Vandersteen 5A Speakers

Wanted to thank everyone for there responce, and advice.

I checked all my settings this time using a laser level. I found that the left speaker was off in the tilt even though both speakers had the same amount of spacers installed. I feel this is because the floor is not the same on both sides. After I leveled both 3A's out and got the tilt set to match each other the sound stage has realy locked in, even the bass has improved. The top end is alot smoother still with detail. Centering of vocals is now dead center when the music calls for it to be. It is amzing how a few adjustments made a difference.

Thanks Again
Russ

Most floors are off I think we all need to get out the level.
Great News happy listening...
Johnnyr

If you're using a laser level, one thing you can do is get the tilt exactly what it should be for your listening distance (rather than just the closest line on the tilt chart.) If you're ear height is 36.5 inches, for example, tilt the speakers until the laser line rises 1.5 inches just behind the listening position.

Daverz

I am not sure on what you are saying in regards to the 1.5 inches. can you explain in more detail.

Thanks
Russ

If you look at the tilt chart in the manual, you'll see that for a 36" ear height at 8 feet it has you tipping the speaker back until the top rear of the speaker is 1/2" behind the bottom rear. Since the speaker is 4' tall, this means the top of the speaker has a slope of

1/2" / 4' = 1/8" / ft => 1" rise in 8 ft

In other words the speaker is tilted so that the listening axis is pointed at your ears if you were sitting 8 feet away. If you put a laser level on top of the speaker the laser line would rise 1" from its height just in front of the speakers to the height at the listening position. (For my Craftsman laser level, it would rise from 50" to 51").

If you're listening height is 36.5", the laser line should rise 1.5".

Usually I'll get one speaker at the right tilt, measured with a tape measure, then set the tape measure on the floor and extend the tape up just behind the listening chair. Then adjust the tilt of the second speaker so that the laser line heights matches up on the tape measure.