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Positioning the Forte III Loudspeaker

I’m several weeks into Forte IIIs, which are substituting in for PSB Imagine T3s, KEF LS50s and Wharfedale 80th Anniversary Dentons. I found the following variables to affect sound in descending order.

1. Positioning. I’ve found that even though these things can play as all out rock boxes, the best positioning is 18" from the front wall, 36" from the sidewalls, 6.5’ apart (center of tweeter to center of tweeter), and 8-9’ from speaker to ear while seated.

2. Quick Break In for Woofers. The treble and midrange has not "seemed" to have changed much for me--maybe a touch or that could be my ears getting accustomed to them. But, and it’s a big BUT, the lower end of the spectrum sounds way more pronounced and notes are round with proper bass resonances after 25-50 hours. I’m not sure if they are changing more or not and I’d guess not. When I first started out, I was less than impressed with the bass. I did some recordings via my iPhone (rudimentary? maybe not as the microphone and recording capability is decent) and you can hear the bass being more alive, defined and present. Maybe the woofers are streching out or "coming on song" as the Brits say.

3. Tube Makes Them Shine Over Solid State. Here there is no question that tubes win. Admittedly, I only had a few options--NAD M22 (amp) and Creek EVO Integrated (100A, Class G) versus Primaluna Integrated. So I cannot say this conclusively across the board--just like no. 4, Vinyl v. Digital, below. But it seems pretty clear that the Fortes are super sensitive and super revealing.

4. Vinyl Bests Digital. It’s really tough to say this outright because so much depends on the pressing. I have a cheapo (well $20) Kenny Dorham, Quite Kenny , on vinyl. Through Tidal there is no comparison to vinyl. We are talking ethereal, holographic space. The music washes over me and the room. Or Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby--another cheapo pressing. It crushes digital. I think it’s not until you get to super well recorded new digital that vinyl comes from the rear here.

I thought these loudspeakers had a tall order--they had to best my PSB Imagine T2s--Stereophile recommended. They have done it, yet I can also say they are just very different. The Forte IIIs are very alive where the PSBs border on dark and mellow. The toughest thing to deal with is wanting to push the gas pedal down father on the Fortes...since as you do that they become HUGE and enveloping at the expense of tameness.

My next experiment is to bring my 300B amp into the mix and put her and the Fortes through their paces.


128x128jbhiller
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,403 posts
 
@moteef,

Hi moteef!  I'm no expert but have been loving hifi since I was 10--no fooling. 

First off, I'd break them in.  I'm not a huge believer in break in and did not see much break in with regard to midrange and treble. BUT, the woofers in my opinion do need to stretch out on these since they are large.  I had very little bass in the first, say, <25 hours or so. I cannot remember now and tossed my notes.  I put it in a post on here somewhere though.  I'd keep running them. 

Second off, I found that they sounded better not too far apart.  

As far as the front wall (the wall right behind them), I'm now getting decent bass regardless of where they are at. 

I too, however, need to tune my room better.  So I don't have much to say there.  I'll let the experts chime in to help you. :)
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,403 posts
 
Oh, and to hasten break in, you may need to pump some strong music through them to give the woofers and passive radiators a workout.  They don't move much at low volumes. 
moteef
4 posts
 
Thanks for responding, @jbhiller!

This is generally good advice (though like you I have mixed feelings about break-in). Thing is, I hear bass response from these speakers EVERYWHERE but when I'm between the speakers. I don't think it's a matter of break-in. It just drops off. Which makes me think it isn't the speakers per se, but rather my room or placement--and I can't do much to change either.

I'm new to calling this a "hobby", but I've listened to many enviable systems and been an electric bass player most my life. I've owned large rigs and have a good handle on getting proper bass response. So this drop-off is really bumming me out.
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,403 posts
 
That’s terrible! I’m very sorry you have to deal with this. 

Have you had the issue with other speakers in the same room? You might want to try another speaker to see what kind of results you get. 

I hope you can figure out a solution. It’s no fun to be disappointed with new stuff. 
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,403 posts
 
That’s terrible! I’m very sorry you have to deal with this. 

Have you had the issue with other speakers in the same room? You might want to try another speaker to see what kind of results you get. 

I hope you can figure out a solution. It’s no fun to be disappointed with new stuff. 
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