New Amp Dictates New Speaker Placement?


I purchased a new amplifier a few months ago and installed it into my system. A friend who has heard my system more than half a dozen times over the previous year and a half mentioned that perhaps the speakers could be moved closer together because he could locate the sound from the drivers rather than the speakers disappearing.

The speakers had been positioned a couple years ago where they are presently located, and they have provided a superb image with many amplifiers.

The system sounds great with the new amp, but I do notice some localization of sound. Sort of a three-zone image. It's not aggregious...typical audiophilia.

Is it possible that the new amplifier has affected the image to the degree that repositioning the speakers is necessary?
128x128tvad

Showing 4 responses by tvad

The issue isn't so much presence of one frequency over others as it is left, right and center localization. Also, it's not on all recordings, so I might be over analyzing this situation.

I have changed input tubes in the amp without much change in the localization of sound. The amp has SS output.

BTW, this isn't the first time I've dealt with this with these speakers, so it's not necessarily the amplifier's fault. As you say, Newbee, it's likely the interface.

I'm interested to know who else has heard this phenomenon and gone through the process.
I have played with toe-in. I'm going to bite the bullet, remove the brass footers, and move the speakers a bit closer together and then play with toe-in again.
I have a nearfield set-up...basically an 8 foot equalateral triangle, give or take a few inches. I think the sound is phenomenal when I get even closer to the speakers...say within six feet. The speakers totally disappear.

Anyway. I moved them closer together by about six inches on each side, and I'm playing with toe-in again by trying less toe-in...essentially flat. I'll go from there.

Gotta tweak something! Can't just have a system that I turn on and play! That'd be too easy and against the Audiophile Code.
The room is fine.

I've adjusted the speakers a little. Things seem a bit more coherent.

I'm moving on. Thanks for all the input everyone.