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Speaker placement and soundstage

I've been thinking and that is not usually a good thing. The recommended speaker and listening position roughly forms an equilateral triangle. This positions the speakers 30° to the leaf and right for a general sound stage of 60°. Sure, some recordings have a very rich sound stage that can go beyond that 60°, but in the music I listen to, that is few and far between (progressive rock, arena rock, symphonic rock, etc.). The birds in Even in the Quietest Moments register a solid 60° to 80° left and right so my system can present a wide sound stage, but the "normal" 60° feels like sitting in row Z at a concert. I'm tempted to explore toeing the speakers in more and getting closer to create a wider field between the speakers knowing it might blow up that sensitive "beyond the speakers" sound stage. Has anyone gone down this rabbit hole?

markcasazza
toddsyr's avatar
toddsyr
231 posts
 

Per many suggestions her on Audiogon, I used the Sumiko Master Speaker Guide free at  https://www.thesoundapprentice.com/2019/11/sumiko-speaker-placement-guide.html  

along with the XLO Test & Burn-In CD available at  https://referencerecordings.com/recording/xlo-test-burn-in-cd/

I couldn't be happier with the results. 

 

 

ted_b
81 posts
 

I have found the late Jim Smith to have it correct in his exhaustive book, Get Better Sound,  that an equilateral triangle may seem neat and tidy to our brains but generally puts a distance between the speakers that is greater than optimum. A better starting point seems to be where if x is the distance from each tweeter to ear, than the distance between tweeters should be 0.83x, and begin tweaking from there. 

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
6,004 posts
 

I also use an Isosceles triangle for a starter. Then how they’re aimed and with my Amati’s, I have to aim them down a bit to aim the tweeters more towards my ears. Everything locked in with the speakers aimed to my ears. It’s amazing the difference an inch can make.

jrareform's avatar
jrareform
192 posts
 

I have found speaker placement to be one of the most important considerations in a system.  I try to get as wide of a soundstage as possible without deteriorating the center image.  Kick drums and snare drums on modern electronic music is usually a good test.  If the drum doesn't sound fully formed and concrete, you may need to toe in more.  It can be personal preference and the ideal layout is certainly different depending on the system.  Best of luck!!

slaw's avatar
slaw
26,549 posts
 

It's best to experience this for yourself, than to ask for comforting advice.

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