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

Very good speaker cables are very expensive. That’s the only reason I have my rack between and behind the speakers. But how can people have good bass and soundstage when their speakers are a few cms from the back wall, that always amazes me. 

There will be little if any sibilance behind female voices and imaging will be pinpoint and holographic

Unless there’s reverb or echo either in the recording or mix, then it’s not so defined.
So often I hear instruments well defined spatially, and the singer not so much.
Very much recording dependent, I would guess if the singer has a beautiful voice it’s not masked up so much with "tuning it".

Grrrrrr

Sorry but if you spoke about me...

I did not promote any piece of costly gear at all EVER....

I did not promote any costly "tweaks" at all EVER ... On the contrary i dont buy anything save low cost devices in some case...I promote a method of control about mechanical,electricial and especially ACOUSTICAL control and not only treatment OVER UPGRADE obsession ... All my propsed tweaks are homemade or peanuts costs...

 

 

For the rest i speak with arguments like Millercarbon did in his own way  but perhaps with less rudeness sometimes in my case... I wrote less well because English is not my native tongue... 😁😊

I speak about what i know and which is the most underestimated factor in audiophile life : acoustic and psycho-acoustic basic for speakers/room...

Then spare me your one line allusion  with no ARGUMENT....

So we have an official replacement for millercarbon. Another blowhard.