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Where to locate Equipment?

I have seen countless setups with the AMPS, DACS, Turntables, etc, all positioned BETWEEN the speakers.  Years ago, I thought this was taboo, and I have always had my equipment to the left of my listening position. I can see the benefits, using short speaker cable runs, etc, but, was/am concerned about that occupied center spot affecting listening quality in some way? 
My room is a rectangle, approximately 19x14x8, carpeted, drywall, pretty normal room for a 2ch system.  Any replies, comments, suggestions are welcomed. Have been away from the hobby for about 20 years, and finding many things have changed during that time.  Thanks in advance.
lgm
ducati1098rr's avatar
ducati1098rr
43 posts
 
Interesting read on speaker cable/wire length.

You decide.

https://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/speaker-cable-length-differences-do-they-matter
yyzsantabarbara
4,896 posts
 
Use long XLR cables from your gear kept on the side to the amp in-between the speakers. If you have well designed gear the XLR quality should not make that much of a difference so you can use cheaper (but very good) XLR, such as pro XLR's. You can then get better and shorter speaker cables which I find make a huge difference.

My XLR's from the preamp to the amp are 15 feet (could be a longer If need be), and my speaker cables are only 3 or 4 foot. XLR's cost $250 and the speaker cables $3500.
bkeske's avatar
bkeske
5,597 posts
 
All my equipment is off to the side, except my old Belles amp that sits on the floor between the speakers. Why? Well, as it makes sense to me, equipment between the speakers can screw with the imaging and soundstage in the center. I have a fireplace between the speakers, which is covered with diffusion panels. Also have absorption panels and diffusion panels behind the speakers flanking the fireplace. When I sprung for new speaker cables, I decided I didn’t want long speaker cable runs, so moved the Belles on the floor between the speakers (on the fireplace hearth). As has been suggested to me, it is better to have a longer RCA (in my case) run from the pre to the amp, rather than 16’ +/- speaker cables.

Works for me. Personally, I don’t like to see a rack between the speakers, but as I understand, can also provides sonic improvements.

The downside to all this, the fireplace doesn’t get used at all. I miss burning a nice fire in the winter, but when weighing the two, my rig and sound is more important to me.
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