Apogee Duetta Signature: Optimum placement

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).

Thanks for the tips! I moved them out from the front wall to the recommended 48". This seemed to help the bass and if I'm correct, seemed to deepen the sound stage quite a bit! The upgrade kit contains some big mama inductors 2" x 4-7/8", 2 x 3-3/4", and 2 x 2-1/2". If anyone has done this mod, will all of these fit inside along with the 14 Auri caps?????

If I build something external, I don't want it to look to micky mouse.

Also, RlXl;
Please tell me more about the speaker cones as I think the factory legs just kinda float on top of my carpeting. Where did you get them? Pictures of your speakers with the cones would be great!

The suggestion of bi-wiring is something I definately will try!

Thanks!

My advice in regards to the X-over upgrade assumed that Darrell is a new owner of these speakers. This is why I said it would be best to get to know the speakers first. If for some reason he would not keep the speakers..no great loss on resale. The only pair of Duetta Signatures that have been for sale for a very long time here on Audiogon are the pair with the X-over upgrade.

If his plan is to keep them for a long time, then by all means upgrade and don't worry about resale value. I know that when I was in the market for mine I only wanted mint/stock model.

Dave