Wow... What a difference

[d_a_n1979]

I have been messing about with my hi-fi system and surround system for days now (trialling my B&W XT8's with my Arcam Alpha 10 amp side by side with my RS6's) and have come to the solid conclusion that the XT's are superb but IMO they don't do music as well as the RS6's...

Anyways; been moving the speakers about tonight too. Have them direct in front of my listening position, obvious I know, but I've been messing with the angle of the speakers as well to see what differences I get!

Music used has been Arcade Fire, Daft Punk and the OST to Love Actually (sad I know but I love the film and there's some very good tracks on the CD, mainly female vocals).

Had the speakers toe'd in towards me to begin with and all music sounded great but the female vocals sounded a little muddled in places so toe'd them out less and it became clearer. Then had them bang on 90 degrees to the listening position and the sound became so clear and detailed I was shocked.

Don't know why I've not done this sooner but having the same speakers with the Arcam Alpha 9 integrated and 9 Power a year or so back I thought that toe'd in was best!

It now stands that the speakers are bang on straight forward firing now with my sofa (listening seat) smack in the middle and the sounds superb. Vocals are clear and crisp, treble is sweet and sharp, midrange is lush and the bass kicks superbly!

Has anyone else gone down this route with their speakers and changed the angles continuously?

 

[matthewpiano]

I've been doing it with the Mezzo 2s and it makes a massive difference. I've got mine slightly toed in towards the listening position now and the clarity and sense of spaciousness in the sound is incredible.

I think we all too often forget how important speaker set-up and positioning actually is. As I said in another thread today, it can make or break a system.

Glad you are enjoying your system Dan. Long may it continue!

 

[pauldownton1979]

i used to have mordaunt short ms920i and they were superb firing straight. the detail and soundstage was expansive compared to toe in as i first put them.

 

[Anonymous]

I always leave mine straight firing because I always move around the room!! I listen to music while doing other things - I wish i had the time to sit in a listening seat and do nothing else!

 

[vinod_david]

Lately, i too was playing with my RS6's position, and these were my observations.

1. With distance between speakers to 6 feet, listening distance 10 feet, and toed in a little, speakers facing me, the sound was good, but my sofa was against a back wall, so no space behind my head, and this created imaging problems, i thought.

2. With distance between speakers increased to 10 feet and extreme toe-in - say if i sit in center, i could see 80% of speakers side. By doing this, the sound never went behind my behind my head - most of the sound was right in the center between me and the speakers with vocals taking the center stage.

I thought in my first trial, the sound was huge and the entire room was filled with sound - now i don't know whether this huge sound was the reflection from the back wall or not ?

In my second trial, the sound was superb always in that golden triangle or whatever that position is, but outside, they're less impressive.

Any thoughts what i've been doing is right or any changes to make ?

 

[vinod_david]

Dan:

Any suggestions for me ?

 

[d_a_n1979]

vinod_david:Dan:

Any suggestions for me ?

It's along the same lines as I had David

The RS6's were initially toe'd in quiet aggresively so that the 'sweet-spot' was about a foot in front of the listening position but after last nights trials I've found that the RS6's soundstage is much better when their firing straight.

I also have a rear wall behind the sofa and have found that with too much toe or not enough; the clarity gets a little bit muddled but when at 90 degrees; it's bob on!

However, in saying all that, the B&W XT8's were better toe'd in quite aggresively; as they are in the AV set-up in the front room!

I'm going to be trialing the XT2's with the PV1 tomorrow night as a hifi system just to see how the sub will do with music. I know it's superb for music DVD's (I was up till 2am this morning watching Pink Floyd - Pulse)!

 

[vinod_david]

Thanx Dan.

 

[Sliced Bread]

Know exactly what you mean Dan. My Mission 782's are unbelievably fussy when it comes to positioning and especially so with the angle of toe in. I've spent hours in the past trying to get it right, but when it is right the sound improves significantly. My rear surrounds on my system are the same and if setup correctly produce a fantastically enveloping sound, however unfortunately my wife keeps moving them back. Grrr

I think that next time I get them right I will write down the measurements.and yes, that is very anal.

 

[floyd droid]

JohnNewman:Know exactly what you mean Dan. My Mission 782's are unbelievably fussy when it comes to positioning and especially so with the angle of toe in. I've spent hours in the past trying to get it right, but when it is right the sound improves significantly. My rear surrounds on my system are the same and if setup correctly produce a fantastically enveloping sound, however unfortunately my wife keeps moving them back. Grrr

I think that next time I get them right I will write down the measurements.and yes, that is very anal.

Tell me about it !. Anal or no,write them down john. Otherwise you will be be up and down like a yoyo tweaking the suckers. Luckily my missus hasnt got the strength to shift mine but i spent forever getting them just right,so out came the pen and paper. Also, if i do have to shift them, now this is realy anal, i track masking tape around the footprint to give me a head start when i put them back

 

[Xanderzdad]

Hi Dan

Before I tinker (yet again) with my speakers - how far are yours from the wall?

BTW I have mine spiked onto granite plinths (lifted from our old patio). The room is carpeted.

Thanks

 

[Anonymous]

I also have the RS6's, toed in for a good while.

But i agree, having them straight rather than toed in can have a big difference on the acoustics of the room.

I'm still experimenting to see which i prefer.

 

[d_a_n1979]

The RS6's are bang in the room so side walls aren't an issue but they're about 25" from the rear wall

 

[plastic penguin]

d_a_n1979:vinod_david:Dan: Any suggestions for me ? It's along the same lines as I had David The RS6's were initially toe'd in quiet aggresively so that the 'sweet-spot' was about a foot in front of the listening position but after last nights trials I've found that the RS6's soundstage is much better when their firing straight. I also have a rear wall behind the sofa and have found that with too much toe or not enough; the clarity gets a little bit muddled but when at 90 degrees; it's bob on! However, in saying all that, the B&W XT8's were better toe'd in quite aggresively; as they are in the AV set-up in the front room! I'm going to be trialing the XT2's with the PV1 tomorrow night as a hifi system just to see how the sub will do with music. I know it's superb for music DVD's (I was up till 2am this morning watching Pink Floyd - Pulse)!

I had pretty much the same result with my RS6's. They are toe'd in a tad and they sound spacious. Toe them in any further and they tend to lose the sense of realism and vitual surround sound, especially with films.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Welcome back, PP

 

[plastic penguin]

Clare Newsome:Welcome back, PP

It's nice to be recognised, Clare, thank you.

 

[Sliced Bread]

floyd droid:...now this is realy anal, i track masking tape around the footprint to give me a head start when i put them back

>

The sad thing is, that sounds completely reasonable to me. I think I'll use that tip...thanks