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Speaker phase and timing

I have a Roger Waters CD that is recorded in Q-Sound. When played, a dog bark is supposed to sound "like it is in the neighbor's yard." However, on my system, it is pegged just left of center between my speakers.

Apparently, my speaker phase and/or timing is wrong. I have tried moving/angling the speakers to little effect. The best I got was sitting three feet from the speakers and the dog bark then came straight from the right speaker. I have fairly decent equipment (Wilson/Krell/Nordost), so perhaps the room is the problem?

Can anyone coach me on how to adjust for proper speaker phase and timing? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
bigamp
gregadd
574 posts
 
the most obvious cause is your speakers are wired out of phase. make sure positive is to positive and negative is to negative at the speaker and amp end.
bigamp OP
219 posts
 
The room is ridiculously asymmetrical...
gregadd
574 posts
 
on the rare occaision the speakers can be wired wrong at the factory, in which case you will need to switch them until you get it right.
bigamp OP
219 posts
 
Thanks Gregadd and Onhwy61. I'll experiment with the system. The room is probably the limiting factor.
audiokinesis
2,737 posts
 
A strong early reflection or diffraction can ruin the soundstaging. The usual suspects are the sidewall first reflection zones and anything between (or between and behind) the speakers.

I use that Roger Waters disc to fine-tune speaker distance from the center of the listening position. I can measure and set up to within about 1/4 inch or maybe even 1/8 inch, but the final microskooch forward or backward is done by ear.

Duke

Duke
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