Detailed Speaker Setup and Optimization

[microstrip]

With respect, I don’t believe you.

Although it is not my preferred listening position, we have several very influential members in WBF that have such listening geometry.

 

[JiminGa]

Maybe I got this idea from my reading of WASP, or maybe I got it from direct conversation with Bill P or Daryl. But I’ve been aware of this since my earliest encounter with WASP.

I think they think you will want to use the zones of neutrality closest to the front wall. But zones further back are great for setting up other vibration sensitive gear. I’ve got my TTs set up behind the listener using this strategy.

There is only one placing that is optimal. The typical zone of neutrality is a good approximation but getting to the millimeter is a real trick. Dave Ellington (Wilson Audio) who knows a thing or two about set up heard one of Todd’s XVX/Subsonic set ups which was previously set up by Peter. Peter had spent a lot of time getting it to his liking. It was so much better that after one song that he stood up, turned around walked to the back of the room and shook Todd’s hand saying “GREAT set up man!”. The last inch is a football field in sonic terms. There is SO much to this. No one can fully explain it on a forum like this. Elliot is right you first have to know where you are going and you need really good listening skills and you need a LOT of experience. Lots of people can get close and you would never know what you’re missing.

 

[wil]

Sounds like an issue peculiar to your room. This is not a criticism or instruction. Your ears … your system.

I don’t think sitting slightly near field is especially unusual. 10’ tweeter to tweeter, ears about 9.5’ from tweeters.

 

[microstrip]

(...) Elliot is right you first have to know where you are going and you need really good listening skills and you need a LOT of experience. Lots of people can get close and you would never know what you’re missing.

Well, I know where I want to go and what I am missing. By far my best listening experience was the presentation of the WAMM/ Master Subsonic subwoofers European presentation in our local distributor . Most of the whole Wilson team, Peter McGrath included, worked hard and intensively for two full days with little sleep to set-up the system, in close cooperation with people in the factory. But when I had the privilege of sitting with Peter listening to my favorite recordings, it was a new world. Words could not describe it. My imagination was not needed to recreate the performances - they were there, in front of me. The sound of this day will always guide my probably never ending search. I can always pretend it was just the top gear to peace my mind, but no, there was also something else. It was also set up.

 

[microstrip]

I don’t think sitting slightly near field is especially unusual. 10’ tweeter to tweeter, ears about 9.5’ from tweeters.

This not near field - near field needs less than 6 feet distance. And it is almost equilateral!

 

[Elliot G.]

I don’t think sitting slightly near field is especially unusual. 10’ tweeter to tweeter, ears about 9.5’ from tweeters.

having nothing to do with the numbers since I don't use them I like sitting in closer usually than farther away, however this is also room and speaker dependant .

 

[Elliot G.]

There is only one placing that is optimal. The typical zone of neutrality is a good approximation but getting to the millimeter is a real trick. Dave Ellington (Wilson Audio) who knows a thing or two about set up heard one of Todd’s XVX/Subsonic set ups which was previously set up by Peter. Peter had spent a lot of time getting it to his liking. It was so much better that after one song that he stood up, turned around walked to the back of the room and shook Todd’s hand saying “GREAT set up man!”. The last inch is a football field in sonic terms. There is SO much to this. No one can fully explain it on a forum like this. Elliot is right you first have to know where you are going and you need really good listening skills and you need a LOT of experience. Lots of people can get close and you would never know what you’re missing.

As Dirty Harry said " a man's got to know his limitations" LOL