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Speaker positioning games. Where can I go from here?

https://i.imgur.com/z7BZYqy.jpg

Last Thursday night I was messing with my speaker positioning. I’m nwver happy with the bass but I am barely into building my endgame system so I think some of that will worked out.

anyway, I moved my speakers (Focal 907v on stands) from 13” (back of cab to front wall) out to 22”. Bass is lessened but it’s most noticeable in bass attack. But there’s a fullness I didn’t expect.

I then toed them in which really made the vocals pop into that center position and all around imaging is much improved. The left speaker is 40” from a wall of windows and the right has nothing next to it for 13’. For the toe in I left the outside corner of the cabinet at 22” from the wall but rotated so the inside rear corner is now 21.5” from front wall. I think this improved imaging by lessening reflection on the left side.

I sit on a couch with a table between it and the back wall. My ear is ~18” from the back wall (drywall). The drivers are 91” apart and 98” to my ear. I think lessening early reflections and some combing has made things sound better.

My system build is glacially slow. So far I have the power amp I want and that’s it. All other pieces will be swapped out and sold as I replace them. My plan for this calendar year is to replace the Project DC with 2M Blue with a SL1200GR with possibly a Nag MP200. Next year, maybe around March replace the current line stage (Schiit Sys-temporary) with an Odyssey Candela (tubed line stage) and Buchardt S400 speakers in the summer. My feeling is that these first 2 pieces alone will really bolster my bass I response.

But in the meantime. What other positioning tweaks can I try? My room is basically a horizontal rectangle with the living room/listening spot on the left half with the rig on the long wall.

thanks.

gochurchgo
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
When I first got Magnepan 3.6 speakers, I methodically meaured the room. Then calculated the spots 1/3... 1/4... 1/5... 1/6... 1/7... 1/8... 1/9 and made a chart. trying to stay away from even distances, and keep odd distances. Turned out the 1/5 and 1/7 from two different distances (from farthest wall, as a closer wall where a pair of closets cut the entryway and kitchen apart were the same..So I used that distance to start. Sinc it also had a 'from rear wall' distance good for Magnepans. nine years later I still like it as the best sounding distance or my now Magnepan 20.7 speakers.   
Just mentioning how I decided where to start.    
At this point I have exact distances from side wall, right edge and left edge written down. So if I move them, I can get them back to the exact same spot. The most I have changed since getting the toe in right is an inch for each speaker farther from side walls ... LOL
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
OP:

So long as you are happy. But music should not just sound centered. It should sound as if it effortlessly encompasses the entire range from L to R and sometimes beyond. If you only hear it as coming from the center, you aren’t there yet.

Another kind of "not there yet" situation is you hear a L, C and R image, but nothing in between. That is, there appear to be 3 speakers in front of you, and you can localize the 3. That’s’ not done yet either.
gochurchgo OP
144 posts
 
@elizabeth i did try the rule if 5ths and 7ths but I want to ask you, for you is it more about the imaging or the bass?

@erik_squires vocals come from the tv but I do get some left and right. I will pull back on the toe and see what it does.

as for the bass, I think my room is killing it and there really isn’t much I can do about the system placement as the one spot that makes the most sense is floor to ceiling windows and I don’t want to advertise what I have (though it’s not too impressive compared to others here)
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
It may help to use headphones as a reference for imaging spread. :)

Best,
E
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
For me it is clarity of imaging. Actually i want to lessen bass, and do so in various ways. I live in an "over 55" apartment complex. No vibrating walls allowed.. Folks move in... others hear the bass thumping  week they move in. 3 day notice to move out is in their mailbox. They either stop thumping, or get evicted.  Quiet enjoyment means something here. I have no intention of annoying my neighbors. Been her over eleven years, never a complaint. I did mull over whether the 20.7 would have too much bass, but I have been able to solve the problem with the right AC solution.  
Still some Rock I can really only play with earphones.. But most everything else is OK.
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