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looking for tips on speaker placement?

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well so far so good. my system doesn't sound that bad! but from what i have read and watched videos over at youtube it can improve a lot by having it corrected. plus speaker placement is a big pain in butt :D currently this is what i have done and made a poor quality video using a point & shoot :yes:

please be lenient :naughty:
Phase Technology 7T tower , Sony STR-DN1010 " hopefully to upgrade in the future" , Macbook for playing Flac files and for my DAC a Behringer UCA202

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3vP1lT0k54
 
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I like using Laser pointers to check the alignment of the tweeters to ear level.

532nm-green-laser-pointer_3.jpg
 
f you want some positioning advice we need either a diagram of the room and/or a picture/video that actually shows where the speakers are located in the room.
 
Condorsat said:
I like using Laser pointers to check the alignment of the tweeters to ear level.

532nm-green-laser-pointer_3.jpg
Click to expand...

I use one too.
My speakers are on stands (left speaker has a couch right in front of it) so I used "L" brackets to give them a little downward tilt.
I use the laser pointer to make sure they are at the same angle of tilt and also to check each speakers toe-in angle.

It always amazes me how big a change in sound a very small movement (as little as 1 inch) of either speaker or listening chair can make.


I buy laser pointer/keychains at Dollar stores or in the checkout lanes at Walmart. Cheap.
An added benefit, the cat loves chasing that little red light around.
 
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Wow... speaker placement... this is a "elusive animal" you are dealing with as placement is probably tuned to your ears... and how you hear for that matter.

Don't think anyone can write a book on that... or give 1x guidance.

I will say this.. you will probably find tuning them much easier if you can get your hands on a good equalizer (parametric preferred) or a DRX (dynamic range expander).

Short of moving them about, based on how "you feel" daily... only thing I can suggest.

Anyways.... good luck!
 
50nstillhifi said:
Wow... speaker placement... this is a "elusive animal" you are dealing with as placement is probably tuned to your ears... and how you hear for that matter.

Don't think anyone can write a book on that... or give 1x guidance.

I will say this.. you will probably find tuning them much easier if you can get your hands on a good equalizer (parametric preferred) or a DRX (dynamic range expander).

Short of moving them about, based on how "you feel" daily... only thing I can suggest.

Anyways.... good luck!
Click to expand...

Oh boy, where to start. There is actually a great deal of information about speaker placement as well as guidlines right here at AK. Much of the information has been known throughout the audio community for many decades Such as the golden rule.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=398532

http://www.cardas.com/content.php?ar...=26&pagestring

http://www.audiophysic.com/aufstellung/regeln_e.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/waspe.html

If you can work on your speaker placement and I would add that you may want to consider room treatments as well, you will not likely need to compensate with an EQ or expander of any kind. If you can achieve pleasing results this way, you don't have to be concerned about adding additional components and circuits to you audio stream.
 
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Speakers close to the back wall will accentuate bass. Speakers in corners will accentuate the bass even further.

I recommend starting with a symmetrical layout- each speaker equidistant from the back wall, and each speaker having the same distance to the side walls of the room (if you can get away from the back wall by at least a foot and a couple of feet away from the side walls, that's not a bad start).

"Toe-in" refers to how the speakers are angled toward the listening position; in other words, not parallel to the back wall. I would start with the speakers parallel to the back wall and sit in your intended seat. Listen (eyes closed seems to help some people) to music that has a lead vocal- it should sound like the vocal is coming from between the two speakers. If the vocal seems quiet in relation to the music, angle the speakers a little bit inward toward your listening position, and listen some more. A tape measure is handy to allow you to make consistent calibrated adjustments. That's just a starting point- it can be frustrating, but try not to let it bother you, sometimes I have to go too far in a directional adjustment to know what's really happening. If you REALLY listen, you can likely get great sound without too much trouble.

A equilateral triangle is a good way to visualize the relation of the distance between the listener and the distance the speakers should be from each other. If the speakers are 8 feet apart, try sitting 8 feet back from the front baffle as a starting point- you may want to move a little back or forward from there, but establishing a baseline helps narrow the number of options.
 
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One important suggestion ... this takes experience.

You have to have a baseline to reference.

Some album or series of albums (well recorded) that you KNOW and remember how they sound on a properly set up audio rig ... this will be vital in getting the "all important" base right.
 
50nstillhifi said:
Wow... speaker placement... this is a "elusive animal" you are dealing with as placement is probably tuned to your ears... and how you hear for that matter.

Don't think anyone can write a book on that... or give 1x guidance.

I will say this.. you will probably find tuning them much easier if you can get your hands on a good equalizer (parametric preferred) or a DRX (dynamic range expander).

Short of moving them about, based on how "you feel" daily... only thing I can suggest.

Anyways.... good luck!
Click to expand...

It sure is a matter of "tuned to MY ears" here.
My hearing falls off above 8Khz (just mentioning it) not sure it matters to how others hear their systems.
A minor change in toe in can make either the
A) midrange or
B) the treble
really decrease/increase or at least my perception of those ranges as well as the soundstage itself.
The source material also plays a big part in how I perceive the sound.

I'm sure I'm not the only AK'er who has small bits of tape on the floor near both the speakers and the listening chair.
Just this week I've changed the chair position twice and the toe in once.
Always searching for that perfect blend....of musical magic.
 
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