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Toe in is crucial

I’m like the rest of us, obsessing about the smallest tweaks in power supplies, USB cables, cable risers, room acoustics, etc. But an underrated (or discussed) speaker tweak is toe in.

in my system (SF Amati, Mc components, Cardas, Weiss) adjusting speaker toe in by as little as ¼ inch has greater impact on SQ than many cable and other tweaks I’ve made at the tail end of refinement. The impact (and trade off) on sound stage, imaging, and treble presentation, by the smallest adjustments is profound.

I wasn’t quite satisfied with my system tonight—a little too forward; a narrower soundstage than I like. A ¼ inch toe in adjustment took me from hifi to the concert.

Not sure if others have experienced this, but thought I’d share.

w123ale

Showing 2 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
7,539 posts
 

@daveyf 

+1 sometimes that is the way to get there… with long intervals.

ghdprentice
7,539 posts
 

Proper toe-in is definitely one of the critical basics of speaker placement. I have the same speakers as you. Getting it right took me a long time… I was not in a hurry. Purchase of speakers… upgrading components and cables took a year until I finally got to fine tuning my speakers. I found a gradual change in the soundstage from having the beams crossed behind my head to no toe in. In my venue, no toe in gives the widest / deepest soundstage without loosing the central image, where the speakers disappear. I was surprised since the recommended toe in is to have them cross behind your head. Just shows you have to do your own place.

 

I have had speakers (electrostatic and ribbon) where 1/8th an inch made a big difference. In my room the Sonus Faber Amanti change their presentation gradually. 

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