2. speakers
  3. 188155-115924

Obvious Epiphany

I don't have golden ears and am relatively inexperienced when it comes to being an audiophile. Things like pace, rhythm and timing, jitter and other such things are pretty meaningless to me (and I'm fine with that). But my one audiophile super power is speaker position as it relates to sound stage. I actually think it is less of a super power and more of a sensitivity....or deficiency....that is probably based on the fact that the hearing in my left ear is worse than my right and both of them are 60 years old.

In any case, for a number of years it has seemed to me that most music seems to be weighted to the right channel, particularly vocals. I have three systems; one is relatively high end, the other is semi high end and the third is mid-fi at best. All three seem right channel heavy depending on the song (there are notable exceptions between songs, some of which seem left channel predominant). I chalked this up to the difference in my hearing. And that is probably the case.

I experiment a lot with minor changes in speaker position within the confines of my room parameters. This mostly involves degrees of toe-in, distance between speakers and distance from listening position (which is pretty room limited with my main system). But, in all these experiments, all of which render subtle differences, I always kept my listening position equidistant from the two speakers. In other words at the point of an isosceles triangle. I don't know why.

In any case I was recently listening to my midfi system, which ironically has the best room situation of the three and the right channel predominance was getting on my nerves and I just slid my listening position to the left about two feet or so. Bingo. Sound stage centered up nicely. The songs that I know to have more of a left channel predominance stayed about the same and were not more heavily left weighted.

I know this sounds like a 'duh' moment. But for those with imperfect ears, imperfect rooms or imperfect systems this might be worth a try if your sound stage is skewed to one side or the other. I guess the take home message is to try everything. Even if the classic speaker position diagrams say otherwise.

(I have less leeway with listening position with my main system but moving further less has made a big difference there as well.)

 

n80
elliottbnewcombjr
5,192 posts
 

I am estimating my speakers are around the same130 lb weight.

 

These dual wheel casters are surface mounted. I got the bug to upgrade the wheels, but it backfired. I found my furniture grade Dual Wheel caster’s axel does not wobble like single wheel casters. My JSE Model 2’s came with 4 wheels like this, I changed to 3 wheels.

 

I put a 2x4 flat in the front of the current speakers, within the apron,which tilts the speaker’s back/tweeter aimed at seated ear height. If they try to tip over on the single centered rear wheel, the skirt stops them from tipping.

When I changed my JSE’s (sloped face/flat bottom) from 4 wheels to 3 wheels, there was no skirt to prevent them from falling over when moving. I made rear corner blocks, just a bit above the floor. Speaker try’s to fall left or right, the corner blocks hit the floor preventing them from tipping over.

Amazingly, slightly sloped top, full of Donna’s stuff, nothing vibrates/moves, no vibration of the sides, even without internal bracing.

I messed with spikes, no improvement, just limited movement. Gave them to my friend, he is unable to move his speakers,

puptent's avatar
puptent
157 posts
 

I've said before here on Audiogon, that whenever I think my speakers are "stale", that instead of buying new, I rearrange my listening room. I think this last adjustment put my ancient rear ported KRIX Euphonix in just the right spot. 

even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then

n80 OP
2,107 posts
 

I don’t know why I’m obsessing about sound stage lately. Its not normally my fetish.

However, I’ve noticed on my main system the sound stage sounds low related to my head position. I don’t know why it bothers me but now that I’ve noticed it......

Anyway, moving my listening position closer pretty much solves the problem. I know my listening position is too far away but it is what it is as they say. Moving stuff out of the way so I can move my large chair closer is not something I’m going to do on a regular basis.

Slumping down in my chair helps, naturally. Not very comfortable.

I haven’t done it yet but I wonder if slightly tilting the speakers upward would help? This would be fairly easy to do.

The second question would be if there would be a downside? I’m assuming the main issue would be with where the tweeters would end up being pointed.

I may experiment.

 

kennyc
1,189 posts
 

…and I just slid my listening position to the left about two feet or so.

So, is the moral of the story is if one moves their butt a little, sometimes great things can happen? :)

bondmanp
1,789 posts
 

@n80 I would absolutely try tilting the speakers up a little. Also, consider stands or footers that would increase the height of the speakers, with or without tilting them. Sound Anchors makes great, custom fitted speaker stands at reasonable prices. My system projects height really well, with sound beginning at ear level and rising to the ceiling. My speakers, Ohm Walsh 2000s, are quasi omni, and the drivers sit proud of the cabinets on top. Wonderful sound staging!  I have three point spiked bases from Sound Anchors under them.

More to discover