Remove rack or console from between your speakers

mikelavigne1,410 posts03-06-2020 7:01pmthere is no one right answer. and it is somewhat related to the seriousness of your system and asset allocation.

if you have optimized everything else first to a reasonable degree, then having long interconnects and removing your rack from between your speakers might be the next step.

however;
--it might depend on what is on the wall behind the speakers. it could be that your rack is acting like a diffuser and helping if you have a flat bare wall or a big window. those things will not be improved by moving your rack.
--and how much a long interconnect or long speaker cables might cost. you might improve another part of your system with the same budget as the longer cables and get a better net performance gain.

the moral of the story is that other things need to be at a point where this change will help, or it's not worth it.

I concur with Mike.  Plus, my experiences suggest that n the priority of issues to be concerned, this is probably at the bottom of that list...  

Mr. Miller,

Nice system setup.  Puts my wobbly (like the owner) wooden rack to great shame.

I like the insulators supporting the cabling.  Never thought of that considering I have several hundred.

Victor, Locke or Lapp, by chance?  Can’t see any markings.

daniel 

Yeah I would have to look. The big ones are Cable Elevators which turn out to be standard ceramic insulators with a sticker. The smaller ones are various bought off eBay once I compared and realized they are just as good and a lot cheaper. 

You should see it now. Tweaks galore. But a lot is developmental and I am under orders not to divulge. So no pics. No reviews. Which is killing me. Well not really. The sound is to die for. I just can't describe it. Literally. 

Suffice to say I believe now more than ever what mahgister says about tweaking the "embeddings" (acoustic, vibration, electric) being more effective and important than upgrading components.

For many, having the rack between the speakers makes the most sense. You should however make sure the front of your speakers are at least a few inches forward of the rack itself to reduce high frequency reflection/diffraction.

So your ears were happy BEFORE you were made aware? Those weirdo audio friends of yours are inducing audio neurosis.


If your system is in a living space-normal furniture, family,pets etc...maximizing the working area you can position the speakers may be the way to go. Then, relax and enjoy music.

Other than a dedicated space to get the speakers out in the room is a compromise. The rack in the center, isn't so much of a deal with speakers out in the room. Even the coffee table in front of your sofa is a deal killer.

Trust your ears.