Monoblocks, Speaker Placement?

Herman and Tweak:

Interesting.... I've had better luck with my Maggies on shorter cables and my monoblocks (Cary Six Pacs). Is there anything that you can attribute the longer length to? Perhaps any distortion caused by proximity of the amp to the speaker itself? Interested to know....

I suppose a better response would have been that my experience mirrors Tweaks. My one test is by no means definitive and it wouldn't suprise me that the opposite would be true in some cases. I did consider the vibration factor but had no way to test it. I suppose as always there are a lot of variables and few definitives in this hobby.

Speaker placement is no more or less difficult or important with mono amps. What can be important is amp placement. If you are tempted to place the amps on the floor by the speakers, get down on your hands and knees and listen to the sound in various places at amplifier height. Right between the speakers will usually be the most boomy, and a poor place to site the amps. This boom will result in high resonance to the circuits, especially important if using tubes. Also, behind the speakers is usually a poor choice. I found the quietest place to be closer to the speaker and right near it rather than behind or in front.

Wouldn't good amp stands fix some or all of the issues being talked about here?

Aside from air borne vibrations, or issues concerning non solid flooring. Why not set them back several feet from the front plane of the speakers?

Have those with monos being placed in close relationship to speakers actually seen substantial diffs from the use of six feet or less of wire to say eight or ten, or even four?

I've noticed only a minor amount of diff in the use of a five foot cable vs. a six foot. Very minor in fact. Whitout having them side by side to compare, one would never know.

I'm considering placing my monos out into the listening room too. Though, I doubt I'll do it as it congests the esthetic, and adds clutter... thus far I'm OK with running longer speaker cables to avoid that issue.

But if it's a night and day diff? Well.... maybe.