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O.C.D. Speaker placement

How o.c.d. are you in speaker placement, and how important is it? I am o.c.d. in many aspects of my life including speaker placement. I've always enjoyed what is known as a formal balance (symmetrical design). So this is my dilemma: I have the distance of my speakers equal, within an 1/8", from the side and back walls, and they are also level side to side and front to back but the distance from the center of my listening position to the tweeters is different by somewhere between 1/2"-3/4". Does this even really matter?
I'm sure I'll get all kinds of jokes towards this question, but whatever. I figure there has to be some other o.c.d. people here considering all of the products aimed towards audiophiles, from footers to cable risers to c.d. and i.c. polishing kits.
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mt10425
1,138 posts
 
Newbie and Rok2id. I have to have my speakers about 13ft apart because of a built-in fireplace and bookshelves on both sides. I've moved my speakers every direction available to me. I now have them crossing in front of my listening position. I also have to consider my wife's position just to the left of me so she can enjoy the tunes too. If she only hears the speaker on her side, I've lost her and her enjoyment. It's important that she hears the vocalist in the center-fill as I do and musicians on the far soundstage with depth. This toe-in allows that. We both sit about 13 ft from the speakers (it's a fair-sized room) so we're still within the audio triangle.
newbee
4,751 posts
 
Mt10425, That's a benefit I forgot to mention. It has to do with the fact that the length of the on-axis signal from both speakers is obviously unequal to the off center listener (your wife), but this inequality is balanced by the fact that she will get a more on axis signal from the furthest speaker whereas the closer speaker will be heard more off axis. That signal is usually more rolled off in the highs (usually but not always - depending on speaker design). These different signals blend and give a decent sense of soundstage. You lose only a little bit of specificity. It ain't perfect but it can be quite nice, just don't tell her it ain't perfect or she'll grab your chair! :-)
mitchell
10 posts
 
I suggest you buy the book "Get Better Sound" by Jim Smith and then you can put your OCD to good use. For example, he explains that the distance from the side and back walls being equal for both speakers is not the issue- what really matters is equal distance, toe in, height etc. of the speakers to the listening position, which really makes sense if you think about it. Also, get rid of the string/ruler and buy a <$100 digital laser tape measure. It does matter, but you need a guide as to what to be OCD about.
mitchell
10 posts
 
I suggest you buy the book "Get Better Sound" by Jim Smith and then you can put your OCD to good use. For example, he explains that the distance from the side and back walls being equal for both speakers is not the issue- what really matters is equal distance, toe in, height etc. of the speakers to the listening position, which really makes sense if you think about it. Also, get rid of the string/ruler and buy a <$100 digital laser tape measure. It does matter, but you need a guide as to what to be OCD about.
mt10425
1,138 posts
 
She'll get my chair when she pries it from my cold dead ass. 8^)
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