Removing components from between the speakers

I prefer to not have the electronics or rack between the speakers. I hear a wider deeper and taller soundstage. I prefer long ICs and short speaker cables. I believe in what Mr. Smith says. The exception is I use the Sumiko Master Set Method for speaker placement instead. It worked better in my room.

Ctsooner I agree it actually depends on the individual system and setup. Roxy54 my own experiences concur with yours. Some of the very best systems I've heard have followed either method, "it just depends" always seems to be the right answer.
Charles,

Good responses all. My monitors are pulled forward of the salamander rack. A good 12" forward. So maybe it wouldn't make that much difference, other than putting the tt (a good, heavy VPI) on a more stable platform.

If you don't have a lot of components, and no TT, you can use amp stands for everything.

it does not 'just depend'.

as you chase the 'ideal'; dealing with the space between your speakers is one step closer to that ideal. the reality is that gear between your speakers is simply one aspect of the acoustical consequences of that whole area. and until you remove that gear and eliminate other negatives you will not be able to connect the dots on cause and effect.

every flat surface that potentially could be a first or second reflection is one; unless you neutralize them all one by one you will never know what detail is masked by smearing from reflections.

maybe look at the pictures on my system page and then read this post I wrote a few weeks ago on a related subject.

regarding cable lengths; properly matched amps and preamps should be able to drive longer interconnects without sonic consequences. could you hear the difference between 2 meters and 8 meters between and amp and preamp? it's possible but not likely. compared to proper acoustics? no way.

at the end of the day where your gear is is not a huge deal unless there is a large flat screen. the rest of the treatments between your speakers and on the ceiling are bigger issues. so if your room does not lend itself to moving your gear don't worry about it. just do all the other things to the wall floor and ceiling between the speakers and be happy.