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Quad 2805 Toe In Experience?

I am just breaking in my new pair of 2805's. I have never had Quads or any electrostats before...always dynamic driver speakers. While they only have about 20 hours on them, I think they are going to be excellent...everything I hoped for!

They are about 4.5' out from the front wall, about 10' apart (from speaker centers) and about 9' from speaker to listening seat. My listening room is 16' X 13' with a 9' ceiling. The speakers are about 1.5' from each side wall and there is diffusion on the side walls and behind the listening seat.

My question is how much should I toe them in? I am looking for the right balance of image specificity and soundstage width. Right now they are toed in about 1/2 way between firing straight ahead and directly pointing at the listening position.

I plan to do much more experimenting. But before I install the spikes, I would greatly appreciate learning from others experience with Quads.

Thanks,

Dave
tricon_dave
tricon_dave OP
77 posts
 
I am using Mapleshade Double Helix Plus speaker cables. While I have not done a lot of experimenting with speaker wires, I much prefer the Mapleshade wires to my Nordost Blue Heaven wires in terms of initial attack and overall tonal quality and balance. So far, they sound great together, but the speakers only have about 40 hours on them.

Let us know what you end up with and how it all comes together. What amplification are you planning to use?

Dave
jopi88
27 posts
 
hi dave, i'm using the david berning zh-270, i hope will be a perfect match.
sunnyboy1956's avatar
sunnyboy1956
423 posts
 
Hi Dave. My pair of Quad 2905s are about 2 months old in a room of almost similar dimensions. The ultimate positioning and toe in, will IMHO require a bit of to and fro experimentation until you are completely satisfied. I've yet to settle on the optimum placement. I have spiked my Quads and placed them on a 1" granite base which is easy to manoeuvre on a hardwood floor. If you you have a carpet floor you can achieve the same result with a 1 1/2" thick wooden board.
Currently, the 2905s are toed in about 10 degrees. The centres of the speakers intersect about 2 ft. behind the listening position. What I am unable to figure out is the optimum distance from the front wall. The more the better will not work coz of furniture and other limitations.
What amplification and source are you using ?
Cheers
Sunnyboy 1956
tricon_dave OP
77 posts
 
Hi Sunnyboy,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I actually think I am settling in on the speakers toed in so that they would intersect about 2-3 feet behind my seat, similar to you.

For amplification, I am using a highly modified Rogue Cronus from Mark O'Brien at Rogue Audio. It is EL34 based and about 30 wpc in triode. I have had some much more expensive tube and SS gear in the past, but this is one of the best amps I have owned. From what I have read, the EL34 tube is a great match with Quads. I also have an EL84 based Scott 222c from Mapleshade, but have not yet tried it with the Quads.

What amp are you using?

Dave
sunnyboy1956's avatar
sunnyboy1956
423 posts
 
I am using a pair of Lyrita audio mono blocs. They are made by a friend in New Delhi, India, where I live. You have probably not heard of them. They use a pair of EL34s. Check them out at www.lyrita-audio.in/ I have ordered thru the Indian dealer a Conrad Johnson CT 5 pre and a CJ L70s. Have read great reviews of the CT5 but the power amp is a new iteration /design of the Premier 140. Just hope the combo works. The lyrita mono blocs sound great but at less than 50wpc into 8 ohms, they lack the juice to drive the Quads.
Best of luck.
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