[veloceleste]

I've been listening to my Mini T's up close lately (roughly 6' triangle, very slight toe in) and like the results! I didn't change the speaker position, only my listening position. I always had a locked in center image and fairly good depth but felt the need to turn up the volume a bit to "wake up" the music. Moving closer the image is just as focused and there is more air or perceived space around instruments and the overall soundstage is wider. All this benefit at reduced volume which was one of my goals. I do lose some bass from boundary reinforcement at my regular listening position but what I l give up in punch I gain in intimacy.  Try it, you might like it!

[TJ-Sully]

Great observation Velo. I used to have a pair of Mini T's and tried the same thing. Near field listening yields amazing results - and like you say, creates a more intimate listening environment at moderate SPL levels.
 
Interestingly, Paul McGowan of PS Audio posted a vid today on his "Ask Paul" series - about listening in small rooms - and creating just what you described! Cool man.

TJ

ps. i have the Model A1's now - just recently got them - and trying to figure out how to raise my listening chair height so it's closer to the tweeters....it ain't gonna look pretty!

[Anonamemouse]

 Loudspeaker placement is a very major factor in how things sound. Unfortunately even here people spend $ xxx.xxx on gear, and then just plunge the loudspeakers somewhere in the corners of the room, or even behind furniture.
Moving a loudspeaker even only 2 inches can make a serious difference. More than putting a new amp/player/dac in your set can.

[veloceleste]

Great observation Velo. I used to have a pair of Mini T's and tried the same thing. Near field listening yields amazing results - and like you say, creates a more intimate listening environment at moderate SPL levels.
 
Interestingly, Paul McGowan of PS Audio posted a vid today on his "Ask Paul" series - about listening in small rooms - and creating just what you described! Cool man.

TJ

ps. i have the Model A1's now - just recently got them - and trying to figure out how to raise my listening chair height so it's closer to the tweeters....it ain't gonna look pretty!

My regular listening position couch puts my ear just below tweeter level. The chair I am using for up close listening puts my ears at or just above the tweeters. It's an old wooden rocking chair (like me; old, still rocking and with wooden joints).  Please, no other wooden/age jokes!

[veloceleste]

Loudspeaker placement is a very major factor in how things sound. Unfortunately even here people spend $ xxx.xxx on gear, and then just plunge the loudspeakers somewhere in the corners of the room, or even behind furniture.
Moving a loudspeaker even only 2 inches can make a serious difference. More than putting a new amp/player/dac in your set can.

Agreed! That and adressing room acoustics, even minimally.

[TJ-Sully]

My regular listening position couch puts my ear just below tweeter level. The chair I am using for up close listening puts my ears at or just above the tweeters. It's an old wooden rocking chair (like me; old, still rocking and with wooden joints).  Please, no other wooden/age jokes!

'ol Velo..how about when you listen to your Model T's... are your ears still near the plane of the tweeters?

[Nick V]

The nearfield configuration typically takes the room out of the equation to a large degree.

My nearfield desktop system (Dynaudio BM6a mkII, Paradigm Monitor SUB10 w/ PBK, Cambridge DACMagic +) measures significantly better from the listening position than my main system (which cost many multiples of my desktop system).

[veloceleste]

'ol Velo..how about when you listen to your Model T's... are your ears still near the plane of the tweeters?

Ears are very close to the plane of the tweeters. Mini T's are on 20" stands.

[veloceleste]

The nearfield configuration typically takes the room out of the equation to a large degree.

Agree, though I do have some room treatment in place for when I'm not listening nearfield.