Sound is better when I stand up?


Why is this? No matter my listening room (large basement with 7 1/2 foot ceilings or small office with 8’ ceilings), the sound is more open and more spacious when I stand up from my listening chair. When I sit, the sound compresses a bit. Sitting, the tweeters are about 5-6" above my ear level. Should I angle the speakers down?

My chair is at the apex of the .83 ratio Jim Smith suggests for getting better sound. I'm about 3' from the back wall and my standmount speakers are 3' from the front wall. 

What acoustics are responsible for this?

128x128simao

Hi all!

Cool. Let's recap:

@audioman58 I did mention the brand - Reference 3A MM Gen 2. Stock tweeters; I have ceiling corner foam triangle baffles but am now considering some ceiling  hanging foam frames

@mbmi swivel chairs. Huh. Good point. 

@grauerbar You're right. I mean, how much listening do I do on my feet? I have no mantelpiece upon which to lean with my tumbler. 

@holmz Great picture of my wife's reaction whenever she sees a new piece of audio gear I hadn't told her about. 

@bigwave1 Yes, I can adjust my stands by adjusting the spike depth. Thank you for the suggestion. 

@avanti1960 I had the 3As toed in slightly and now have gone back to the recommended no toe in. That did make a positive difference in the sound. 

To those who mentioned the triangular distance, I have gone with something closer to 1-1.2 ratio, like @tomcarr ​​​​@clearthinker suggested. That helped, too. 

Can't give up the wingback, though. It's so comfortable. 

@simao    

I note you have removed the toe-in.  This is the purist position.  If the production was classic then there was a spaced pair of dipole microphones in front of the musicians.  If you don't toe-in you are hearing what the mics heard.  If you toe-in, the image of the sound will be spread outwards. A 'hole' may appear in the centre.

Speaker toe-in and listening distance are of course related.  Less toe-in is has a similar effect to listening from further away.

I do think you're making a mistake with the wingback.  If you like to rest your head perhaps a chair with a smaller headrest to the back of your head not impeding soundwaves' access to the ears.

Or listen with headphones?

Many reviewers like EXTREME TOE IN where the left speaker is aimed at your right shoulder and visa versa........It's an interesting sound...you should try it .

simao    

I note you have removed the toe-in.  This is the purist position.  If the production was classic then there was a spaced pair of dipole microphones in front of the musicians.  If you don't toe-in you are hearing what the mics heard.  If you toe-in, the image of the sound will be spread outwards. A 'hole' may appear in the centre.

Speaker toe-in and listening distance are of course related.  Less toe-in is has a similar effect to listening from further away…

I think that another school of thought is as the room get brighter in reflections, one may also chooser to toe them in.
Particularly if the speakers have a narrower radiation pattern.
If they are super wide, then the toe doesn’t matter at all.
But sometimes if they are bright, then toeing them out can reduce the direct SPL.

There is nothing seemingly pure or impure about it.
I thought it is like a tone control to tailor the speakers bespoke to the room the speakers are in.