Apogee Duetta Signature: Optimum placement

My amps power suppy (The ASR Emitter One Exclusive) is enclosed in a separate chassis. It also has a pure dc battery supply that powers the preamp section. The amp can provide 2 x 700 watts at 1 ohm so I don't think it is lacking. The suggestion of moving the speaker out to 4 feet makes sense. The backwave from the panel may be bouncing off the rear wall and since it is out of phase with the front wave launch it could be partially canceling the bass energy as it meets it in the front of the speaker.

The jumpers I know have to go, It's just hard to spend another 1800 for another set of cables.

Thanks for the feedback.

Hi Darrell

Didn't mean to sound like your amp did not have enough power, My point was more of a reference to the speakers. The Ksa-250's output into one ohm load is almost three times greater than your amp..yet when the speakers were bi-amped their bass response improved right along with the mids and highs. This has led me to beleave that even a more powerful amp than the Ksa-250 (the Ksa 300s comes to mind) could improve bass response even more. Just something to keep in mind down the road as we explore these great speakers.

Dave

Darrell,
With all due respect to Sogood51, I beg to differ on one point, unless you are planning on moving to active bi-amping, I would recommend you upgrade the crossover. Since you already have the components, an afternoon's work will be handsomely rewarded by more clarity, more definition and detail, and better soundstaging. Also I found that mounting the crossover on an external panel independent of and placed behind the speaker (I use maple planks) makes a huge improvement in the sound. It is relatively easy to A/B this (once the front has been removed) by detacting the stock crossover and listening. I believe all but the inductor for the bass is mounted on one piece of hard board and this board can easily dismounted from the speaker w/o disconnecting the wiring---I think 2 screws and silicon glue are all that hold it in place. Also I found that replacing the stock pikes with stainless steel cones makes a significant improvement in the sound---this has been probably the most cost effective tweak I've come across.

LOL Muralman. If Duettas are so forgiving when it comes to placement then why did Darrell choose to make this post? Is he an idiot or just plain stupid like the rest of us former Apogee owners?

Khrys, only you would read "stupid" into my intentions. All I am saying is the Duetta's embracing sound is far easier to coax than the Stage, or Scintilla, having owned both. It is common knowledge among Apogee lovers the Scintilla and Stage are a lot more mischievous.

I was a Stage owner before I heard my first Duetta. Both DSig speakers were against the wall, one elevated six feet. They had bee crammed into a bedroom. Immediately, despite the negative placement, I could sense the warm, friendly DSig personality.

I got them home, set them up to something similar as Darrel's room configuration, and enjoyed the music. I tried different set ups, to no advantage. That is my experience.

Note that Darrell has asked advice to maximize his Duetta's performance. He seems open to all advice. Since I am a component wonk, I naturally will suggest a change in amp. To answer Darrell's other questions, I am not a fan of dissembowling the Apogee. I would not buy an Apogee that has been modded. I know a person who worked for Apogee for fourteen years that agrees with me. Wires should be of 12 gauge ore higher. Following Bloom's advice, I always bicable my Apogees when I can.

My room is symmetrical. Speaker placement will be complicated in an asymmetrical room. Experimentation is the only recourse.

That is my humble opinion (based on experience).