2. speakers
  3. 175748-87559

Speaker positioning: why do audiophiles neglect this so much?

Went to a recent seminar featuring Jim Smith, well known author of the book  "Get Better Sound"  and hi fi set up guru.

The basic gist of the discussion was that the most important elements of a high end stereo installation are listening position and speaker positioning, in that order.  The actual hardware (speakers, amplifiers, source, cables etc) are of less importance relatively speaking.

Yet it is clear from this web site and it's contents, that set up is discussed much less than the actual hardware.

When I look at the Virtual Systems page on site, I'm estimating that, maybe, 10% of the systems posted are close to well set up.  Thus, hardly any of the featured hardware is performing close to it's maximum potential.

Shame, and why is it so?  Not sexy enough to talk about system set up in depth?  Lack of knowledge?  Or is it simply too hard to do and too complex a subject?

Just my 2 cents ...

bobbydd

Showing 2 responses by tablejockey

tablejockey
4,039 posts
 

A lot of setups are in dual purpose rooms.

Systems in living spaces just aren't going to have speakers pushed into the room as they should be to breathe.

If you can't have your speakers 4-6 feet out,  3-4 from sidewalls, you're possibly missing what they're capable of.

tablejockey
4,039 posts
 

"The problem with being a true audiophile is that you are always thinking something could sound better. Some people throw money at the problems others throw luck and money. I prefer to throw thought and as little money as I can get away with. One more thing. Do not replace your own thinking with someone else's. Humans are way too dangerous for that. Marketing is the fine art of lying your ass off to get anybody to buy your stuff. You would be best served by blocking it out entirely."

Good read-insightful post, mijostyn.

Audio as a hobby is one of the more satisfying activities, but it's also maybe the most polarizing when it comes to discussing "how it REALLY works".

I was at my neighborhood record store yesterday. The owner is 70 with some of the most interesting customer stories/collection encounters. One of his longtime regulars(retired audio retail) and a customer(audio enthusiast) started with a light  casual chat because they discovered the mutual audio obsession.

According to the record store owner, it started out as a conversation anyone could understand. It then evolved into audiospeak which he felt was getting heated because of some disagreement about "audio rules" and other things he didn't have knowledge of. He had to graciously "time out" these guys because it was starting to look bad in front of the other customers! 

To him, audiophiles  are just as strange as his Millennial/Gen Z customers.

Side note-I picked up this 1957 release. Anyone into  Jazz on LP should have this in their collection. World Pacific  was one of true "golden era" labels. Real audiophool quality that will make ANY setup sound great. The Mastersounds  are the Montgomery brothers. Being a Wes fan, I get anything associated with "the thumb." Good listen.

 

More to discover