1st Post Intro & Ramblings

"This is correct. More people should know this. Save a huge amount of time. Unbelievable amount of time."

Why would anyone want to save time with a hobby? Isn't hobby about wasting time?

"Do you have a string or something we can use for a straight line? Yes."

Why were the vendors bringing long strings to the show? Was there a Boy Scout convention in the area, too? If they had brought it for speaker placement issues, wouldn't they already know how to use it before some imposter told them to?

Glupson
Thank you. Lol.... Now to continue on placement.
I think I have successfully defended my explanation on speaker placement/position. Ultimately the goal is to time align tweeters, midrange and/or midwoofers. All 3 have different dispersion patterns and speed, tweeters having the more narrow and fastest timing vs midwoofers. We have trouble locating sounds below 80hz but using 2 subs pressurize the rooms more evenly. Toe in aligns the tweeters dispersion with your ears, changing the front height can help align the mid with tweeters as well as change the plane (lift or lower where sound is originating from). These steps are basics and not hard line instructions, every speaker design and its components has comprises and advantages so tweaking position is part of the game. Oh and yes there is more than 1 proven method of speaker placement and other members have pointed out, google can help with explaining how they work. When you are done (never really done) you will find vocals hanging dead center, that is part 1. Next, pay attention to the other instruments, high frequencies can be tricky but if you close your eyes and concentrate you can hear if they sound off. That will tell you to continue to toe in.

Please understand that I am not going on about my extensive knowledge, super powers or my sneakers are better. I started this thread hoping to touch on some basics to help the blue collar guy who cannot afford to have a pro come help them setup as well as make better system purchases. For people like us, spending $5k plus on a theater pre-amp that will be obsolete in a few years does not work. We work hard and have responsibilities (and wives) that come before all this. All that I recommend is tailored with this in mind and trying to keep to the basics. 

Sorry kreapin Millercarbon appears to have an exclusive on "going on about his extensive 'knowledge'".


You did lose me when you questioned full surround for home theater. Two stereo speakers will never provide the rock solid placement of vocals to the center of the screen. Two speakers tricks the brain using incomplete information to form the center image. An actual center channel provides the accurate timing information to both ears for accurate center placement.


Also critical to placement is your listening position out of dominant bass nodes which I don't think you addressed. That sets a reference for the speakers which must point behind the head not at it and if you don't have acoustic controls or bass arrays, adjusting the speakers for more consistent bass and moving away from an equalateral can often give a more consistently good setup.

I have read thru some of your posts and I have come to the conclusion that you have not heard a properly tuned stereo. My present stereo is nothing fancy and the center image is rock solid. The reason I say stereo would sound better for film is because of how objects move through space across your front stage. But that concept would be lost if you have never experienced it on a properly tuned stereo