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Micro position adjustments

Does anyone notice some big sound changes from some small movements to the position of furniture or equipment/television positioned between your speakers?

For example, if I toe-in my tv or my preamp (that sits just between and below tweeter level of my ProAc Studio 200s) less than one degree, my center image becomes much larger, also comes forward.....and midbass to lower midrange is fuller. Bringing either or both back outward...again, even just a degree or less makes the soundstage more distant and images smaller.

Another  one.....pulling my equipment rack forward/back.....or moving my corner bass traps a mere 1/8” can change my system’s bass response and apparent overall timing.

This all to a degree similar to replacing a component.....

Now, my system is across the short wall of a 13’ x18’ room.....so this is probably affecting a lot of wall reflections etc....


foeraus
foeraus OP
31 posts
 
I should update......the front of the Proacs are still over 2 feet forward of any rack or component. Sure, nothing between is nice, but also a compromise in symmetry (components to the side) or long interconnects, speaker cables etc.(Plus, it’s nice to play a movie through occasionally).

Mike posted above about speaker position and symmetry....that’s a given.

But as I mentioned initially.....these super-small changes in equipment or furniture position can have a fairly big effect on soundstage, soundstage size, and tonal balance.
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
Space forward your rack doesn’t change the negative effect on speakers providing good soundstage, depth, and imaging, IMO.

I also have a mixed room; 2 channel and HT. All my equipment, and TV, is off to the side.

A TV screen in between the speakers, even when behind, to me, is a ‘no no’.

I get that some cannot have a set-up with ‘nothing’ between the speakers, but if you can, might be worth a shot to try. If concerned about speaker cable lengths, IC’s, etc. That is why some put their amp and pre on the floor between speakers. On the floor minimizes the negative effect.


foeraus OP
31 posts
 
By the way.....just put on Art Pepper - Straight Life.......second track bass is incredible, deep, defined.....Art’s sax is recorded well too. And great jazz....

Anyone that’s got it, throw it on!
russashe
46 posts
 
Things do get weird.  Sometimes tiny changes cause huge differences both good and bad.  Sometimes what we think are big changes make little or no difference at all.  Only the fact you can recreate the effect by carefully repeating your changes saves us from concluding the whole process is just random chance.  
tk21
238 posts
 
IMO speaker placement (including distance from the walls, toe in, and rake angle), as well as furnishings, may tend to have a more significant impact than the choice between two good amps or between two good DACs. I'm amazed at some of  the photos I see of very expensive gear with the loudspeakers crammed up against the walls and corners (along with minimal furnishings or room treatments).

We have a pine cabinet in the left corner of the front wall.  Test tones seem to demonstrate its impact on imaging.  An up-moving right-speaker test tone will seem to go straight up from about eye level toward the ceiling behind the right speaker. However, an up-moving left-speaker test tone will seem to go straight up from about eye level, then abruptly shift to the left after it reaches the top of the corner cabinet.

https://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_ledr.php

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