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 ...
I can't believe that many audiophiles haven't considered speaker placement as important. Jim Smith wrote a valuable book. I own a copy. Great food for thought for someone making their 1st serious investment in home audio. Provides a focus towards the fact that the room and treatment of same is important. This issue is not loss with most of the contributors on this forum.
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I have a small crappy room (12x11x9) with some relatively big speakers. The room is treated, and the sound is about 80% of what I could get in a better room. I will take it because it sounds good enough to make me enjoy music. If you have a perfect room, I think you are in the minority. I also have a prefect room when I use my headphones. I am listening in my perfect room now. |
@mijostyn +1 |
