Okay, I'll bite...So, how did he have the Maggies set up (and I don't even have Maggies - anymore). I do agree that you have to start with the right sized speakers for the room. Too big and you'll never tame the boomy bass; too small and you'll never "pressurize" the room. This has to fall into place before you can start to fine tune anything else if you're truly pursuing perfection IMO.
And here I'm looking for a procedure, a bit more detail on the above process rather than exact measurements which of course won't be the same for any two rooms. I'll probably be advised to search for threads on this, and there are many. I've tried a few as you probably have. Acoustics is an evolving science. Let's share what's worked for us, then what you finally did to tweek/personalize your method.
I'll go first: ( I don't have a choice of where to place my couch due to a pool table so feel free to give your seating placement procedure input starting right there!) Then: Start from where you currently have your speakers placed..and mark that with tape. The bass is optimized first. I used a Stereophile test CD with bass tracks one one channel at a time (disconnect other speaker carefully - no shorts/turn amp off!), while my son moved each speaker (sans spikes) in & out from the front wall until I heard what I liked the best. Start close to the wall and move out. One of the frequencies will give you the most resonance problems. Just listen and trust your ears to tighten it up. Listen again to verify other frequencies line up OK. Same with other speaker. They should be about the same distance from the wall..but, maybe not, mine were. (try averaging here? or,does it sound worse?)
Then adjust the "wideness" by spreading your speakers using a full symphonic piece so your soundstage is as wide as possible without forming a hole in the middle. Here you need to measure to be sure speakers are same distance from your ears (and same from centerline, should be). Now put spikes back on and level both speakers. Now, lasers work very well.
Next, with your favorite music, try pivoting speakers on one corner ("same" corner) to focus tweeters in front of, directly at you, and behind you to find what you prefer. Move around the room. Again, it's your system, your ears and your choice. Don't worry, in the end it will sound fine to all of your friends and you will love it.
Finally, level speakers again and by listening only to female vocalist,(with eyes shut and moving head right to left) pinpoint center image and fine adjust toe-in on both speakers to center her voice/image while lasers focus together on centerline (in front of, at, or behind your head as you've chosen) ..along with you head. Done.
-If it doesn't work for you,
you can move them back to where you first marked them. Just remember how much this cost you. Ha.
And here I'm looking for a procedure, a bit more detail on the above process rather than exact measurements which of course won't be the same for any two rooms. I'll probably be advised to search for threads on this, and there are many. I've tried a few as you probably have. Acoustics is an evolving science. Let's share what's worked for us, then what you finally did to tweek/personalize your method.
I'll go first: ( I don't have a choice of where to place my couch due to a pool table so feel free to give your seating placement procedure input starting right there!) Then: Start from where you currently have your speakers placed..and mark that with tape. The bass is optimized first. I used a Stereophile test CD with bass tracks one one channel at a time (disconnect other speaker carefully - no shorts/turn amp off!), while my son moved each speaker (sans spikes) in & out from the front wall until I heard what I liked the best. Start close to the wall and move out. One of the frequencies will give you the most resonance problems. Just listen and trust your ears to tighten it up. Listen again to verify other frequencies line up OK. Same with other speaker. They should be about the same distance from the wall..but, maybe not, mine were. (try averaging here? or,does it sound worse?)
Then adjust the "wideness" by spreading your speakers using a full symphonic piece so your soundstage is as wide as possible without forming a hole in the middle. Here you need to measure to be sure speakers are same distance from your ears (and same from centerline, should be). Now put spikes back on and level both speakers. Now, lasers work very well.
Next, with your favorite music, try pivoting speakers on one corner ("same" corner) to focus tweeters in front of, directly at you, and behind you to find what you prefer. Move around the room. Again, it's your system, your ears and your choice. Don't worry, in the end it will sound fine to all of your friends and you will love it.
Finally, level speakers again and by listening only to female vocalist,(with eyes shut and moving head right to left) pinpoint center image and fine adjust toe-in on both speakers to center her voice/image while lasers focus together on centerline (in front of, at, or behind your head as you've chosen) ..along with you head. Done.
-If it doesn't work for you,
you can move them back to where you first marked them. Just remember how much this cost you. Ha.