakers.

Some higher end manufacturers (Linn) are boosters of the one pair of speakers in the room. But then, IIRC Linn espouses light and relatively flexible stands for TT's. This is something I don't agree with.

 

[GearHead454]

Good info. Nothing to add about CVs. I do work on soundstage a lot with 150 lb speakers. What helps me to set it up is a Bosch laser distance measurer and having casters on the speakers. That plus listening patiently and making small adjustments.