Where 2 sit audio quiz


Ok folks, don't take this too seriously now!

It's cold and cloudy here in Wisconsin and I'm bored out of my skull.

I've been messing around with different seating positions and trying to form a pattern between measured results and audible results.
I thought it might be interesting to put up measured results at 3 widely varying seating positions, and see if anyone could suggest ideas on a range of different issues. There's a $1 Million cash prize for whoever get's it right, redeemable 11/22/2064

First the setup:
Meter used is the RS digital set to slow response and C weighted.
Test tones from Rives CD 2
The Rives CD say's to use tracks 32 - 62 which are compensated for the non-linearity of the RS analogue meter. It doesn't say what to use for the digital meter, so I tried both, and the most consistent seemed to be tracks 1-31.
Anyway, the numbers are more indicative than they are absolute. If I need to re-do the test using tracks 32+ then so be it.
I used 3 different 'practical' seating locations at 12', 17' and 20.5' from the speakers.
The 20.5' position is up against the wall, which is central on a large un-draped window (a clue perhaps.. [14'x 4' approx window dimension]). I'm showing the 3 sets of results in tabular form (wasn't bored enough to bother making a graph).
Also, I'm not saying at this point which reading relates to which seating position....(perhaps the SPL level will provide the answer?)

Speakers are Maggie 3.6R's, amps are Cary V12 Mono's with ARC LS15.
I thought I would have to adjust the preamp gain at the farthest position, but it didn't require it, so all 3 positions are measured using the same volume setting on the LS15 preamp.
Questions that spring to mind....(add more if you wish).
From the results shown at http://thenaturalshopper.com/audiohell.htm

1 - which position would seem to suggest the best sonics
2 - what do the readings say about room layout and frequency response
3 - what do they indicate as far as equipment selection(speakers) for the particular room layout (example - insufficient bass response at any position, harsh treble response, or whatever?)
4 - which position do you thinks is the 12', 17' and 20.5' seating position
5 - given that the spl's are almost identical at higher frequencies, what does that say about the room layout. (given that there is a 8.5' difference between the closest and farthest seat position, shouldn't one of the columns show a consistent reduction in SPL?).
6 - what does all of this say about people from Wisconsin

What the heck!

Rooze
128x128rooze
Sean, you make the point that speakers beam at higher frequencies and are less linear off axis. Are you then of the opinion that speakers should be toe'd in for best overall frequency response?

If there is a high frequency hole at the listening area, can it be boosted by toeing in the speakers to get a more direct on axis presentation?

I am aware that while many speaker placement methods recommend some toe in, at least one major speaker manufacturer states that best results are achieved with little or no toe in.

Also for both of you, what are the effects on sound stage width and depth as one adds toe in? Can it be predicted or is it room dependent?

Thanks,
I did a post not that long ago giving a brief run-down on the method that i generally use for setting up speakers. It is somewhat of a universal approach that works regardless of room or speaker size and takes into account tonal balance and soundstage / imaging. Only problem is, i can't remember what thread it was in and it's too long to type out again. I'll see if i can find it or hopefully, someone else will point us to it. Sean
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PS... As a general rule, i prefer little to no toe in. Then again, that is with using the approach that i mentioned above.
Aargon: Found the thread that i posted a basic and relatively universal speaker set up method in. It it just so happens that Rooze started that one too : )

Look for a thread of his entitled "problems with Maggie 3.6's" or something to that effect. This should answer your questions and then some. Sean
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Thanks, your method is straightforward. I put my 5As on baking pans and started pushing them around per the process earlier this evening. It was easy to hear the modal variations, and detect when the female voice image was solid. I will back this up with measurements from my RTA in the AM.