Tannoy Stirlings on the way!

Well after spending some time with the Sterlings I can report that I am very happy with them. Using a single word, love the presentation. Finding they exhibit a wide soundstage solid image.

Currently I have them placed such that the center of baffle is about 2.5' from front wall and 3.5' from side walls, they are 7.5' apart and 6' from my listening position. They are toed in such that the tweeter points to a spot behind my head. I think the positioning serves most recordings well. I will continue to play with toe in. 

My floor is standard plywood over joists and with the speakers sitting directly on the floor (not using the spikes or footers) I am getting reinforcement of lower base beyond that I believe due to room dimensional effects. That and the tweeter hight issue leads me to consider developing platforms for the speakers to decouple them from the floor. Maybe spike or footer the speakers to thick butcher block platforms and use footers underneath. Might raise the speakers 4". I am in the process of building another home my audio room will be on a concrete slab. The bottom couple octaves will be much tighter under that condition. The new room will have somewhat larger volume and a better dimensional ratio. They were positioned on a carpeted concrete floor, in a larger space when I auditioned them. 

Thanks trentmemphis initiating and maintaining a great thread and others for valued contributions!  

Hey, that's awesome, man!  Congrats!

We're having pretty similar experiences, it sounds like.  Soundstage and imaging are hugely important for me, and these do a really nice job at both.  Mine are further out from the back than yours, and about the same from the side walls.  I've also got more toe-in, with the axes crossing in front of me.  I took my time, making small adjustments and living with them for a good while, but I ended up pretty much where the manual recommends.  It seemed to help tremendously with the imaging.

I'll be interested to hear where you land with the stands.  I'm still trying to figure that one out, myself.  Have you experimented with rake at all?

I have not played with rake angle. I will continue to increase toe-in a little at a time. My listening comes in sessions, as such is an experience in itself. 

@trentmemphis,

"I'll be interested to hear where you land with the stands. I'm still trying to figure that one out, myself. Have you experimented with rake at all?"


I don't think it's worth sweating too much over such things as there's unlikely to be one position that works optimally with all recordings.

Personally I think height is the big one, and then getting the fastest tightest bass, and then it gets really tough..

I have always considered that speaker placement was for the best position across recordings.  I likely won't mess with rake, however will continue to increase toe-in.