Loudspeakers - Positioning and Optimizing
"From the position of Audio Systems Optimized, I land firmly in the camp of "there is no problem too small to matter."
The precise placement and alignment of your loudspeakers are the most significant and vital variables in the overall performance of your system. Those speakers are the window through which you view your musical world. But, domestically speaking, their placement can also be highly contentious. However, even in a space that isn't dedicated to listening – and starting from what is considered acceptable in terms of room arrangements – in my experience, the transformation in system performance that comes with proper positioning easily overcomes practical and aesthetic objections. It doesn't necessarily mean moving the speakers that far – just to the optimum position.
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The laws of physics govern loudspeaker placement: as limiting as that may sound, using physics to our advantage is a potent tool for overcoming limited positional options or the shortcomings of your listening room. Don't get me wrong, there are no free lunches here, but it's rarely, ever, as bad as it looks.
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Those laws embrace both the room itself and the way the speakers work within it. You'll notice that this section is entitled Positioning And Optimizing. My approach is highly methodical and systematic and involves two distinct phases.