.
The 83% isn't a rule.
It's simply an observation made after having done hundreds of successful installations around North America and at shows.
If x is the distance from your ear to the tweeter plane (our source of directionality), then y (in this case 83%) is the distance from the center of one tweeter to the other.
When speakers are too far apart, they can begin to sound too thin (although they image great). But do great-imaging-but-slightly-thin sounding systems involve you in the music - as opposed to the the sound?
Too close together, and the imaging suffers excessively.
The last system I voiced ended up at 88%. The distance is ALWAYS arrived at by listening, and sometimes we measure just to see how it turned out. But I've never been personally engaged by music that's harmonically threadbare, as opposed to rich.
Toe-in also effects that separation number, IMO, as well the dispersion of the loudspeaker, not to mention first reflection issues.
I often suggest a starting point somewhere between 80-85 (and up to 90) percent. But always, only after finding the best listening seat location ("best" meaning smoothest bass).
An equilateral triangle (y = 100%) or greater can yield uncanny imaging. But, IMO, a boring musical experience.
.
The 83% isn't a rule.
It's simply an observation made after having done hundreds of successful installations around North America and at shows.
If x is the distance from your ear to the tweeter plane (our source of directionality), then y (in this case 83%) is the distance from the center of one tweeter to the other.
When speakers are too far apart, they can begin to sound too thin (although they image great). But do great-imaging-but-slightly-thin sounding systems involve you in the music - as opposed to the the sound?
Too close together, and the imaging suffers excessively.
The last system I voiced ended up at 88%. The distance is ALWAYS arrived at by listening, and sometimes we measure just to see how it turned out. But I've never been personally engaged by music that's harmonically threadbare, as opposed to rich.
Toe-in also effects that separation number, IMO, as well the dispersion of the loudspeaker, not to mention first reflection issues.
I often suggest a starting point somewhere between 80-85 (and up to 90) percent. But always, only after finding the best listening seat location ("best" meaning smoothest bass).
An equilateral triangle (y = 100%) or greater can yield uncanny imaging. But, IMO, a boring musical experience.
.