Speaker Placement and Toe-In


I just spent hours moving my Sopra 2’s with them sitting on the Townshend’s podiums #3. I kept intense measurements. My speakers are 115" from the woofer center to the other speaker woofer. I am sitting at that same distance from the L&R speakers’ middle centerline. They are 37" from the sidewalls to the sidewalls of the speaker.

I used one of those air bladder wedges that are used for lifting car doors and lifted each leg individually of the Townshend podium just enough to slide a furniture mover/disc under each leg.

What I found is that I prefer no Toe-In. That is, I prefer the speakers straight out into the room.

At least at this moment I am content.

ozzy

128x128ozzy

Ozzy,

 

Congratulations.

To be honest, I hate futzing with speakers. My approach is to just make a little move every few weeks. If negative…. Back immediately.
 

if I don’t force a slower approach, I end up in a frenzied dervish of activity, wanting to get it over with and concerned I will end up with the system sounding worse than when I started.

 

Ideally, you want to talk a couple friends into spending two or three afternoons moving them for you while you relax and listen… without having to get up. I’m not sure what you would have to do to bribe them. I would feel so guilty, I would never allow myself time to actually make good judgements.

 

So, congradulations, sounds like you got there.

ghdprentice,

Thank you for your comments. As much as I really like the Townshend stands, they did make it hard to find just that right spot.

Now, I will again move the speakers to reinstall the stands underneath them. But this time I am armed with measurements and duct tape...

BTW, my friends are old like me, best I could offer them is perhaps some oxygen. LOL!

ozzy

“Where I originally had my speakers, the vocals seemed to be a little fuller. (If my memory is correct). Now, with little toe in, they seem to be a little thinner sounding, but the soundstage is wider, and details are more apparent.

Which is correct? Or the best? I’ll keep fiddling.

ozzy”


Heyya Ozzy,

Hopefully no issue for me to revive this thread - seems a very good question went unanswered.

Which soundstage (wide vs. deep) is best or correct? Easy - whichever is most enjoyable, as judged by you. Indecisiveness is a key enemy here, lol!

 

The real question: how consistent among all your recorded music are your preferences in sonic imagery characteristics? I’d hazard a guess of “below 100%” ;)

Uh oh, so much for “Easy”!

To keep sane on spacing / distance / toe-in, I remind myself that speaker placement measurements and ratios should theoretically differ from album to album, or even among “pressings” of one album if remasters are involved. Heck, some of the more digitally manipulated recordings seem to vary among tracks on the same album in how “effectively” things are staged by speakers’ positioning.

 

My speakers don’t provide the most pinpoint imaging, but they do shine a glaring light on any studio panning oddities. The toe-in that sounds great to me on some recordings is far from ideal on others. Thankfully, I don’t think most speakers made for one MLP will be such divas in this way. Still, we might be mistaken if we adopt a one-positioning-fits-all-recordings mindset. It would be a bit like assuming one-volume setting-fits-all-recordings mindset, yeah? Sigh, some complications are unavoidable even with the best of tech.
 

In my case, those Townshend podiums would never work without extreme customization, so at least I have that part of my back-and-forth considerations simplified, ha!

The center image does actually move around depending on the recording. Sometimes one of the instruments will switch sides too,maybe an accident when mixing. I am either cursed or blessed with a square room. One of my speakers is toed out ! slightly and the other one straight ahead. Looks strange but sounds wonderful.Each speaker is pointed towards a doorway.

You're not "there" until you adjust the RAKE of your speakers.  The vertical orientation can certainly be enlightening.  Case in point (pun intended): MartinLogan hybrids...