Speaker distance

+1 Geoff

I have ATC EL150ASL at about 7 feet apart tweeter to tweeter and I sit about 12 feet back. No toe in. I don’t like an exaggerated stereo effect and I like to keep speakers well away from side walls. There are also no walls within 6 feet of the listening position. Walls close to the listener just make the sound terrible.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say that there’s an infinite number of speaker locations for a given room, so obviously the ye olde trial and error method can only get you so far. You can NEVER find the absolute best locations that way.

What is needed is a long range plan that involves both finding the optimum locations for the speakers given a constant listener location and degree of room treatment. (It is not unusual to discover the listener position is located smack dab in a standing wave.) The XLO Test CD Speaker Placement track is a fool-proof method for determining OPTIMUM locations for ANY room and for ANY degree of room treatment, including no room treatment, for a constant listener position.

But as more and better room treatments are added, the optimum speaker locations will probably change, as the radiation patterns, reflections, echo locations, etc. are modified. So as things progress, the XLO Test CD should be used in conjunction with a program of room treatment, as well as the addition of other tweaks or upgrades that affect the overall sound. Trying to listen a little, move a little can only find local maximums, not the real absolute maximum. It’s like trying to solve 3 simultaneous equations in 5 unknowns. 😬

The XLO Test CD Speaker Placement track is a fool-proof method for determining OPTIMUM locations for ANY room and for ANY degree of room treatment, including no room treatment, for a constant listener position.

@geoffkait 

Can you describe (in writing here in this thread) how this track "works" in order that it is "fool-proof"?

Thanks.

@geoffkait

Can you describe (in writing here in this thread) how this track "works" in order that it is "fool-proof"?

Thanks.

>>>>>The XLO Test CD speaker location track is the OUT OF PHASE track. You have already determined that your system is in correct phase using the previous IN PHASE track. The objective of the OUT OF PHASE track is to allow incremental movement of the speakers until the sound of the voice on the track sounds like it’s coming at you from all around the room, I.e., completely diffuse. If the speakers are not (rpt not) in the absolute best locations, the voice will sound like it’s coming at you from a particular direction. The caveat here is that *completely diffuse sound* is very difficult or impossible to achieve without room treatment. Which is why I suggested a program of the XLO Test CD AND room treatment. Rome wasn’t built in a day. 😛

Thus, the reason I say this XLO Test CD method is fool-proof is because there is only ONE solution, only one set of speaker locations where you will get the sound coming at you from all around the room, instead of any particular direction, whereas the trial and error technique of moving a little, listening a little can only result in good locations but not the best locations. Without some room treatment it might be difficult or impossible to achieve this state of Nirvana. As room anomalies are discovered and addressed the sound will get better. And the sound will be perceived as more diffuse on the out of phase track.

There are details in the XLO Test CD instructions how to move each speaker incrementally according to the diffusion pattern you hear on the OUT OF PHASE TRACK.

WHEN THE SOUND IS THE MOST DIFFUSE ON THE OUT OF PHASE TRACK IT WILL BE THE MOST FOCUSED AND COHERENT WHEN PLAYING RECORDINGS THAT ARE IN THE CORRECT PHASE/POLARITY ON A SYSTEM THAT’S ALSO IN CORRECT PHASE.