Suggestions for Speaker Setup
I have Vandersteen 5A speakers. These need a battery replacement every few years which has to be done by the factory or the dealer. I sent my crossover and filters to the factory for new batteries, however, I spoke to Richard who gave me some tips for setup which John at Audioconnection not only confirmed but gave me additional tips. I found that both John and Richard have treated me like family, not just customers...anyway.... These suggestions are for Vandersteen speakers, however, I am posting this so that you may try it on your speakers to see if it may help you get the best from them. Not only do you need to find the best place in the room for your speakers..and the best distance from the side and rear walls walls (which I initially did), but tilt is VERY important..at least on the 5A's. You need to find a flat horizontal surface, and level them left to right with a carpenter's level. This may require you to shim the left or right side, but I encourage you to take these pains. Next get a laser pointer, and put it on this horizontal plain to shine on your back wall. The laser will not be aiming at the listener, only at the center, between the 2 speakers at the back wall. Put a post-it on the back wall where the laser is shining, and mark the dot. Do the same with the other speaker. You now want to make sure that both dots superimpose on each other. This may require shimming at the rear or front of the speakers so they absolutely converge. When I finished this with my speakers, the difference was extraordinary. Lows are now so absolutely clean, although when on the recording, they shake the house with power. Words are much clearer..little things that were missed before like triangle "tings" and such are completely exposed and separated from the other instruments. Depth, width,...all of it is there complete with an ease that I never heard before. I know this procedure is a pain, but do it once and be done. Again...I don't know if this will work with your speakers, but the change with mine is very, very dramatic