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Speaker Placement Issue/Thoughts

I'm not sure if it's my hearing, my rooms (I've had the stereo in three different ones over the past few years), or a recording bias, but I consistently hear my image being biased slightly left of center.

I've had to resort to balance controls to fix this issue, but have also tried various speaker placement solutions (Thiel 1.6s and now 2.4s). When thinking about how to address the problem, I regularly get stuck in what feels like a logical paradox.

So, to shift the center image to the right, I can alternatively convince myself either that I should A) make the right speaker louder by moving it closer to me, or B) move the right speaker further away to shift the actual center of stereo speakers. Unfortunately every time I try to test this, so much ends up changing (the damn spikes are so hard to deal with) that I never figure out which is the appropriate solution.

Maybe I just need to pay a professional to come in and place everything for me...
cal3713

Showing 1 response by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,833 posts
 
Some amps like the TAD Hibachis in my 2 channel a/v system have output level adjustments on-board which can be very effective for providing left/right balance when needed for whatever reason.

Placing speakers to match volume levels is probably not a productive approach as you have found. Placement is key for soundstage, imaging, bass levels etc. Placement to match loudness is likely different than placement to optimize these other areas where placement is the key.
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