Getting phantom image perfectly centered


This is driving me nuts! I can't get the image centered unless I turn the balance control on the preamp to the 1:30 position. I've tested the system from source to loudspeakers from an electrical standpoint, so I know each speaker is getting the exact same electrical signal with a test tone and each speaker outputs the same dB with the same test tone.

So, it HAS to be the speaker room interaction, right?

I've read http://www.linkwitzlab.com/listening_room.htm and I THINK I understand everything.

All of the following measurements are in inches:
The room is 189 long by 144 wide. (15.75 feet by 12 feet)

The speakers are precisely 45.5 inches from the back wall.
They are each 26.5 inches from the side walls with a caveat. The left speaker is 27.5 inches from the window sash, which is 1 inch deeper than the wall. It's 30 inches to the top panes of glass and 28 inches from the lower panes of glass. But measured from the actual wall, both speakers are exactly 26.5 inches from the wall.

The speakers are precisely 90.5 inches apart.

The listening position is pretty close to 45.5 inches from the back of the room. The back of the room is open to the rest of the house and the wall on either side of the opening is symmetric with each partial wall being 36 inches.

Listening to a recording were I know the voice is dead center, the voice is actually just to the left of centered, and I mean "just". Would you recommend moving the left loudspeaker towards the center an inch or two?

What kinds of techniques to you use to "dial it in" when you've got a really revealing system and you are past the "math" and it's all more art than strict science?

I think you should be able to see a picture of my listening room here: http://orion.quicksytes.com/download/file.php?id=3096

My apologies if this isn't the right sub-forum to post this question to.
marktrav

Showing 2 responses by b_limo

I posted a thread about this a few years back also. I've noticed that the image can shift on me daily and I've attributed this to my ears. Some days my left ear is more clogged up, sometimes it's my right ear. I've made cleaning my ears part of my audio hobby. I also value my hearing more than ever and wear ear plugs at times to protect my hearing (15,000 rpm's and 100mph wind is no good for the ears).

I've found that the bay window in my room accentuates the bass in the same way that bass is louder in the corners of the room.

Since you are so exact with speaker placement you ought to do what I do and attach a string to the center of the headrest on your listening chair and make sure that your speakers are equidistant from the listening position. I've found that to be more critical than the speakers being the exact distance from the walls (someone pointed out to me that rooms aren't perfectly square). You still need to "eye" the placement because they can be equidistant but not equally apart from the centerline. I also use a level to level my speakers.
Good to hear that you got it dialed in! By the way, Nice job on the speakers! There is a pair for sale local to me and if I had the $ I would have bought them. Heard them at RMAF 2 years ago and they are awesome. Enjoy!