Toe in changes the speakers relationship to the room as well as the listener. These variables are not easy to account for. So, it is very much a trial and error undertaking. First it is important to deal with first reflection points on the side walls in particular. I always start with the speakers perfectly perpendicular to the radius aimed directly at the listening position then if the image is not well focused start gradually reducing toe in. @ghdprentice Because line sources radiate in a figure 8 fashion, they send no energy towards the side walls. They should always be aimed directly at the listening position for the best image. As you note, reducing toe in changes the sound in a much more dramatic fashion, usually for the worse. Any brightness should be handled electronically. On the bright side the side walls do not require absorption. Only the front wall behind the speaker needs absorption. SALLIEs are the best. You can see them on my system page.
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.