2. speakers
  3. 179229-41

Speaker Placement and Toe-In

I just spent hours moving my Sopra 2’s with them sitting on the Townshend’s podiums #3. I kept intense measurements. My speakers are 115" from the woofer center to the other speaker woofer. I am sitting at that same distance from the L&R speakers’ middle centerline. They are 37" from the sidewalls to the sidewalls of the speaker.

I used one of those air bladder wedges that are used for lifting car doors and lifted each leg individually of the Townshend podium just enough to slide a furniture mover/disc under each leg.

What I found is that I prefer no Toe-In. That is, I prefer the speakers straight out into the room.

At least at this moment I am content.

ozzy

128x128ozzy
senza
80 posts
 

I have the speaker bars. Max Townshend told me the were as efficient as the Podiums but not as easy to install and manage the the right position under the speakers. Aesthetically they are less fancy but the price is more friendly.

my 2cents

ozzy's avatar
ozzy OP
7,466 posts
 

This can be a maddening process. I researched many online demos and used various calculators showing where to place the speakers based on room dimensions. Most would put my speakers way too far into the room in both distance from back and side walls. Cardas method 1/3 or 1/5 Golden Ratio....etc.

So, I am still moving and trying. What I am having the most trouble is with the center image. Sometimes it seems to shift a little to the right. Do I move the speaker out/back, sideways...uggh! I have also noticed that not all recordings are centered.

I suppose mono recordings is the best to use.

BTW, even though the Townshends podiums under the speakers makes moving them around very difficult, I would not want to be without them. They are that important.

ozzy

gladmo's avatar
gladmo
364 posts
 

My soundstage is always naturally to the left because of room shape, but my amp has gain trim controls for both channels, so I just trim the left channel more to get it centered.  Maybe your preamp has a pan L/R knob?

backwash
58 posts
 

I played with toe-in and distance from my chair the last couple of days after reading this thread. I wound up with a little less toe-in, a little further apart and sitting a little closer. Not a big change in any one spot, BUT, wow I think I really have it dialed in. I will give it a few more days, but I do think this is the best my system has sounded, ever. Thanks to all that contributed to the discussion. 

thyname's avatar
thyname
3,107 posts
 

This can be a maddening process.

True. And a lot of work. Spending a lot of time that we could otherwise use to enjoy the music. But don't give up. Stay with it. Amazing things can be accomplished by speaker (and listening chair) positioning. And it's free! Lots of trial and error. A UMIK-1 and REW (and a laptop) can help even further, in addition (obviously) to using your ears. 

 

More to discover