I recently introduced a Pair of Speakers to my system that are very different to my long-term used main Speaker being ESL's.
ESL's are the Speaker of choice for near 30 years and have not been a Speaker that I have set myself up to find their Successor, well not until late 2024 and throughout 2025.
Experiences of Speaker in other systems and models brought into the home, created a inquisitiveness, which led to investigations, resulting in the ESL's being superseded. There was not much of a challenge, the ESL's are excellent and have won much favour, they have their own fan club when used in my system. Others who are aware of what has occurred with their future are astounded by my decision made, not even a return to a comparison at a later time is a consideration. The New Speakers have floored the ESL's and I can't even say I pine for traits of the ESL to be found in these Speakers presented End Sound.
Enough about Olden vs Newly Acquired Speakers.
The Newly Acquired Speakers are Tall on their Pedestals they are 1700mm ( 72") High. Not as High as the ESL that was 2000mm ( 80") High.
I do intend on changing the Pedestal / Sub Plinth and lower the New Speakers to 1550mm ( 66") High.
In relation to setting up a Speaker within a dedicated listening space, what have I discovered about the New Cabinet Design Speakers in comparison to other Cabinet Design Speakers used for periods as an alternative to the ESL End Sound and the ESL's within the same dedicated listening space.
The New Speakers are much more sensitive to incremental changes to orientation and positioning to the local structures than I have a recollection of any other Speaker used.
5mm ( 2/8") changes to the Baffle Toe and Baffle Leaning from being vertical plumb, creates audible change.
Additionally, 50mm (2") movement used for the Speakers Spacing and the distance form the listener / offset from local structures is audible and impacts on the perception of the End Sound produced.
Never have I had such a broad range of impressions for what can be referred to as the Sweet Spot. I would say at this stage of experiencing the Speakers I am close but can't fully determine until I create a new height for the Sub Plinth. I say this as my listening chair is now for the first time ever sat upon a 100mm (4") High Sub Plinth.
More importantly, the positioning for these Speakers is close to 200mm different to Tape demarcation on the Carpet used for the siting of older model Cabinet Model Speakers.
For the OP @dhite 71, When New Speakers are in the listening space, do take the time to find out how sensitive they are to the siting given within the Space. What one thinks they know, is easily proven wrong, when the time is taken to investigate.
A low profile Dolly Trolley used to sit the Speakers on, does make the reorientations and distance changes extremely easy to nail the better positioning. Using a Sub Plinth to decouple the Speakers is a common discussion and I prefer a Sub Plinth. Usually a Sub Plinth made up of tiers of materials in conjunction with Pneumatic Isolation Footers being in contact with the Speaker.
When the Sub Plinth is utilised. I use an already found dimension to local structures from the dolly trolley usage. When at the selected dimension positioning, only tweaking Baffle Orientation is occurring. Baffle Toe, and Baffle Vertical Plumb is toyed with.
My seating is at 3 mtrs (10'), with all my Cabinet Speakers and ESL's having benefitted from a Baffle that leans forwards and not be a Vertical Plumb Speaker Baffle. My Co-axials have a end set up with a 25mm forward lean, the New Speakers are at the current time with a 10mm forward lean. The ESL's were 75mm Leaning forwards when they were set up.
Substantial information embedded in the recording is lost or not with any accentuation in the End Sound, when generalisation for Speaker Positioning is the discipline expressed when setting up Speakers.
Honing the positioning of the Speaker over a period of time, and working with the Mounting Method for the Speaker, along with interfacing the Speaker to the Room Space and structures. Does go a very very long way, to get one a Speaker that is able to be very impressive and not just a creator of a Sound. A Speaker with a infectious End Sound is able to be eked within the listening Space when time and experimenting is the intention.