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Jazz And Speaker Placement

Inspired by the purchase of a new pair of speaker stands (custom made for my LS50s, whatever good that does), I just went through a painful reevaluatIon of my system’s speaker placement. A lot of reading—particularly into the SBIR phenomenon, along with KEF’s own literature—and even more experimentation. Two guidelines: No rules and no big money on footers.

The last time I tried this, I wound up with the speakers on spikes, 4” from the speaker wall, with socks stuffed into the ports. (Some members of this forum may not have heard: I’ve done away with the terms “front” and “back” walls, along with the confusion and explanations that always accompany then, in favor of the terms speaker wall and listener wall. Please use these terms going forward.)


The first person to hear this setup asked, “Where’s the bass?” He was right. The sound had been tightened within an inch of it’s life. Bass and drums were staccato, with plenty of black space audible. But that’s not the way bass sounds, nor a kick drum. They are soft instruments, with lots of attack and decay. They are not “transients,” at least not in the way that I understand that word. (To me, “transient” has about the same descriptive power as ‘postmodern.”)

This was “audiophile bass,” to borrow Paul McGowan’s phrase, and it had to go. The socks had been long gone by the time the new stands arrived, now, following the advice of McGowan and our own MillerCarbon, I got rid of the spikes and replaced them with a dot of poster putty. Played around with the positioning but kept them in the SBIR-friendly spot close to the wall.


“Miss You” by The Rolling Stones was my reference bass sound during all of this. Great bass line and it now sounds glorious. But I’m still new enough at this game to question my own ears. So allow me to ask the jazz lovers on this forum a question:

Bill Evans’s famous stand at the Village Vanguard has been issued on two albums (probably more). The Paul Motian-heavy “Sunday At” and the more normal sounding “Waltz For Debbie.” In my new setup, I’m “Waltz,” Motian and LeFaro are as loud in the left channel as Evans does in the right. (I may have the channels reversed.) Is this how it’s supposed to sound? In the old days, Evans dominated. Now the famous interplay among this trio is more clear.


It sounds good but it’s definitely a change. Is this how it’s supposed to be?

Worried in Williamsburg.
paul6001

Showing 4 responses by nitewulf

nitewulf
419 posts
 
I mean it’s not just bass, my speakers placed on my desk closed to the walls sounded muddy due to the lower mids overtaking other frequencies. Now away from walls, on stands they sound great.

Williamsburg eh? I used to dance at Output, go to M Noodle Shop at 3 AM in the morning, grab some beef noodle soup with chili peppers and catch the G train home.
nitewulf
419 posts
 
Paul, I lived in Fort Greene actually at the time, and always took the G to either Greenpoint or WB on the weekends. I was by the Fulton Street stop. No 9, with the broccoli tacos are a perennial favorite.

At GP after a night of drinking and live music, I'd head to Taqueria la Nortena and order a spicy chicken soup, which can make a dead man walk.

And at WB or GP I'd just randomly pop in anywhere with live music, Polish bars with very hardcore metal, The Knitting Factory for indie, and Skinny Dennis for country music!

As for live jazz, I was at Mezzrow in June when things seemed for a second to be moving back to normal. I love Mezzrow because I can walk in anytime without standing in a huge line like Smalls (or the midtown spots). Anyway, it was a great show that night, like most nights - topped it off with Japanese single malts at a low key Japanese bar. But haven't been back since, cause Delta and things have gone downhill again. 

Not to mention the numerous shows at Central Park or Prospect Park Bandshell, and all the stuff at Lincoln Center.

Either way those days seem so far away now, and they weren't even that long ago.
nitewulf
419 posts
 
Paul, I highly recommend Mezzrow, it’s basically across the street from Smalls, just not well known, hence not as crowded. I believe you can pretty much walk in snd pay $25 at the door for a good show. Check the calendar prior for set times. Basically you can go anytime.
If you wanna hang out in the FG area, I’m game but there’s no jazz club there currently I believe. Across BAM there was La Caye which I don’t know if it’s still there, they had hood live jazz. Karasu sounds great, may have to check that out.
nitewulf
419 posts
 
Paul, just wanted to mention, BRIC jazzfest is this week from 21 to 23, at Fort Greene. It's at the BRIC cultural center. This is a good opportunity for you to catch up on some jazz. I may swing by Thursday (because of  Cecile McLorin Salvant) or Friday night.
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