Speaker direction?

Raquel, I assume you are a woman, because you are correct in everything you said:) Of course, I was generalizing for the average system and the most common mistakes made by audiophiles. I have owned many reference systems, but most were digital based. All things considered, I do believe most audiophiles tend to constrain their systems by placing the speakers incorrectly for whatever reasons they may have.

I believe this subject is based on finding the magic "sweet spot" where the soundstage is..... what your system ( speakers) has or can produce. The amount of toe in is like what was explained above. The best way to know if you have found your "sweet spot" is to know what it sounds like. Meaning that there is a real "soundstage' where music flows between and even past your speaker distance. It can be a pain as mentioned to get it right. One thing some forget to do is make sure that both channels are equal. I use a db meter from radio shack. One point I listen for is vocals. I want them dead center and the most natural. I don't agree with the equal or triangle set up. That is used for most near field monitors and or smaller rooms. For large floor standing speakers the distance and seating is best done by moving your seating position first. Then move the speakers farther apart and try again. Just one foot ( or 6 inches each side and or back wall also ) will made a change. As you are approaching the lock on position for the sweet spot small changes will get you where your system sounds the best. I like to do this at night when the ambient noise level in your room is the quietest and with very little light. Taking your eyes out of the equation helps your ears focus better.

Calldr, I grew up listening to music in a basement with the lights out. The ipod generation will never understand the complete immersion that is possible with music. Not only has music been dumbed down, but the art of listening has as well...along with the discrimination to even recognise either abilities loss as important.

Believe it or not the iPod is the best thing to happen to music. It's not showing up right now, but this new generation will evolve to BETTER sound! because they are at least interested. The future for HD recordings that go hand in hand with Video/Movies is a bright future. You enjoy music like I do. But don't forget what we used to think sounded good...LOL! The NEW Audiophiles will not be as gullible. They are better at math..LOL! No 1,000.00 cable to make a 1,000.00 speaker sound better...LOL! The problem with Hi End audio sales is because the younger generation gets better sound out of an iPod than we did in the 70's with top gear in that time. The winners in high end audio will be those that can produce affordable products that preform at a rate to the money paid. We are guilty for spending 1,000.00 for 1% improvement..if that...LOL! This is the digital age and new Audiophiles will be a new breed.

I would disagree somewhat in the notion that new generation digital music listeners will ever evolve into an audiophile (best sense of the word intended). They may love what they are listening to, but most of what is being consumed is crap. Music appreciation has gone out the window for most of our kids growing during the whoring years of the music industry. MP3 formats emphasize conveinience mainly, over quality. I will allow however for the possibility that an improved playback technology may develop out of the current trends in consumer demands. The most troubling scenario at that point would then relate to what the majority would be listening to...I'm afraid it will be deeply disturbing, empty and poorly recorded. Funny really, we may have access to better, cheaper playback devices but no desire left for enjoying the potential of the format. Rod Serling warned about the decline of the arts back in the early 60's as it relates to the marketing and advertising industries. The more involvement they gain in driving the consumer toward a desired endpoint, the faster the decline of creativity and the mass audiences appreciation of original, important and thoughtfull art. Look to the decline in classical music venue attendance figures, soft jazz, rap and other dumbed down examples of what is now spewed out for mass consumption. The lowest common denominator has become the majority!! LOL